From Aviation Week:
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead went before the House Armed Services Committee May 14 to justify the service's request for funding on a variety of projects. I listed, in very brief terms, the priorities on the Fiscal 2010 budget list on budget day last week, but Roughead provided more detail this morning. Here's a round-up of what they're asking for.
The F/A-18 and Joint Strike Fighter: Roughead called the F/A-18 E/F the "aviation backbone" of the Navy. At the rate the service is operating the aircraft, the number of carrier-capable strike fighters will decrease between 2016 and 2020, affecting readiness. The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is "essential" to addressing the Navy's strike fighter needs. "As the Hornets age ... how we move forward, whether through extension or other options is yet to be addressed," Roughead told lawmakers. "Timely delivery of the JSF in 2015 is key. That's an absolutely critical addition to our fleet."
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