The Sky’s the Limit on Modern Battlefield

ometimes budget numbers don't tell the whole story. The Air Force's proposal to spend $449 million of its $44.9 billion fiscal 2003 acquisition budget on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) would be loose change for managers of the service's multibillion-dollar fighter plane programs. But the proposal marks an increase of more than 50 percent over this year's spending level, signaling that after years of aversion to pilotless aircraft, the service is now embracing UAVs as critical to future operations.

"We've had significant money [invested in UAVs] in the past, but that has grown and we'll be adding more money in the future," says Marvin Sambur, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. "There's a recognition that things are changing and we have to take advantage of these capabilities. I don't think it's a threat to pilots . . . this is a supplement that enhances our effectiveness."

The war on terrorism in Afghanistan showed how much of a difference UAVs can make on the battlefield. The drones are credited with providing a bird's-eye view of troop movements and allowing commanders thousands of miles away to see real-time images of unfolding battles. And for the first time in war, the Air Force outfitted UAVs with missiles that successfully took out enemy targets. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has labeled UAVs one of the key technologies needed for transforming today's military into a 21st century fighting force.

In the meantime, the Air Force's acquisition budget, which includes money to buy weapon systems and for the research, development, testing and evaluation of aircraft, is still largely dominated by spending on piloted planes. The Air Force's top three acquisition programs in 2003 are the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft ($5.6 billion); the C-17 cargo aircraft ($3.9 billion); and the Joint Strike Fighter ($1.7 billion).

The Air Force proposes spending $1.6 billion on basic science and technology research that may be used in developing future weapon systems. Some technologies being studied are turbine engines, microsatellites, lasers and panoramic night vision devices.

The service is expected to increase spending on smart munitions. Such warheads allowed Air Force pilots to carry out high-precision strikes in the initial battles in the war in Afghanistan based on the coordinates sent to them by special operations forces operating on the ground.

The Air Force is considering a controversial plan to begin leasing 100 specially equipped 767 jetliners from Boeing to serve as refueling planes. They would replace the service's KC-135 tankers, which are more than 40 years old. However, a recent Congressional Budget Office study found that leasing the aircraft would cost several billion dollars more than purchasing them outright. The Air Force is still reviewing the merits of leasing versus buying the planes, but should make a final decision by this fall on how to replace its tankers, Sambur says.

Like all the military services, the Air Force's proposed 2003 acquisition budget shows an increase over fiscal 2002 spending-but only a 3 percent rise.

"You always feel that you could spend more, but all and all [the Air Force] is getting enough to keep the country safe," Sambur says.