DefenceTalkThe Air Force will see few force structure changes this year, but readiness and modernization accounts will be in flux this year and next, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said here today. The secretary also told the Defense Writers’ Group that now is the time for another base realignment and closure process. Readiness and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/readiness-modernization-in-flux-air-force-secretary-says-47577/

DefenceTalkThe four branches of the military delivered another warning to Congress April 18 that a prolonged budget sequester will significantly affect military readiness, and could leave the services unable to carry out defense strategy. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry Spencer told lawmakers sequestration has forced the cancellation of flying hours, the stand-down […]https://www.defencetalk.com/sequestration-will-affect-force-readiness-47564/

DefenceTalkThe top leaders from Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force Reserve and National Guard were on Capitol Hill here April 17 to provide statements and answer questions regarding their FY14 budget proposals. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., the chairwoman of the full U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., the chairman of the Subcommittee […]https://www.defencetalk.com/reserve-guard-leaders-discuss-fy14-budget-47544/

DefenceTalkSpeaking to a Senate panel about the effects of sequestration on the national security environment, the director of national intelligence said today that he’s “seen this movie before.” During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on current and future worldwide threats, James R. Clapper said he served through the last round of budget cuts 20 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cuts-make-intelligence-failures-likely-top-intel-official-says-47534/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force told Congress yesterday the budget sequester will lead to a marked decrease in force readiness by October, including reduced flying hours and unit stand-downs which will in turn lead to long-term degradation of combat readiness. In a joint statement submitted to the committee, Lt. Gen. Burton M. Field, the Air Force’s deputy […]https://www.defencetalk.com/services-outline-air-combat-assets-in-light-of-budget-cuts-47532/

DefenceTalkAs Defense Department leaders defend before Congress the president’s $526.6 billion base defense budget request for fiscal year 2014, DOD officials are preparing a review that reassesses assumptions driving the Pentagon’s investment and force structure decisions, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Hagel said the review, conducted […]https://www.defencetalk.com/hagel-review-to-assess-investment-force-structure-assumptions-47508/

DefenceTalkWorld military expenditure totalled $1.75 trillion in 2012, a fall of 0.5 per cent in real terms since 2011, according to figures released today by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The comprehensive annual update of the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database is accessible from today at www.sipri.org. The fall—the first since 1998—was driven by major […]https://www.defencetalk.com/world-military-spending-falls-but-china-russias-spending-rises-47478/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force’s $114.1 billion fiscal 2014 budget request will provide for the most capable airpower arm possible, the Air Force chief of staff said here today. Testifying with Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III told the House Armed Services Committee his service’s portion of DOD’s fiscal 2014 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/budget-request-provides-for-best-air-force-possible-welsh-says-47492/

DefenceTalkThe Army’s assistant secretary for Installations, Energy and Environment was back on Capitol Hill along with Defense Department and service counterparts to request another round of base realignment and closure in fiscal year 2015. Katherine Hammack testified before the House Appropriations Committee, April 12, that as the Army reduces its force structure and end strength […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-requests-another-brac-round-in-fiscal-year-2015-47497/

DefenceTalkThe large, multiyear, single prime contract model is yielding to a small, short-term, multivendor model in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) market. By 2017, spending will focus on maintenance and incremental upgrades to mature technologies. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, US DoD C4ISR […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-dod-c4isr-spending-to-focus-on-maintenance-of-existing-platforms-47457/