Was not the JSF intended to complement the F-22, rather than replace the F-22?

This is a 1-year decision and the real problem is the acquisition process.

What concerns me about this budget is that I think we're giving up a capability that we're going to need.

Should the President and Congress conclude that our forces should be sized to deal with only one contingency where our control of the air is contested, that will be an appropriate time to terminate production of the F-22.

Ending production of the F-22 and C-17... represent a major change to our national defense strategy.

Do you know of any analysis that went into arriving at that number?

By the time you take out planes for testing, by the time you consider planes that are in depot maintenance, you're going to wind up with combat-coded airplanes roughly in the range of 125 to 135.

it is my understanding that the recently released Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) study considered 36 alternative mixes and sizes for airlift and compared them both in cost and effectiveness with the program of record.

Commitment to the military is a family commitment, we understand that.

What concerns me, Secretary Flournoy, is that we have the Iranians, who we know have provided munitions to our enemy in Iraq...

If we should pick up a high-value target in Afghanistan, what would happen to that high-value target? Where would they go?

Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for holding this important hearing to consider the nominations of Joe Leonard, Jr., Kathleen Merrigan, and Jim Miller for key positions with USDA.