Air Force wants to retire aging jets early

The Air Force this week announced plans to retire 254 combat aircraft next year, 249 of which would be removed from service earlier than scheduled. The equipment affected includes 112 F-15s and 134 F-16s, both tactical fighters, along with three A-10 ground-attack aircraft.

Prior to the announcement, only five fighters had been slated for retirement in 2010.

The early retirements pose short-term risk, but will give Air Force leaders the flexibility they need to address more urgent requirements as well as upgrade the resulting smaller combat air fleet and accelerate production of the next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told lawmakers on Tuesday during a House Armed Services Committee hearing.

The restructuring plan would allow the Air Force to move about 4,000 people to fill critical gaps in missions such as manned and unmanned surveillance and nuclear deterrence operations -- both top priorities for the service. Rebuilding nuclear capability has been paramount after serious shortcomings in the management of nuclear materiel were discovered in recent years. Also, the Air Force has been under pressure from battlefield commanders to address the shortage of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. Earlier this year the service committed to fielding 50 unmanned combat air patrols by 2011. There are 34 such patrols today.

Service leaders estimated that by retiring the aircraft early they would save about $355 million in 2010, and $3.5 billion during the next five years.

Most of the savings would be invested in modifying the remaining fighters and bombers with advanced capabilities. Some money also would be spent on buying munitions for joint operations, including small diameter bombs and missiles; buying or sustaining critical intelligence capabilities, such as the advanced targeting pod; and buying new technology for tactical air controllers and special operations forces.

The move would affect operations at 21 bases in the United States, with Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida and Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska seeing some of the biggest changes. Tyndall would lose 48 F-15s, while Elmendorf would lose 24 F-15s, but gain 36 F-22s under the plan.

Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., chairman of the committee, said he was concerned about the plan. "We're going to have to look at this very closely to understand what risks this plan might entail and whether the reinvested savings will net us an overall increase in the Air Force's ability to meet national security requirements."

The decision to retire aircraft early stems from a comprehensive review directed by the Defense Department and conducted by the Air Force earlier this year. The review weighed the benefits and savings associated with the early retirements against the near-term risk and was vetted by combatant commanders, the Joint Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.