Reductions of 20 percent (or about $390 billion over ten years) in investment accounts (procurement plus research, development, testing, and evaluation) could lead to cutbacks in many programs, large and small. Decisions relating to major programs could include:
-Terminate Joint Strike Fighter; minimal life extensions and upgrades to existing forces ($80B);
- Terminate bomber; restart new program in mid 2020s ($18B);
- Delay next generation ballistic missile submarine; cut force to 10 subs ($7B);
- Terminate littoral combat ship and associated mission modules ($22B);
- Terminate all ground combat vehicle modernization programs; minimal life extensions and upgrades to existing forces ($17B);
- Terminate all Army helicopter modernization programs.
There are some other efficiencies to be reduced; such as the second land army.
In other news, re: the F-35, production capability still is not there. Congress is right not to boost production. It isn't mature yet.
That phased line making 30 or so a year is starting to look good. That is me being generous because the F-35 is already a failed program.
