John McCain

I understand that you are planning to reduce the number of Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from 22 to 11.

Over the last few weeks, the media has been reporting that the Air Force may extend by more than 2 years the date by which it intends to deploy a squadron with initial operating capability (IOC).

Secretary Donley, the Pentagon's recent experience with concurrent development in, for example, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and the Future Combat System (FCS) programs, has been awful.

Despite stability in end strength and even a 600-airman increase planned for in the fiscal year 2012 budget, the Air Force plans to reduce its numbers in certain officer military occupational specialties (MOS), conduct a reduction in…

Secretary Gates expressed the fear that once he departs and once U.S. forces drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan, there are those who look forward to getting back to what he called 'real Air Force normal.'

General Schwartz, what does that mean for the viability of the Air Force's JSF program and what kind of mix we can expect in terms of the Air Force's future strike fighter force?

To what extent is NAVAIR's assessment (and the Air Force's validation of that assessment) reflected in the Air Force's current budget proposal?

To be clear, exactly what does 'over $3.5 billion' mean for the tanker development contract?

Do you agree that sustained support for the modernization of the nuclear weapons complex is a national security priority?

This failure to recognize the National security importance of NNSA funding is very troubling.

I appreciate the comments in your prepared remarks emphasizing the continued strengthening of the nuclear enterprise as the #1 Air Force priority.

Secretary Donley, when do you anticipate asking for funding for a replacement?

Secretary Donley, since there is no money for development or testing, but money for procurement, is it safe to say you intend to buy a helicopter the military already operates?

How confident are you that the Air Force will be able to sustain the current ICBM force through 2030?

I think it would, at least in the words of General Austin before this committee, be very difficult for them to stand up an air capability.

If there was a declaration of a no-fly zone, it would be a motivating factor to the Libyan pilots not to fly.

With regards to Iraq, the Iraqi Government has made it clear that they would like to develop an air force that would at least have the capability to defend the skies over Iraq.

I think that is fairly obvious, wouldn't you say?

Secretary Donley, won't buying off-the-shelf limit the possible competitors?

The imposition of such a restriction or attempt to stem the tide of Gaddafi and his murderers is dependent upon our air assets, as well as our naval assets.

We are seeing the momentum and the success of Muammar Gaddafi and his killers massacring people while we sit idly by.

I continue to be concerned with the overall track record of cost overruns and schedule delays for space systems.

What else can you tell us about the configuration of Boeing's aircraft at this point and what does the design entail in terms of risk reduction on the platform or on the mission systems?

Secretary Donley, you're on a tight timeline. How concerned are you about the overlap between production and development, that is, the concurrency, that's built into this program?

Do you have a sense of how much the taxpayer might save by buying these tankers under full-and-open competition?