▶ 0:12:16>> I know both have more time for -- you love basketball but in the case of western, your hometown school. Gentlemen, I need to acknowledge the sacrifice of american service members. U.S. airmen have been at the absolute razors edge of recent operations in the gulf.
▶ 0:12:48Degrading iran's offensive capabilities, of aiding the enemy on the ground, bringing down comrades home, extending the joint force and a case 35 crew over iraq, making the ultimate sacrifice. I speak for the entire ntsubcommittee and recognizing these fallen airmen and comments and their families.
▶ 0:13:18We are reviewing the fiscal year 27 budget request for the department of the air force. As I have observed with other service, increases in spending represent a tremendou opportunity to improve readiness and lethality across the force and industrial capacity across our country.
▶ 0:13:45At the same time, the structure of the request for the department of defense would put consistent funding for key priorities at unnecessary risk. For the defense agenda, like multiyear procurement contracts, munitions, half the f-35 program, golden dome, and dro
▶ 0:14:17Ne dominance initiatives are reconciliation spending. This is mystifying for multiyear procurement contracts. The need to budget annually is right there in the name. It is more than just a contradiction in terms.
▶ 0:14:41It is a recipe for major disruptions during a possible eventptions during a possible event tions during a possible event atons during a possible event at ns during a possible event at partyring a possible event at party ing a possible event at party linea possible reconciliation -- if party then reconciliation fails. The choice to structure a $1.5 trillion request in this way is another missed opportunity to put key aspects of our common defense on stronger and more enduring phycal footing.
▶ 0:15:05-- physical footing -- fiscal footing. I'm encouraged to see the department -- the need for the e7 battle management aircraft it meets a current day need with current day capability.
▶ 0:15:29The department's alignment with this priority as a investment in resiliency as we continue to build our space-based capabilities that will serve our joint force in the future. Also glad to see fiscal year 27 request begins to address the issue of operational readiness rates by investing more in the f-35.
▶ 0:15:57The department will continue to step on its own tail if it insists on housing procurement with new airframes andne-off reconciliation spendingnd. If it remains an operational necessity, both the united states and allies, there is no excuse for not placing it squarely in full year appropriations.
▶ 0:16:24General saltzman, I'm glad this requests a massive opportunity for the space force procurement of key systems. I worry whether industrial capacity will be able to meet a certain surgeon spending pending a clearer picture of how the department plans to sustain steadily increasing investment in the out years.
▶ 0:16:52I want to hear from all of you how the space force is thinking about long-term scaling. Finally, at a fundamental level I'm curious to hear from each of you about how the department of the air force is applying the lessons of the modern battlefield. I'm concerned the pentagon is not learning quickly enough from the battlefield in ukraine and the gulf.
▶ 0:17:21Failure toearn and adapt when it comes to force protection and counter drone technology has a real and measurable cost. Speaking of which, there is a need for supplemental funds to cover crit ical crit ical operational costs in the gulf. Making sure it is dowayments against the initial shortfalls that long predate operations against iran.
▶ 0:17:52I would encourage the administration to create such an opportunity and hope each of our colleagues would seize on that. With that, following senator coons' observations, we will move to the secretary and the two generals and make short statents at the time for questions and answers. Senator coons.
▶ 0:18:20Sen. Coons: Thank you, Mr. chairman and thank you for our partnership and broad agreement among many of the themes you just raised. You will hear them reflected in my remarks as well. Secretary meink, general wilsbach, general saltzman, thank you for your service and your testimony.
▶ 0:18:40Sen. Coons: The air force and space force are fortunate to be led by the three of you who display a good judgment and sincere interest in doing nt and sincere interest in doing right sincere interest in doing right by ncere interest in doing right by our e interest in doing right by our nation.est in this is general wilsbach's first time testifyg as chieff staff. Thank you r ank you r your ou r your insights. I will note that this is general saltzman's last testimony before the subcommitte ahead of yo respective retirement in august after more than 35 years of service. Salty, I'm not sure he will miss us but we will certainly miss you.
▶ 0:19:10Sen. Coons: Thank you to you and your family for the sacrifices you have made for our nation over so manyr years.r nation over so manyr I look forward to your last nuggets of wisdom today and in the weeks ahead. Our airmen and guardian have operated under immense operational pressure around the world. Most notably in the middle east supporting several operations and currently operation epic fury. Tragically, several aircrews have paid the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate price during this operation.
▶ 0:19:42Sen. Coons: Dover air force base continues to carry out with honor's sacred dure to welcome home our fallen and support andustain families with dignified transfer ceremonies. Our service members have always entered -- answered the call and at the highest level of any military in the world.
▶ 0:20:04Sen. Coons: It is demonstrably the case current operations have strained readiness, shaly reduced important inventories and weekend our hand to respond to tomorrow's threats. It' an indisputable fact we have fewer available aircraft and munitions to respond to ture threats in the endo pacific as a result. Responsibility to take us to were rests with the president who chose this without a strategy in place.
▶ 0:20:32Sen. Coons: Congress bears responsibility for allowing it to continue tend to drift, although I'm gratefu' forembers on both sid who are interested iin working to reclaim congress's constitutional authority. The air force and space force continue with long-standing modeization readiness issues that predated operation epic fury.
▶ 0:20:51Sen. Coons: I look forward to hearingow this bget request attempts to address those issues while in the context of the new war.e I would love how to hear how the defense industrial base is changing behavior to help produce on-time and on budget and can it keepca up with the increased demand signal the budget sends and how we bring new ayers and manufacturers into the arena once dominated by few big primes.
▶ 0:21:19Sen. Coons: As the chairman and I pointed out in each of the hearings, this committee supports ukraine nestrongly for the lessonsso wen learn and collaboration and partnership. Ukraine is t world's most complex operational military environment right now. It sits on the cutting edge of air warfare in industrial base ingenuity. Low-cost cruise missiles first used by ukraine are making their way into the air force budget and ian look forward to hearing more about additional efforts like this.
▶ 0:21:51Sen. Coons: Nevertheless, plenty of traditional air force in space force needs improvement. F-35's sit around 56% mission% s capable in part due to low spare parts availability, the new f-15 e x r years delayed coming off the production line. The department has been unwilling or unable to speak with clarity on the need to great our aging airborne early warning and control fleet, delaying development and delivery of the nearly 2027 budget practice from last year and I look forward to resolving that.
▶ 0:22:21Sen. Coons: I make -- I am concerned about munitions given that a large portion of epic fury has been conducted using air to ground and air to air munitions. The demonstration has at times talked and competing ways with one breath insisting the current operational tempo is a-free and the next requesting billions for additional vital munitions.
▶ 0:22:43Sen. Coons: The subcommittee will work to do the right thing, protect american lives and ensure defense is funded but we need candor from the administration and discussing shortfalls and limitations. The of the air force requested nearly $100 billion in the defense discretionary budget y from 250 $7 billion to $310 billion. We deserve an air force prepare to protect their interest.
▶ 0:23:11Sen. Coons: And please to see the budget request for the space force is increasing, reflecting the key missions you are tasked with. This is challenging to defend in the face of steep production agencies across the government facing this fiscal year. The department put forward another furcated request as the chairman also reflected, counting on reconciliation that has proven to be an unworkable way to sustain the budget for base needs for the military.
▶ 0:23:41Sen. Coons: The request places critical resources, multiyear munitions requirements, spare parts for the f-35 into a package that I that will be enacted. I look forward to a better understanding of this request supports the air force and what adstments you recommend if the funding does not come through. Turning to the space domain, the space force is in the process of standing up each of the pillars it needs in its approach.
▶ 0:24:11Sen. Coons: Your emphasis on understanding space as a were fighting domain and how space control is a itical and valued shift. At the same time, we cannot lose sight of enabling missions and providing gps satellite communications, imagery, and intelligence. Without those the joint force could have a very bad day. To accomplish these missions we are lucky to have a dynamic space industrial base.
▶ 0:24:33Sen. Coons: It is still fragile and continuing to source big contracts to one vendor my profound the harm that mpetition andit be a serious mistake for a long-term interest. As we review your budget request I'm looking for fostering competition using multiple providers, requiring open standards and architecture, and broadening and deepening the in tdustrial base by giving new entrants and meaningful opportunity and encouraging war capacity -- more capacity for providers.
▶ 0:25:02Sen. Coons: The air force and space force prove critical foundational capabilities in defending the united states. This subcommittee understands and must understand your goals in building the budget, whether or building the budget, whether or notlding the budget, whether or not ding the budget, whether or not itng the budget, whether or not it g the budget, whether or not it isthe budget, whether or not it is he budget, whether or not it is realistic, whether or not it is realistic whether or not it is realistic to ether or not it is realistic to growr this fast, and the smartest ways to reprioritize if reconciliation does not work. I look forward to that testimony.
▶ 0:25:26Chair Mcconnell: Gentlemen, let's go ahead and thehe order s suggested, starting with you Mr. secretary. If you can make it as brief as possible because a lot of members would ask questions.
▶ 0:25:37Sec. Meink: Chairman mcconnell, ranking member coons, thank you for the opportunity to talk about the fy 27 budget request. After the events of the past year, I don't think anyone doubts the air force and space force are the most capable in the world.
▶ 0:26:06Sec. Meink: We are in the middle of a generational shift in how we employee airpower and space power. Advances, adaptive manufacturing, electronics and more gives us an opportunity to drive down costs and drive up effectiveness. However our adversaries recognize that opportunity every bit as much as we do. Those adversaries are modernizing at a very rapid pace.
▶ 0:26:31Sec. Meink: We must innovate faster in everything we do. That means staying ready to fight tonight, next month, next year, next decade. The past 25 years, the budget has been the smallest relative gdp in the history. The same time, the nation has asked more of it. To meet the needs they had to shortchange foundational readiness d much-needed modernization.
▶ 0:26:57Sec. Meink: The fiscal year 2027 presidential budget breaks the pattern with $338.8 billion request for the daf. I will start with investments. Foundational readiness. It requires increased and stable funding given the age of many of our platforms. The budget request increases are foundational readiness investment by 34%, providing the ju to recover.
▶ 0:27:26Sec. Meink: We are looking at ways to operate more efficiently by accelerating decision-making, reducing barriers to entry for industry. The budget has ao resulted I a 5 field rea -- resulted in a 50 billion dollar facilities maintenance backlog. It results in a cost more than double that of the commercial construction world.
▶ 0:27:51Sec. Meink: The budget request nearly doubles the investment in both milcom and modernization which when coupled with the new authorities granted by congress, thank you, such as progressive design build, we can address the short cause -- shortfalls. While we retain enough munitions worldwide to meet mission needs, we need strong factory lines to sustain and bolster our stkpiles.
▶ 0:28:20Sec. Meink: The budget leverages existing commercial production capacity and take full advantage of multiyear pcurement for our most critical of munitions, totaling 39,000 weapons of all types by fy 33. We are developing weapons almost as capable as our highen d munitions with a fraction of the production rates. While the money is eential, time is our most precious resource.
▶ 0:28:45Sec. Meink: The department will focus on companies that can scale quickly while still broadening the industry base to ensure competition in the future. That leads me to number three, modernization. The daf is engaged in its broadest program of modernizatn in his history. We have seen a lot of successce with the new space architectures, collaborative mbat aircraft, our command-and-control, and data management systems.
▶ 0:29:16Sec. Meink: The budget request accelerates those successes and applies lessons learned from them across the board. We are transferring our acquisition system. We are empowering a new portfolio acquisition executives and their teams with the authorities, resources and talent they need to accelerate capability delivery. We have delegated nearly every authority we are legally allowed to do down to the p.a.d.'s. We are matching mission outcomes.
▶ 0:29:44Sec. Meink: We are aligned within the structure to ensure consistent and simplified and rapid decision-making across the space force in the air force. I must decisive things or people. The budget invests in them. This includes a 5% to 7% pay increase, larger bonus pools, and increases inea military strength and a 300% increase in dormitory investments.
▶ 0:30:12Sec. Meink: This budget represents a disciplined strategy to meet our threat while the fy 27 budget represents a major increase in our budget. We are ready to execute. Much of the new funding will accelerate programs with established contracts. Regardless of the total, we will remain accountable and transparent to congress and the american taxpayer. I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:30:41Sec. Meink: >> good morning, chairman mcconnell, ranking member coons, members of the committee. I'm proud to represent 665,000 total service airmen. Thank you f t opportunity to appear today and your continued suppor to airmen and their families. United states air force exist to provide the nation with decisive options at both speed and scale.
▶ 0:31:07Sec. Meink: Everyday our airmen deliver that capability by controlling the air, holding targets at risk, moving forces and supplies across the globe, and underpinning the joint force with these combined efforts. As illustrated in recent operations such as operation midnight hammer, absolute resolve and epic fury, they do it professionally and without pause.
▶ 0:31:29Sec. Meink: We operate where distance number the longer guarantees sanctuary, networks are contested, adversaries are fielding capabilities specifically designed to down I us advantages we he relied on before. That drives our focus tards three priorities. Readiness, modernization, and taking care of airmen and their families.
▶ 0:31:53Sec. Meink: Readiness is the ability to generate combat power quickly, operate in contested environments and sustain operations over time. Our airmen are meeting the mission but are always doing so well managing significant strain. We are flying aircraft that are older than airmen to maintain them. We operate atte a high operatios tempo across multiple theaters and preparing to be ready for any future conflict.
▶ 0:32:24Sec. Meink: Our fiscal year 2027 budget request prioritizes restoring depth to our force by increasing funding for flying hou, munitions, and maintenance, and advanced training to reflect the reality of today and tomorrow's f'ght. Weapons systems sustainment funding increased to over $24 billion and flying hours to nearly 10 billion. We are focused on readiness that can continue to remain credible and deliver the facts.
▶ 0:32:54Sec. Meink: Modernization is not only about replacing old platforms with new ones but evolving how we fight. Speed, survivability, and decision advantage will define future conflict. It requires a force that is more connected and adaptable. We nected and adaptable. We are ed and adaptable. We are increasing table. We are increasing our e. We are increasing our research and development funding by 27% to over $57 billion the fiscal year 2027 budget request will accelerate our modernization programs.
▶ 0:33:22Sec. Meink: We are advancing the 47 and collaborative combat aircraft to increase combat math. We are increasing our fleet and investing in long-range strike advanced munitions a resilie command-and-control. Our nuclear enterprise remains foundational. Investments now will sustain the modernization of the triad through the sentinel, be 21 rater and upgrade to the b-52 and e4 b.
▶ 0:33:54Sec. Meink: This ensures our deterrence remain credible and ready. There it is taking care of airmen and families. We ask a lot of our people. Frequent moves and operational stress take a toll. The air force continues to invest in improving options for health care, child care, and spouse employment. Our budget request strengthens quality of life.
▶ 0:34:16Sec. Meink: We are executing the largest in are executing the largest instment ecuting the largest instment in ting the largest instment in our the largest instment in our dormitories in over a decade of $2.7 billion and $330 million in milcom. We are looking for solutions to meet housing needs to our families at the request of 1.3 billion dollar will finding new construction projects to address childcare capacity shortfalls by adding over 1700 additional childcare spaces.
▶ 0:34:45Sec. Meink: The air force exist to be the t best possible fighting force for our nation. We are building a force that can operate under pressure and deliver effects anywhere in the world. That requires sustained investment, disciplined choices, and an unwavering focus on our people. With your support will ensure they have the tools, training, and backing they need. Thank you. I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:35:09Sec. Meink: >> thank you, chairman, mcconnell.ou, chairman, thank you for your support for the space force at our nation's guardians. Space is more vital than ever to our economic prosperity, national security, and effectiveness of the joint force. Our adversaries are constantly working to take away our military and economic advantages in space. To defend the nation's interests, the space force must do more than grow. We must evolveet the challenges of the new era.
▶ 0:35:40Sec. Meink: The fy 27 budget's investment of $71.1 billion for the space force represents a generational opportunity to position the force to be the rectum of the nati. I know some of the budget increases being considered some big but the space force budget in comparison to other services will is less than 5% of our nation's total military spend, and a the value and return on investment for the nation. That is critical as a down payment to be decelerating demands of the service.
▶ 0:36:11Sec. Meink: En banc 2025 come the space for saa drastic increase in requirements across space access, global mission operations and space control. The trend shows no signs of slowing. To position the service and inform our future needs the ace force has been working hard to define what we believe our future operating environments in the next 15 years and design are addictive for structure to meet the nation's expanding needs. That analysis makes it clear that space force we have today is not the space force we will need in the future.
▶ 0:36:44Sec. Meink: Increases in the budget and in strength are national security imratives. That's why the fy 27 budget bussard topline by 130% and in strength by 27%. The proposed budget paired with the increase in strength will allow the space force to train the guardians we need, build vital space give abilities for the joint force and the nation, and provide this and provide thie infrastructure the growth
▶ 0:37:15Sec. Meink: Demands. To execute our missions it is imperative if we responsibly and effectively convert this increased appropriation and a combat capability and were fighting advantage. Unlike the other services, the majority of the budget is dedicated to developing and fielding new systems and set of personnel or operations and maintenance. That's why the space force is focused on taking advantage of this once in a generation opportunity to enhance acquisition processes with the goal of accelerating t fieldingaccelerating t fielding ccelerating t fielding andlerating t fielding and erating t fielding and vitalng t fielding and vital g t fielding and vital combat space systems at the speed and scale required for each mission.
▶ 0:37:46Sec. Meink: Newly empowered portfolio acquisition executives are positioned to make better and faster program trades, expediting our ability to -- we are simplifying our approach to requirements, bolstering relationships with industry in ensuring vital workforces are expertly trained in the complex tasks of acquisitions. Unlike other services that are modernizing existing systems, the space force cannot modernize what he does not have.
▶ 0:38:13Sec. Meink: We are creating some of the innovative capabilities from the ground up, particularly in space control while we are investing in all categories of counter space systems necessary to deter and defeat aggression in space. We are aggressively pursuing more resilient space architectures that can withstand attacks and operate through extended conflict. The added manpower requires commensurate increases in the structures that support them.
▶ 0:38:41Sec. Meink: The budget request includes required -- requiring milcom to support. It defines a compounding threat and delivers the blueprint required to counter it. We must build the structures and systems to ensure space advantage for years to come. Although the growth request looks large in the vacuum, the request is quite small relative to the overall budget.
▶ 0:39:05Sec. Meink: Our guardians stand ready to deter aggression, protect space enabled way of life and fight and win. As I conclude is the final presentations cso, thank you for enabling our successes and the opportunities to highlight the exceptional regard guardians are doing every day to secure the nation's interests. I look forward to your questions.
▶ 0:39:30Chair Mcconnell: Mr. secretary, a year ago ukraine's operation spiderweb emplod drones to destroy 20 russian military aircraft sitting on the tarmac deep inside russian territory.
▶ 0:39:57Chair Mcconnell: They have conducted regularly long-range -- regular long-range drone strikes deep into russian territory. Switching to another part of the world, earlier this year iran's struck five casey 135 and one e3 on the ground at prince sultan air force base in saudi arabia in drone and missile attacks. Iran has struck U.S.
▶ 0:40:23Chair Mcconnell: Targets in qatar and -- wise U.S. military -- why is the U.S. military so slow to change the changing nature of war?
▶ 0:40:51Chair Mcconnell: What is the air force doing to defend against drones at home and abroad?
▶ 0:40:58Sec. Meink: Thank you. I agree.
▶ 0:41:06Chair Mcconnell: One minute. I think everyone agrees with the secretary's assessment that ukraine is the "silicon valley of warfare." have you instructed any senior air force leaders to visit ukraine to identify lessons and technologies for the air force to apply? Sec.
▶ 0:41:35Chair Mcconnell: Meink I have not instructed anyone vis ukraine. The teams are either visiting ukraine or suppliers for ukraine. I am going to eucom in a week to get infoation on what's going on over there.
▶ 0:41:58Chair Mcconnell: We are well-versed in what ukrainians are doing and with the russians are doing and I agree that this is one of the more significant threats. We have to date treated those as sanctuary locations and not done a lot to defend against them. That is changing quickly. We are in the process of prioritizing the bases and starting to field equipment on the order of 14 base in thes.
▶ 0:42:30Chair Mcconnell: Way from the command and control and monitoring systems around the bases and kinetic, non-kinetic and directed energy type weapons that we are working closely with the task force 401, which is requesting an increase in funding going forward to procure various types of weapon systems.
▶ 0:43:00Chair Mcconnell: Shifting to another topic, executing operation epic fury required both in advance build up combat power in theater and sustainment fligs and long-range strike missions.
▶ 0:43:21Chair Mcconnell: I understand you could not do this without the cooperation with europe and gulf allies on access and overflight. How have operations been affected if you cannot rely on the force multipliers provided by our friends in europe and the gulf?
▶ 0:43:48Chair Mcconnell: There has been suggestion our european allies are not helping us in the area. I think that does not stand up against the facts. How much does air force ability to strike adversary worldwide rely on the access and overflight from allies and partners? With the air force be better off with less access to nato countries?
▶ 0:44:15Sec. Meink: Absolutely not. We have the ability to strike without forward locations pretty much anywhere on the planet but it is greatly facilitated by access to our allies and partners. >> it will significantly limit our options.
▶ 0:44:39Sec. Meink: We do have the capability from other territories we have, locations owned by the U.S. to strike from those locations. If we don't have access basing and overflight into partner and allied countries, it greatly limits our ability to force project, resupply, strike, etc.
▶ 0:45:03Sen. Coons: Thank you, Mr. chairman. Three areas of questions I want to get through. Low cost cruise munitions, joint defense and cca. I will follow up on the point about base defense. The tragedy at tower 22 showed me and many of us the cost of neglecting critical investments in drone defen.
▶ 0:45:31Sen. Coons: You referenced the partnership with a joint task force 401, are you confint each side knows the lanes and hows your work comp amending the dod-wide initiative?
▶ 0:45:46Sec. Meink: I think we do understand. It is a rapidly evolving playing field. How we are going to structure our base defense from an organizational perspective, we are working through it quickly. We are laying out our priorities. That relationship is going well.
▶ 0:46:15Sec. Meink: I think with the funding in the request we should be able to field a lot of equipment quickly.
▶ 0:46:21Sen. Coons: You have a difficult prioritization. As you answered, can you just say is there any authorities, resources and support from ngress you need to get after the problem and where are you most concerned we are not doing enough?
▶ 0:46:44Sec. Meink: Thank you. U for the support you have given us in the past years. We have no limitations overseas where there is active combat happening. There are no authorities limitations. The rules of engagement there are exactly where our war fighters would like them to be. We now have the authorities we need to defend our faces. I don't suggest we change those authorities.
▶ 0:47:14Sec. Meink: Do people know whether lanes are? Yes. We sit on the gtf whirlwind meetings and we take that back to the air staff and can propagate the air force part of the gtf 40 -- gtf the gtf 40 -- gjtf 401.
▶ 0:47:42Sec. Meink: That will be really important for us to bolster this year in the conus. At 26 of key installations for the air force. Previously was 10. We will more than double that.
▶ 0:47:58Sen. Coons: I think it's an absolutely critically mission fr all of us. This committee strongly supports ukraine. I am encouraged to see the range of affordable missile, low cost long-range cruise missiles going into production. I would be interested in what you think we have learned from the e ram, whether the family of missiles will be entering procurement and sufficient to meet demand.
▶ 0:48:26Sen. Coons: General wilsbachm general wilsbach how will that help us, in the china scenario and how you plan to use variance with allies and partners in the region where the to any of distance make coproduction essential?
▶ 0:48:39Gen. Wilsbach: The missiles are on track to start production in september of this year. That's good. What we have learned from seeing these not only in the middle east but also from what's happening in europe is we can see the value of mass, the ability to produce at a much higher rate that gives you the mass. The mass is important because it complicates the other side's defenses.
▶ 0:49:08Gen. Wilsbach: They have to honor every one of those munitions. When you have a lot of them, they will end up using their exquisite defenses to shoot those weapons down and eventually we will get some through. This is true and any theater he went to employee to include the pacific.
▶ 0:49:25Sen. Coons: I will reinforce the lessons and ukraine deserve attention. I'm encouraged by this production and hopeful it will demonsate we are learning the key lessons of ukraine. Last on the cca program. The program is going by over a billion dollars. I'arm not convinced it will be e low-cost platform is meant to be in recognizing a lot of the details we can discuss here.
▶ 0:49:50Sen. Coons: What steps are you taking to ensure this program is held the cost and schedule metrics that are solid and how are you protecting against enthusiasm for the concept of operations, accidentally shielding the program from our decisions and how will we integrate our allies into the program.
▶ 0:50:09Sec. Meink: The platforms are on schedule. They are sticking to their budget targets. The performance in many ways is better than what we expected. With respect to keeping costs down, we have competition, open standards that allows us to bring in several contacts for different pieces of the hardware and bring on additional contractors from the avionics to the aircraft bodies themselves and engine. We are trying to make sure we have a modular structure to drive the cost down.
▶ 0:50:41Sec. Meink: We are working closely with allies to do investments in systems that a similar to what we are doing in the U.S.. I don't know any of those things would be considered truly a treatable. If you look at outhe cost trade with an adversary of cca with a number adversary of cca with a number of versary of cca with a number of long-range cca with a number of long-range weaponsh a compared to the aircraft they might through against him, it's a good cost trade for us going forward.
▶ 0:51:07Sec. Meink: One final thing on the family -- fam weapons systems. 60% of that 30,000 weapons are coming. That tells you the level of investment.
▶ 0:51:23Sen. Coons: Take you both.
▶ 0:51:25Chair Mcconnell: Senator collins, senator baldwin, senator kennedy.
▶ 0:51:32Sen. Collins: Mr. secretary, I'm pleased to see the air force's continued investment in the f-35 modernization, which incdes the engine core upgrade and the power thermal management upgrade.
▶ 0:51:54Sen. Collins: In maine, the pratt & whitney facility in north berwick employmore than 2300 people and plays a critical role in producing and sustaining the f 135 engine. This facility has made substantial investments in workforce capacity to support the long-term success of the f-35. Here is my concern.
▶ 0:52:26Sen. Collins: The administration is proposing that a significant portion of funding foroth of these modernization programs be done through a third reconciliation bill, a bill that may never haen.
▶ 0:52:44Sen. Collins: For example, of the 154 million dollar request for the thermal management upgrade for the engine, only $10 million is requested in the base budget. What is the impact on these programs if they are not fully funded in fiscal year 2027?
▶ 0:53:12Sen. Collins: What would be the implications for the defense industrial base?
▶ 0:53:17Sec. Meink: Thank you, chairwoman, it's a phenomenal engine that pratt builds for the f-35. We continue to modernize the engine going forward to make sure you can keep up with the rest of the aircraft. Yes, the fy 27 budget request is combination of base and reconciliation.
▶ 0:53:41Sec. Meink: We did not prioritized to execute the mission that we are asked to do, the total request is required. If we do not give the total request, prioritization will have to be done with the budget we do get and that's a continual dialogue with congress going forward.
▶ 0:53:57Sen. Collins: Thank you. I suggest that it is taking a terrible risk and creates instability when you are coting on a third reconciliation bill for the bulk of the money ratherr than doing base funding through the defense appropriations bill.
▶ 0:54:18Chair Mcconnell: Can I add one thing? It is safe to conclude they will not be another reconciliation bill. It's really not an option.
▶ 0:54:29Sen. Collins: I agree with that assessment. Let me switch to a different issue. Mr. secretary that conflict with iran has once again underscored the importance of the aerial refueling to U.S. military operations. Tankers are essential to power projection, global mobility, fighter operations, and the sustainment of U.S.
▶ 0:54:59Sen. Collins: Supports -- U.S. forces across multiple theaters. The air refueling wing in bangor, maine, has long played a critical role in that mission, since 2021, and particularly during recent operations we have seen increased activity in bangor reinforcing the importance of the air national guard tanker units to real-world
▶ 0:55:29Sen. Collins: Operational requirements. At the same time, the air force has validated a requirement for up to 75 additional kc 46 aircraft and plans to continue tanker production well into the next decade.
▶ 0:55:46Sen. Collins: Given the strategic importance of tanker aircraft and the continued operational contributions of the air national guard units such as the impressive one in bangor, when should congress expect the air force to provide a clear roadmap for replacing the aging kc 130 five aircraft across the guard tank surprised
▶ 0:56:16Sec. Meink: The tanker fleet air refueling is critical isto operations anywhere in the world, as well as the airlift in general is critical. This is why in the fy 27 budget submission we are maxing out bowen's ability to produce at the max rate they are capable of producing tankers.
▶ 0:56:42Sec. Meink: Our strategy is to replace all the 135's in the fleet going forward. Those aircraft are older than I am. Still flying the same ones that we flew when I was a young second lieutenant. We know we need to replace them.
▶ 0:56:59Sec. Meink: With respect to maine, a phenomenal unit that has done great work and they are part of the next strategic base decisions we hope to get out a narrowing of the field by september or october and I'm sure we will have more conversations.
▶ 0:57:16Sen. Collins: The location is also very stregic, as you are well aware.
▶ 0:57:23Sec. Meink: Yes.
▶ 0:57:29Sen. Collins: Let me end by saying I associate myself with the comments of ukraine and the support for ukraine and giving them the help they need. Thank yo >> thank y, Mr. chairman and Mr. secretary, I want to begin where they chairwoman of the full committee just left off, which is on the kc 46. Thank you all for being here today and for your servre.
▶ 0:58:01Sen. Collins: My question regarding the air force's refueling tanker fleet starts with the fact that the war in iran has shown how important the tankers are the successful U.S. and allied operations. Over the last several years the air force has been procuring kc 46 tankers to replace the aging kc 135's flown by units like there was air national guard's 128th air refueling wing.
▶ 0:58:34Sen. Collins: Seven kc 135's have also been destroyed or damaged in the fighting against iran, including one which tragically crashed in iraq. Losing all six crew on board. For fiscal year 27, the air force is requesting $3.9 billion to procure 15 kc 40 six is.
▶ 0:59:00Sen. Collins: Is this request sufficient to cover the lost kc 135's and the nash and mary -- necessary upgrades to the tanker fleet?
▶ 0:59:10Sec. Meink: Thank you, senator. It was a tragic loss. No question about that. Yes, it is the appropriate amount of money to t build the 6 is. Senator, it is the tax rate from boeing is able to produce the aircraft.
▶ 0:59:33Sec. Meink: We are producing them as fast as we can with the intent of replacing all the kc 135's in the fleet as we build out over the coming years. There was one aircraft that was a total loss. The other six we believe are in the process of being refurbished and will be back in inventory. Nonetheless, these are old airplanes we are replacing as quickly as we can build on.
▶ 0:59:58Sen. Baldwin: You believe the six damaged or destroyed aircraft will be returned to service?
▶ 1:00:04Sec. Meink: One was lost but the other six will return to service, correct.
▶ 1:00:11Sen. Baldwin: Do you anticipate the gap as they are returned to service and the loss of the other one will impact -- how will it impact which units the air force will select for t upgrades to the 46 is? -- kc 46s?
▶ 1:00:40Sec. Meink: Iwill not necessarily impact the basing decisions. It could potentially be a factor as we go through the process. Depending on how long it takes to repair, that will be considered as part of the process. General wilsbach would know the operational impact.
▶ 1:01:03Sen. Baldwin: How long will it take to refurbish the six aircraft?
▶ 1:01:08Gen. Wilsbach: Some of them are already flying. Some had a one time flight to have further repairs. Some are already back in service. The ones with the more significant damage will take a year or two to get fixed. I anticipate they will be back eventually.
▶ 1:01:30Gen. Wilsbach: As far as the operational impact, after they were initially damaged we had a short term contact to the abilityo generate tankers. We filled the gaps and that is doing now as well. There is little impact to the tanker loss.
▶ 1:01:47Sen. Baldwin: I want to ask, general wilsbach, about the air force at 30. By all accounts the f-35 has performed well in the war with an. Only about 50% of the fleet was available fooperations won the war began. .what is the status of air force efforts to improve the combat readiness of the f-35's?
▶ 1:02:14Gen. Wilsbach: The f-35 has performed marvelously it epic fury. You are right. The aircraft availability averages out over the course of time at about 50%■ of the jets we had performed much greater than that. I don't want to say the number because it is classified. He was meeting standards for sure.
▶ 1:02:44Gen. Wilsbach: That tells us when you prioritize the funding for the parts and weapons systems sustainment, the jet flies well. That is why in this budget we have $24 billion for weapon systems sustainment and 10 billion dollars for flight hours and $4.5 billion for working capital fund which funds the necessary parts and weapons systems sustainment.
▶ 1:03:10Gen. Wilsbach: A large portion is for the f-35 and all the fleet so we have the parts of the aircraft so when they come back and they need repairs, airmen can put the parts in and the jet can get back in the air.
▶ 1:03:19Sen. Baldwin: In closing. I want to associate myself with your comments and concerns about the fact that a large part of this act that a large part of this requestt a large part of this request a large part of this request is large part of this request is inrge part of this request is in ge part of this request is in the art of this request is in the partisan reconciliation msure. Not thbase budget we are e putting together. I am very concerned about that. I yit.eld back.
▶ 1:03:47Sen. Kennedy: . Mr. secretary, general, general, thank you for your service. Mr. secretary, I want to start with you. It is not the air force global strike command at barksdale air force base the most spectacular thing you have ever seen in your life?
▶ 1:04:07Sec. Meink: Yes, senator. I was pt of the four runner, strategic air command.
▶ 1:04:18Sen. Kennedy: When are we going to address the staffing shortfalls there?
▶ 1:04:23Sec. Meink: I'm looking to the general but were increasing to the tune of about 10,000 in the military strength within the department for some of the staffing shortfalls.
▶ 1:04:40Gen. Wilsbach: The budget has a dollars to increase the strength of the year of the y air force to allow us to get after a lot of the shortages we have. The staff at global strike command is one of them. Other shortages we have with maintainers,ges we have with maintainers, es we have with maintainers, etc., have with maintainers, etc., thee with maintainers, etc., the with maintainers, etc., the budget request allows us to te care that.
▶ 1:05:04Sen. Kennedy: General, I don't like to do it this way but this will be an exception. I will give you a point of view about what is going on around here. I know you hear all the happy talk. I will try to explain what's going on. I could be wrong but I doubt it. The president has pointed out that we need -- we have a crisis in defense and we need to spend a lot more money. Look around.
▶ 1:05:35Sen. Kennedy: He is correct. He has asked for 42%. It will be tough and regular order to do that now. Republicans want to spend -- we have not come to a final nclusion on the number, anywhere from 25% to 27% more in the budget on defense. My democratic friends in the senate -- and they are my friends -- they have said privately that is swell.
▶ 1:06:08Sen. Kennedy: We want to spend an additional amount of montney on welfare. Now, they are smart people. They know we can't do that and we are not going to do that. If nothing else it would explode the deficit. Besides that, as they know, we don't have a crisis in welfare like we have a crisis in defense. It is not like we are not spending money on welfare.
▶ 1:06:41Sen. Kennedy: If we defined property route -- poverty rate, it would be 1%. I'm not against helping people less fortunate than william. I am for standing up to china and russia and north korea and the other countries I'm talking about. What does that tell me? The democrats hadeve no intentin of helping us pael the budget.
▶ 1:07:09Sen. Kennedy: I also predict, an if I'm wrong I'll apologize, that my friend, senator schumer, will sh down the government to first chance he gets before the midterms. We will be shut down and eventually you will not stay shut down. We will come out of it. At se point. How we will have to come out of it is with the cr. How will that impact the air force's ability to protect this country?
▶ 1:07:41Sen. Kennedy: Because my democratic friends -- they are my friends -- want to play politics before the midterm elections.
▶ 1:07:46Sec. Meink: Whout a reconciliation and year-long cr that keeps us at 890 billion dollars total that would have significant impact on our readiness.
▶ 1:08:02Sec. Meink: A lot of the investments we have been talking about to meet the threats from the unmanned vehicles and the increased readiness for weapons stems to increased the f-35 readiness and munitions procurement, all that is substantially impacted without a reconciliation.
▶ 1:08:24Sen. Kennedy: I think you should prepare for it. Again, I hope I'm wrong. You will hear a lot of happy talk from senatorsut how we need to spend more money on defense. I think a lot of my colleagues have no intention of voting for a budget. Under any circumsnce. They want the government to be shut down and I think senator schumer will accommodate them. I would prepare for a shut down a cr.
▶ 1:08:56Sen. Kennedy: Quickly, since we are shooting down 25,000 dollars drones with million-dollar missiles, why aren't we bear hugging ukraine, the world's expert on s one technology to combat drones with drones?
▶ 1:09:12Sec. Meink: In many ways we are. We are looking to utilize our expertise. We are looking to utilize similar or same manufacturing supply.
▶ 1:09:26Se Kennedy: But it is a hesitancy?
▶ 1:09:27Sec. Meink: Not on our part, senator. The administration does not seem fully committed to partnering up with ukraine. I don't understand why. They know more about drones than anybody. I'm out of time. I'm sorry. Thank you, Mr. chairman.
▶ 1:09:56Chair Mcconnell: L: senator boozn .
▶ 1:10:02Sen. Boozman: : Mr. secretary, we had a good air force talkk last weekek which I think everyone enjoyed. One thing we discussed was the w additional authorities provided by congress to counter drone incursions over the united states. Can you tell us the impac these drone incursions have made on the mission?
▶ 1:10:30Sen. Boozman: Also, what additional authorities would be helpful or needed to protect our infrastructure, airmen and guardians?
▶ 1:10:40Sec. Meink: The impact to operations to this point has been minimal. I'm more concerned about the potential impact to operations if the drone operators, regardless of who they are, got more aggressive. With respect to authorities, we are in pretty good shape. I would like general wilsbach to touch on it.
▶ 1:11:04Gen. Wilsbach: We are giving up intelligence to people that are fine drones on our facilities. If we ever run into the one with an aircraft it will significantly damage it and could cause it torash. That is my greatest concern. We saw what happened to the russians with drone attacks. It is very cheap to fly a drone and attack a very expensive platform.
▶ 1:11:29Gen. Wilsbach: We need to be able to defend every one of our bases and in this budget we are asking for additional funds to increase and eventually getvery single base covered with a defensive system that can detect and defeat any drone that would come to our base. We have the a current authorities to do that.
▶ 1:11:48Sen. Boozman: Very good. I have heard from each of you on the need for more flexility with the multiyear procurement effortprovided to the department. I undetand you made progress with using the authorities for things like munitions procurement. General wilsbach, can you speak to the progress made on these authorities for multiyear procurement?
▶ 1:12:18Sen. Boozman: Are they allowing the air force to succeed in munitions procurement?
▶ 1:12:24Gen. Wilsbach: Thank you, senator. We have authorities for -- we would like to expand that to other weapons systems like the amram and javelin. There are others who would like to expan we believe it creates stability for the industrial base, defense industrial bas that creates what I say is good behavior by them that benefits us.
▶ 1:12:50Gen. Wilsbach: They can hire the right number of people and facility ties in line of the supply chain because they have a stable environment. Weet the equipment we have ordered on time, on contract and at the rate and volume we need.
▶ 1:13:06Sen. Boozman: General saltzman, are you experiencing the same thing?
▶ 1:13:13Gen. Saltzman: Yes, senator. The multiyear procurements vital because it creates stability for vendors, which allows them to invest their own money and that improves our ability and speed and scale to deliver capability. Stability is essential to success.
▶ 1:13:29Sen. Boozman: Last week we discussed the wedge tail and how to consummate the efforts of the golden dome. General saltzman, can you explain how the wedge tail would be beneficial in the space-based airborne moving target indicator as we build up the golden dome?
▶ 1:13:49Gen. Saltzman: My experience in combat tells me that we have a tough situation. The more capability you have, the bette these are complementary systems of only make more options available for air battle management and ming target indications.
▶ 1:14:09Sen. Boozman: Again, general saltzman, what capabilities, missions and operational demands are driving the growth you have in the budget? Can you speak to why this level is necessary at this time?
▶ 1:14:30Gen. Saltzman: S the threat is important. The threat is growing and the missions are important. The space control alone, to secure the space to use it the way we want requires us to invest in new capabilities and new mission sets. Those will be delivered in the next four to five years but they require new centers and personal to fly the satellites, and 10 new program offices just to do the acquisition work.
▶ 1:14:58Gen. Saltzman: We have an increase in manpower, facilities to perform these vital critical functions forhe nation.
▶ 1:15:06Sen. Boozman: Tnk you, Mr. chairman. >> I want to follow up on senator kennedy's concerns because I very much share m the.
▶ 1:15:22Sen. Boozman: If we are not able to do a reconciliation and we continue to work to get the regular funding through in terms of the budgetary process, isn't it vital that we have a supplemental right now to make sure we have provided funding from global military operations?
▶ 1:15:51Sen. Boozman: >> it is vital we get the full budget request. All of the things we have talked about here are because of the increase to the department of air force budget. With respecto supplemental, right now will come out of the omb and white house working on options but I can't speak to supplemental.
▶ 1:16:13Sen. Hoeven: But it is vital we get funding to our military for all of these purposes. And the longer we go at a lower level of fundingocked into a , the biggerroblems we are going to have read is that effect?
▶ 1:16:28Sec. Meink: It is vital we could the resource we are requesting.
▶ 1:16:32Sen. Hoeven: So anyone talking about this and not recognizing that fact is not stepping up and supporting the needs our military has at a very dangerous ti in the world. Isn't that true? Sec. Meink: I agree it is vital we get the resources we requested.
▶ 1:16:46Sen. Hoeven: General, as far as the gulf, talk about the blockade. I'm going to put forward a thought and I way to analyze and tell me what you think. It seems to me if we get better and better at the blockade, which we are, and we bottle up iran a we opened up the strait for everyone else, and we continue to put pressure on our allies to work with us, including nato, does not that
▶ 1:17:16Sen. Hoeven: Long-term put the kind of pressure on iran we need to get the kindf -- make sure they don't ndf -- make sure they don't have-- make sure they don't have - make sure they don't have nuclear ure they don't have nuclear weaponsy don't have nuclear weapons and to get to the ace we need to not just for the good of the united states but for the world?
▶ 1:17:28Gen. Wilsbach: That is getting a little out of my lane but I am tracking what you are saying. It seems that is the objective and the approach the blockade is causing inside of chair
▶ 1:17:40Mcmconnell: .
▶ 1:17:41Sen. Hoeven: In terms of your ability militarily to get to the point where we can block iran with the blockade and opened up the strait, what are your thoughts in terms of getting there, how soon, and how effective?
▶ 1:17:55Gen. Wilsbach: I think you are seeing admiral cooper with centcom is executing that every single day and doing that with the joint force. The air force is providing strike capability overhead as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. That is the air force part of that mission.
▶ 1:18:18Sen. Hoeven: This committee is going to meet with them today and talk about other things. I do want to highlight what you're doing over there, how incredible it is and that this is a strategy -- people have to have some patience but this is a strategy that can work to solve an existential crisis in overtime energy prices will be lower. We are not out there talking, how can we expect people to say, hey, we do have to hang in there and get it accomplished? We can't just have those conversations in the skiff.
▶ 1:18:48Sen. Hoeven: That is why would you bring it up to you as well as technology, incredible work are men and women are doing. I'm sure glad ourr apache pilots are say. We are losing a lot -- we lost some mp9's and that production line has closed down. What are your thoughts and how we cover that base?as
▶ 1:19:10Gen. Wilsbach: It has been a tremendous capability we have used very well inside of epic fury. Have conducted a lot of extremely high-risk missions that we would choose not to put a platform in and they have been very effective. From that standpoint, we have gotten a lot out of them. We have lost some and the approach we are taking now is to refurbish and get ready the remaining block five that we have.
▶ 1:19:41Gen. Wilsbach: We still have a lot of them. I don't want to sayhe number because it is classified. We still have a lot so we are not in a crisis with th at the moment. We are also looking at more affordable option that provides a lot more staying power with respect to on station time which we believe will be a lot more economical and will provide essentially the same capability that an mk nine does for less money and a longer period of time.
▶ 1:20:08Sen. Hoeven: In addition to newer technologies and satellite.
▶ 1:20:12Gen. Wilsbach: Correct. We are putting a lot more in space which general saltzman can talk to.
▶ 1:20:20Sen. Hoeven: Grand forks we are looking at standing up 's operational facility. Talk to be about the mission that you expect to operate out of that. I know there will be a number of others, but specifically, grand forks.
▶ 1:20:32Gen. Saltzman: Thank you. We are focusing on the proliferated constellations up there so that will be the space-based sensing and targeting, missile-defense, space data network all take advantage of that up since we are putting it grand forks.
▶ 1:20:46Sen. Hoeven: Thank you to all of you for the incredible work.
▶ 1:20:56Chair Mcmconnell: Shaheen and that makowski.
▶ 1:21:01Sen. Shaheen: Thank you. Mr. secretary, we had a chance to talk a little bit about the kc 46 and I understand it has come up from a number of people at this hearing. I did want to reiterate what I understood you to say when we had a chance to talk about this at the air force caucus because new hampshire is the home to the 157 air refueling wing.
▶ 1:21:30Sen. Shaheen: It is the only kc 46 wing in the country to reach initial operating capacity. We are very proud of it as you can tell. And I know you've talked about the kc 46 in your written testimony and the investment of over $1 billion in the program. As we know the remote vision system has continued to have issues. I understand they're getting very close to resolution that will be incorporated in the new planes.
▶ 1:21:59Sen. Shaheen: My concern is how you prioritize those planes that are already operating in terms of retrofitting with the new remote vision system. Can you speak to how you see those planes being addressed in terms of the retrofits?
▶ 1:22:19Sec. Meink: We are proud of the unit as well, senator. I think the good news is we believe we have fixed and have tested the new 2.0 vision system and that we should start rolling that into the production line in 2028. How do get to the planes already out there?
▶ 1:22:41Sec. Meink: We arewe working with a strategy for that, but it is essentially going to take significant amount of the airplane. Whether we do it in the field -- we are working our way through that.
▶ 1:22:55N. Shaheen: Can ask you to address as part of your comments how you will view those planes that are already out there? Are you looking at the first ones who were fielded or what is your priority?
▶ 1:23:09Gen. Wilsbach: We have not set the priority for which actual aircraft gets the upgrade to. What I will tell you I the kc 46 is performing magnificently evenith -- we know the current vision system is not what we ordered and that is why we are getting the 2.0 version of it. But even so, it is fine fantastically. It has been doing a great job in epic fury and all over the world. I had a chance to fly the aircraft myself and I can tell you it is a phenomenal aircraft.
▶ 1:23:41Gen. Wilsbach: When we get the deficiencies solved, it wl be even better.
▶ 1:23:44Sen. Shaheen: I certainly agree with that and I hope as you are thinking about how you're going to retrofit those planes that are already operating, that you will think about which ones have been on the ground longest and maybe therefore more capable and maybe more important to address that system. General saltzman, we will miss you as you retire.
▶ 1:24:15Sen. Shaheen: As I wasaying briefly last month, a group of senators traveled to the arctic. We visited in greenland and it was impressive to see the operation there, to see the work with nasa to identify black holes. I was very impressed with that to see the cooperation with our danish and canadian and greenlandic partners.
▶ 1:24:40Sen. Shaheen: It was nice to hear it is going so smoothly despite some of the challenges. Can you and for us in new hampshire to see the station, to know the connection because there is a hub for the space force in new boston as you know. But can you talk about how important it is that radar and space surveillance mission to our homeland as a warning in both u.
▶ 1:25:10Sen. Shaheen: And canada and how we are cooperating with candida on that?
▶ 1:25:13Gen. Saltzman: Under the guardians and airmen at their -- it was important for them as much as it is for us. Greenland is an important strategic area for us missile warning, missile-defense, space domain awareness and selec control network. We have all those kinds of antennas and radars up there to do vital missions.
▶ 1:25:35Gen. Saltzman: That posture, where they are, gives them a different vantage point to collect things and see things that you would not otherwise get an opportunity if we did not have that strategic piece of land. So it is vital. That is why we are investing in it from almost $130 million in this request. We are upgrading the dorms, upgrading the per generation. As you know, that is vital there as well. I think we are upgrading.
▶ 1:26:14Sen. Murkowski: I want to follow on senator shaheen's comments about our arctic visit and particularly to peter vick. Ivan there areultiple occasions -- I have been there multiple occasions. With each visit, I am impressed by what we have but also how old what we have is.
▶ 1:26:34Sen. Murkowski: And we have seen obviously increasing interest in the high north and better understanding the gaps we have in our surveillance is what is going to have to be a priority for us. I appreciate what you have shared in terms of underscoring the importance of the arctic.
▶ 1:27:00Sen. Murkowski: Do you believe that the budget that we have in front of us is going to be appropriate when it comes to not only ensuring the ongoing mission role of the space-based but the role of the space force in the arctic? I ace force in the arctic? I am force in the arctic? I am looking n the arctic? I am looking at he arctic? I am looking at thearctic? I am looking at the rctic?
▶ 1:27:28Sen. Murkowski: I am looking at the budget and it is pretty significant in terms of its growth. But I am concerned we don't specifically call out the strategic investment in the arctic. I would like to ask you that questi.
▶ 1:27:49Sen. Murkowski: General wilsbach, you know it is coming to you, too, so I would like just to hear from the t of you whether you think this budget whether you think this budget adequatelyu think this budget adequately think this budget adequately reflectshis budget adequately reflects is budget adequately reflects the ongoing priority of the arctic. >> I believeie it is. I believe there are substantial investments.
▶ 1:28:09Sen. Murkowski: Will collect specifically the investments in support of the vick but the posre that we have in the arctic in alaska as you will note in greenland I particular, even in our northern tier basins, publishing missile warnings, missile-defense, space domain awareness are vital. And we are upgrading the systems to make sure they get rid of some obsolescence. These are older systems. We want to digitize them and make them relevant to the future fight. Ands budget does invest along those lines.
▶ 1:28:40Sen. Murkowski: ?
▶ 1:28:42Gen. Wilsbach: Probably the biggest I can give you is a recapitalization of almost $7 billion to recapitalize the fighter side of that base and that is a significana t amount f money to create a very strategic it's five for the fighter aircraft that we have stationed. And the other is the weapon systeme other is the weapon system other is the weapon system sustainment e weapon system sustainment for apon system sustainment for then f-35's.
▶ 1:29:10Gen. Wilsbach: So between elmendorf we have 's and 35's and the strategic location of alaska is where you can get those jets anywhere in the northern hemisphere come abomout nine hours of flying ti. That is a strategic point. And to avoid -- invest in those two is increasing our capability to make those happen at the time and place of our choosing.
▶ 1:29:37Sen. Murkowski: I thank you for reinforcing the priority of that. And an emphasis that this is a natial priority, not necessarily this is alaska-specific but what that allows us to do from the perspective of true strategic positioning.
▶ 1:29:57Sen. Murkowski: I think it was important for colleagues, many of whom had never been to the arctic, to understand how this north american connect between alaska, canada, and then greenland -- how working together, we are able to have a positn of not only leverage, but also a domain-awareness that does not come with just increased aets
▶ 1:30:29Sen. Murkowski: On the ground in alaska. It has got to be linked together. And so we saw se pretty impressive things, not only in greenland, but also understanding what our canadian neighbors are doing, what they need to do more of. But how integrate across the far nortis going -- has to be a priority moving forward.
▶ 1:30:52Gen. Wilsbach: Do your point you de about domain awareness, the funding for the e7 the space-based will help us with domain awareness.
▶ 1:31:03Sen. Murkowski: Thank you for raising the e7. We have had multiple conversations aboutow this must remain a priority for us. I timeas expired. General, you and I have also talked about the hc130 and the importance in alaska from the rescue but also sing that play out in real time -- seeing that play out in real time with the iran conflict.
▶ 1:31:30Sen. Murkowski: I would just hope you are able to ould just hope you are able to confirmst hope you are able to confirm t hope you are able to confirm theope you are able to confirm the pe you are able to confirm the hc130j are able to confirm the hc130j combatle king 2 fleet that will be station nationwide to continue these important missions.
▶ 1:31:44Gen. Wilsbach: I'm glad you brought that up. One of the early measures I took when I took it was to keep the hc130's together with the other spread to separate them decreases our capability. Eris no plans in alaska or anywhere else to separate those at this time.
▶ 1:32:08Sen. Murkowski: Gentlemen, thank you all. Appreciate it.
▶ 1:32:12Chair Mcmconnell: I want to thank our witnesses. Thank you for your service and your testimony today. Members of the subcommittee will have a week to submit additional questions for the record. Senators may submit aitional written questions and we ask you respond to them within 30 days of receiving them. The subcommittee is subject to recess of the call of the chair.