Senate looks to block divestments in airpower, and more

Here is a brief overview of the actions the Senate’s current version of the NDAA would take if passed today:

• Block any cuts to the U.S. Air Force’s A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft fleet.
  • The Air Force is seeking to retire the oldest 44 A-10s in the 2021 Fiscal Year.
• Delay any divestment of KC-135R and KC-10A aerial refueling tankers until a full fix for the troubled Remote Vision System (RVS) on the KC-46A is implemented.
• Prevents U.S. Special Operations Command from getting rid of any manned intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, such as the U-28A Draco.
• Blocks U.S. Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM) planned purchase of manned “armed overwatch” light attack aircraft “until it is determined the Air Force’scurrent forces have neither the skill nor capacity to provide close air support to U.S. forces deployed operationally.”
• Adds 12 more F-35A Joint Strike Fighters for the Air Force, as well as two more F-35Bs and F-35Cs for the Marine Corps and Navy, each, respectively.
• “Increases MQ-9 procurement by a total of $170.6 million to prevent termination without a replacement.”

That was from The WarZone, “Senate Looks To Block Many Of The Pentagon’s “Tough Choices” Airpower Cuts In Next Budget.” More at the link. Here’s the SASC Committee’s write up.