Pentagon acquisition boss Ash Carter said the 2011 budget would employ the same guiding principles—performance, adaptability, and quantity—that led to the 2010 program cuts, and he said Defense Secretary Bob Gates is committed to “continued real growth” to maintain skills and capabilities he believes are needed now. Speaking Jan. 20 at a Washington defense conference, Carter said the topline will not grow at the double-digit clip of the immediate post-9/11 years, but DOD expects more program stability. The Administration knows, said Carter, that the investment part of the budget is “differentially damaged” in times of flat or reducing budgets. However, the Gates Pentagon, he said, wants programmers and acquisition officials to put an end to the “erosion of discipline” prompted by abundant funding. No matter how great a program is, if it is not performing it will get deserved extra scrutiny, Carter said.
B-21 Raider First Flight Now Postponed to 2023
May 20, 2022
The Air Force says the B-21 Raider won't make its first flight until 2023; about a six-month delay from the last official estimates. No reason was given for the delay. While other programs have recently chalked up schedule slips to supply chain and labor shortages, the Air Force has said…