Defense acquisition system due for change

2/28/2003 - WASHINGTON -- America produces the world's best military aerospace hardware but other nations are pulling ahead, the Air Force senior executive told lawmakers Feb. 27.

Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche told members of the House Armed Services Committee that apparent contradiction is the result of a cumbersome acquisition system.

According to Roche, foreign nations are able to buy American-made aircraft up to four times faster than the Air Force.

"(Air Force Chief of Staff) Gen. John P. Jumper and I have looked at when each of these (foreign) contacts were signed and when the articles were delivered," he said. "We were stunned."

Even though aircraft with "enormous improvements" in electronics and engines commonly have integration problems, Roche said foreign nations are still having their purchases delivered faster.

"Something is not right with our way of acquisition," he said.

Roche said he is working to correct the disparity between foreign and domestic sales. The secretary of defense will make the final decision on whether or not the service moves forward with any changes.

"We set a goal within the Air Force to streamline our acquisition system to try to match the dramatically shorter timelines foreign buyers enjoy when they fund and buy American," he said.

To illustrate his point, the secretary pointed to the superior aspects of other nations' air forces, noting that:

-- Japan has the best air battle management aircraft.

-- Until the F/A-22 Raptor is fielded, the best twin-engine fighter is South Korea's F-15K.

-- Block-60 F-16s, purchased by the United Arab Emirates, will be the world's best single-engine fighter.

-- Other nations with newer F-16s than the United States include Israel, Greece, Oman, Singapore, Chile and Poland.

"This is not an argument against foreign military sales," Roche said. "It's fundamentally recognizing the need to recapitalize our aging aircraft fleet."

The average aircraft in the Air Force is 23 years old.

Roche acknowledges that while the investment of allies are of value to alliances and the American industrial base, he is concerned that other nations are now fielding better equipment.

"We are facing the undeniable reality that ... superior capabilities are now, or shortly will be, present in American-produced airplanes that don't fly an American flag," he said.

"This concerns me, and should concern anyone who cares about giving the best our nation has to offer to the men and women of our armed forces."