John McCain

Secretary Donley, we hear rumors or trial balloons about a replacement for the VC-25s that will serve as Air Force One. Where is that effort?

Secretary Donley, since we just took 10 years to buy a tanker, do you believe you can develop a requirement, run a competition, select a winner, and buy the first helicopters all in 1 year?

Secretary Donley, what is the current status and timeline for the arrival of the F-35 to Luke AFB?

Secretary Donley, I see the Air Force has already requested three military construction (MILCON) projects totaling $18 million in the fiscal year 2012 budget request to prepare facilities at Holloman AFB for the arrival of the F-16s.

As currently planned, does the timing of the move of F-16s protect operations at Luke AFB from being subjected to a bathtub effect?

What will be the operational impact to the Air Component Commander supporting the two combatant commanders of not having an AOC at their location?

The E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) aircraft has flown over 63,000 combat hours and 6,000 combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.

What sort of characteristics and requirements are the Air Force and the combatant commanders considering in a replacement aircraft for long-range strike?

The Air Force will invest over $1.1 billion for B-52 bomber modernization over the current Fiscal Year Defense Plan.

Secretary Donley and General Schwartz, does the Air Force have a notion of what minimum capabilities or surge capacity it would like maintained in industry?

General Schwartz, with Secretary Gates' having decided last year to have the Air Force stop buying more F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft, what is the Air Force's strategy for preserving unique tooling for that aircraft?

Secretary Donley, in this budget, the Air Force begins acquisition of a new support helicopter, the Common Vertical Lift Support Platform (CVLSP) to replace its UH-1 Hueys, principally at the missile fields.

At Secretary Gates' direction to the Military Services to find $100 billion in efficiency savings between fiscal years 2012 and 2016, the Air Force has found $3.4 billion in efficiencies in 2012 and a total of $33.4 billion over the next 5…

DOD has finalized its plans for training military personnel under the new policy that will allow individuals who are gay or lesbian to serve openly.

General Schwartz, what strategic role do you believe UAVs will have in meeting near-term ISR, strike, cargo, and other capabilities supporting the current wars and other potential irregular campaigns?

Do you anticipate a greater need for additional UASs?

In your prepared statement you indicate that the Air Force continues to rapidly increase its ISR capability.

According to the fiscal years 2011-2040 Aircraft Investment Plan, the Air Force plans to increase the number of unmanned Predator and Reaper platforms.

Modernization of the current fleet is critical to keeping those platforms flyable, relevant, and fully integrated.

I don't know the last time that was true.

General Schwartz, what is the sustainment strategy for the F-22 program going forward and, in particular, to what extent will that strategy use competition (or the option of competition) to drive down costs?

Secretary Donley, you said in testimony before the House that the Air Force is looking to address the CVLSP requirement and the longstanding need to replace our combat search-and-rescue helicopters with a common aircraft.

Secretary Donley, did the Air Force put together a 'Plan of Action and Milestones' document, which would help ensure that the Air Force has identified and will eliminate and capture cost-savings for reinvestment?

Do you agree with that assessment?

I plan to utilize the Major Command commander assessments, along with a minimum of 75 percent of the force trained, as my criteria for recommending certification to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.