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The next article in a continuing Monday morning series on The Air Force's C-17 airlifter cargo plane built in Long Beach.
What happened last week?--the Defenders look headed for victory--we rent from the Russians nearly 20 times a month.
First, a recap. This is a contest between the Obama Administration, as represented by Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, (hereinafter known as the Challengers) and the Boeing Company along with a bipartisan host of elected officials from around the country, (hereinafter known as the Defenders). This match began on April 6, 2009, when the Challengers announced their plans to end production of C-17s. Since that time, the Defenders have been working hard to reverse that decision. Last week, the U.S. Air Force revealed to OC180NEWS the number of times they hired Russian planes because there just were not enough C-17s to go around.
It has been widely reported that last week, the House-Senate Conference Committee added additional funding for eight C-17s to the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill. Your Editors expect this bill to arrive intact on President Obama's desk for signature into law sometime in the next week or so. Further, since it is a "must pass" bill to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, even though the Challengers have clearly said they do not need the $2.3 billion worth of more C-17s, the President will sign it.
Since the Obama Administration started this boxing match by announcing cancellation of the C-17 program when they launched their proposed 2010 annual defense budget, their lack of fight after that initial round has left them appearing to be impotent. Collectively, the Challengers have done rather little after that first round to win cancellation of the program. This is not because they have presented their ideas and facts about which reasonable people disagree. Rather, they have essentially said--"we don't need more planes--and--just trust us".
Much of the press on this issue and the rhetoric from the Defenders has focused attention on the jobs at stake. But, since Boeing cranks out 15 planes per year, this funding will only extend the line for about 6 months. That extension could, however, set up a situation where the line can be funded each year in the annual Defense budget.
The U.S. Air Force should receive the last of the 205 planes they say they need in early 2011. If production continues without disruption, the 8 planes they say are not needed would be delivered by around the end of 2011. Maybe by then, the U.S. Air Force can stop renting Russian planes to provide for its needed heavy airlift capacity.
In our article of June 1, we reported that starting in 2007 in order to deliver heavy equipment to the battle zones when needed, the U.S. Transportation Command was forced to contract heavy airlift to companies flying the Russian made and Russian piloted Antonov An-124. Your Editors wondered exactly how common this was. Last week, we got our answer from the U.S. Air Force. During the last 12 months, the U.S. Transportation Command has used the An-124 at an average rate of 17 trips per month. The Air Force spokesperson told us they use the contracted services only when USAF planes are not available.