Orlando, February 18, 2010—In a run-up to the Quadrennial Defense Review, the Air Force and Navy discussed future “air-sea concepts” and will jointly pursue capabilities applicable to both, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said during AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium. One will be a standoff missile that will replace the AGM-86 on the B-52 and have “applicability to … sea-based” operations as well, Donley said. However, “discussions” continue with the Navy as to how fast the missile should be, and some of its other characteristics.
A three-month continuing resolution that ended in December inflicted less pain on the Department of the Air Force than it had expected, as procurement and construction continue in the new year. The federal government operated under a stopgap spending measure that stretched from the beginning of the fiscal year on…