H.Hrg.119

1[House Hearing, 119 Congress]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                         [H.A.S.C. No. 119-29]56                                HEARING78                                   ON910                   NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT11                          FOR FISCAL YEAR 20261213                                  AND1415              OVERSIGHT OF PREVIOUSLY AUTHORIZED PROGRAMS1617                               BEFORE THE1819                      COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES20                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES2122                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2324                             FIRST SESSION25                               __________2627                         FULL COMMITTEE HEARING2829                                   ON3031          DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE FISCAL YEAR 2026 POSTURE32                               __________3334                              HEARING HELD3536                              JUNE 5, 20253738              [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3940                                 ______4142                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE434464-331                     WASHINGTON : 20264546                      COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES4748                    One Hundred Nineteenth Congress4950                     MIKE ROGERS, Alabama, Chairman5152JOE WILSON, South Carolina           ADAM SMITH, Washington53MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio              JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut54ROBERT J. WITTMAN, Virginia,         JOHN GARAMENDI, California55  Vice Chair                           DONALD NORCROSS, New Jersey56AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia                SETH MOULTON, Massachusetts57SAM GRAVES, Missouri                 SALUD O. CARBAJAL, California58ELISE M. STEFANIK, New York          RO KHANNA, California59SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee          WILLIAM R. KEATING, Massachusetts60TRENT KELLY, Mississippi             CHRISSY HOULAHAN, Pennsylvania61DON BACON, Nebraska                  JASON CROW, Colorado62JACK BERGMAN, Michigan               MIKIE SHERRILL, New Jersey63RONNY JACKSON, Texas                 JARED F. GOLDEN, Maine64PAT FALLON, Texas                    SARA JACOBS, California65CARLOS A. GIMENEZ, Florida           MARILYN STRICKLAND, Washington66NANCY MACE, South Carolina           PATRICK RYAN, New York67BRAD FINSTAD, Minnesota              GABE VASQUEZ, New Mexico68MORGAN LUTTRELL, Texas               CHRISTOPHER R. DELUZIO,69JENNIFER A. KIGGANS, Virginia          Pennsylvania70JAMES C. MOYLAN, Guam                JILL N. TOKUDA, Hawaii71CORY MILLS, Florida                  DONALD G. DAVIS, North Carolina72RICHARD McCORMICK, Georgia           GILBERT RAY CISNEROS JR.,73LANCE GOODEN, Texas                    California74CLAY HIGGINS, Louisiana              ERIC SORENSEN, Illinois75DERRICK VAN ORDEN, Wisconsin         MAGGIE GOODLANDER, New Hampshire76JOHN J. McGUIRE III, Virginia        SARAH ELFRETH, Maryland77PAT HARRIGAN, North Carolina         GEORGE WHITESIDES, California78MARK B. MESSMER, Indiana             DEREK TRAN, California79DEREK SCHMIDT, Kansas                EUGENE SIMON VINDMAN, Virginia80JEFF CRANK, Colorado                 WESLEY BELL, Missouri81ABRAHAM J. HAMADEH, Arizona8283                      Chris Vieson, Staff Director84               Whitney Verett, Professional Staff Member85                Maria Vastola, Professional Staff Member86                  Austin Richards, Research Assistant8788                            C O N T E N T S8990                              ----------91                                                                   Page9293              STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS9495Rogers, Hon. Mike, a Representative from Alabama, Chairman,96  Committee on Armed Services....................................     197Smith, Hon. Adam, a Representative from Washington, Ranking98  Member, Committee on Armed Services............................     299100                               WITNESSES101102Meink, Troy E., Secretary of the Air Force.......................     4103Saltzman, Gen B. Chance, USSF, Chief of Space Operations, United104  States Space Force.............................................     5105Allvin, Gen David W., USAF, Chief of Staff of the Air Force......     7106107                                APPENDIX108109Prepared Statements:110111    Combined statement of Dr. Meink, General Saltzman, and112      General Allvin.............................................    79113114Documents Submitted for the Record:115116    [There were no Documents submitted.]117118Witness Responses to Questions Asked During the Hearing:119120    Ms. Houlahan.................................................   107121    Ms. Tokuda...................................................   107122    Ms. Goodlander...............................................   108123    Mr. McGuire..................................................   109124125Questions Submitted by Members Post Hearing:126127    Mr. Smith....................................................   113128    Mr. Wilson...................................................   114129    Mr. Wittman..................................................   114130    Mr. Scott....................................................   116131    Mr. Moulton..................................................   122132    Mr. Carbajal.................................................   124133    Mr. Bacon....................................................   126134    Mr. Bergman..................................................   126135    Ms. Sherrill.................................................   128136    Mr. Jackson..................................................   129137    Ms. Strickland...............................................   131138    Mr. Ryan.....................................................   131139    Ms. Kiggans..................................................   132140    Ms. Tokuda...................................................   132141    Mr. Moylan...................................................   134142    Mr. Davis....................................................   134143    Mr. Gooden...................................................   136144    Ms. Goodlander...............................................   137145    Ms. Elfreth..................................................   138146    Mr. McGuire..................................................   138147    Mr. Hamadeh..................................................   139148149          DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE FISCAL YEAR 2026 POSTURE150151                              ----------152153                          House of Representatives,154                               Committee on Armed Services,155                            Washington, DC, Thursday, June 5, 2025.156    The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:00 a.m., in room1572118, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Mike Rogers [Chairman158of the Committee] presiding.159160 OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MIKE ROGERS, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM161         ALABAMA, CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES162163    The Chairman. I want to welcome our witnesses and thank you164all for your service to our great country. We are here today to165hear from the Department of the Air Force on its FY26 budget166request. Unfortunately, we still have not received information167on the Air Force's budget request which makes today's hearing a168little difficult.169    We'll need that budget in order to fully evaluate how170Congress can best support our Airmen and Guardians. We're171facing the most complex threat environment in history. China is172moving forward on sixth generation fighter jets and173sophisticated air defense systems.174    They are expanding their nuclear arsenal at an alarming175rate. And they're deploying advanced hypersonic weapons and176long range cruise missiles capable of hitting our homeland.177That's why it's never been more important to invest in modern178systems that will deter and defeat threats against our nation.179    Fortunately, the House passed a reconciliation bill. It180makes generational investments in our national security. The181bill provides over $7 billion to support air superiority,182including funds to acquire the F-47, the most advanced and183lethal aircraft ever built.184    It provides 13 billion to modernize our nuclear deterrent185and rebuild related infrastructure. And it invests over 25186billion in Golden Dome layered missile defense system. But six187generation fighters, nuclear modernization, and Golden Dome are188all big ticket items that will take years to fully develop.189    And the funding in our reconciliation bill will not be190enough to fully support those initiatives. That's why it's so191important for defense spending to grow in the out years.192Reconciliation is a one-time investment. We've got to do more.193    It must be followed by healthy increases in the base budget194so we can afford to fill these critical capabilities without195cuts to readiness. While I'm supportive of much of the Air196Force's work, I do have concerns with some of the ongoing197projects. Nuclear deterrence is vital to our national security,198and I'm concerned that the Air Force is not adequately199prioritizing it.200    Specifically, I'm troubled by past mismanagement of the201Sentinel Program. We must ensure Sentinel is ready in time to202replace the current intercontinental ballistic missiles before203they reach their end of life. Congress has been explicit about204the need to address Sentinel's cost and schedule overruns. We205have prioritized and appropriated funding to fix these206problems. And yet the Air Force has taken 1.2 billion out of207Sentinel funds and used them instead to meet our other208priorities in FY25.209    I want to be very clear. The Sentinel Program is vital to210modernizing our triad and ensuring nuclear deterrence. Senior211Air Force leaders have made frequent statements agreeing that212the service must prioritize nuclear deterrence. It's time to213start walking the walk.214    I look forward to working with you to get this program back215on track. I'm also concerned with our ability to fight and win216in space. Specifically, I worry that when we see the budget, it217may not adequately fund the Space Force.218    This is one reason why we need budget details so we can219evaluate whether the funding is in line with our priorities.220Within the Space Force, I want to be sure we don't lose sight221of our mission. Space Force got its start in this committee,222driven by desire to improve the way we buy things for space.223    Winning the fight in space requires us to quickly develop224advanced systems and platforms. Doing so starts with highly225trained acquisition professionals. Every Guardian supports the226warfighting mission. So I encourage you to ensure that in the227Space Force, operators, acquisition, intel, and cyber228professionals are all on equal footing.229    Finally, as the Department starts rebalancing the general230officer corps, I strongly encourage you to ensure that the231Space Force receives additional billets to address its unique232needs as a new and growing service. I look forward to working233with you to ensure our Airmen and Guardians have the resources234they need to successfully carry out their critical missions.235    I yield to my friend, the ranking member, for any opening236statement he may have.237238STATEMENT OF HON. ADAM SMITH, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM WASHINGTON,239          RANKING MEMBER, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES240241    Mr. Smith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And as is usually the242case, I agree substantially with your assessment. And the243budget certainly is where the problem starts. I mean, first of244all, we don't have one.245    This is the latest we've gone in history, I believe,246without getting a budget. It is very important. I know you247gentlemen are not in charge of that. But to the extent that you248have influence, if we could encourage the White House to get249this process moving, that would be enormously helpful. It's250difficult for Congress to do its job and adequately fund our251needs without having the starting point of the President's252budget.253    And the second problem is what the chairman alluded to.254Within the needs that we know that we're looking at in the Air255Force's area, there's a lot to cram in there. And it does not256appear like it's going to all fit.257    So I'm particularly curious as you're trying to balance, as258we move towards the F-47, the former next generation air259dominance, we try to upgrade the nuclear triad, meet our260fighter attack needs, deal with the unmanned aerial vehicles.261All of that space, how does that come together and fit into a262budget that makes sense? Because it seems like we are starting263a lot of programs that ultimately we're not going to be able to264afford to fund all of them.265    So it'd be better if we made choices up front. So you're266going to have a lot of questions about, how does that work? How267do all of these programs go forward and we still wind up with a268budget that we need?269    In space, I am encouraged by the improvements that have270been made on building a resilient architecture. Space is so271central to everything we do in terms of secure communications,272dealing with contested logistics. We've made a lot of progress.273    And I want to thank the chairman. In absentia, I thank Mr.274Cooper, our former member. It was the chairman and Mr. Cooper275who had the vision to create the Space Force in the first276place. I think that's enormously important. But we'd like to277get further updates on how that architecture is being updated278to make it more resilient and meet all of those very difficult279needs.280    Lastly, as I'm sure you've heard, acquisition reform is an281enormous priority for this committee and for Congress. We're282going to take a big swing at it this year. I will be curious to283hear your thoughts about what that looks like.284    Sadly, within your Department between the tanker, the F-35,285and the Sentinel, we have a lot of experience with programs286that went way over budget. What have we learned? How can we do287that better?288    And then connected to that as well, something we talked289about yesterday, taking advantage of a lot of, in many cases,290smaller innovative companies that are building crucial things291around missiles, satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles that are292much cheaper and much more effective in many instances. How do293we integrate those new innovative companies into the Defense294Department so we can take advantage of the technologies and the295equipment that they're building?296    With that, I look forward to your testimony, and I yield297back.298    The Chairman. I thank the ranking member. Now I'd like to299introduce our witnesses. The Honorable Troy Meink is the300Secretary of the Air Force. Congratulations and welcome.301General Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, welcome302back. And General David Allvin is Chief of Staff of the Air303Force. Welcome back, General.304    I want to start with you, Mr. Meink. You're recognized for305five minutes.306307STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE TROY MEINK, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF308                         THE AIR FORCE309310    Dr. Meink. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So Chairman Rogers,311Ranking Member Smith, and distinguished members of the312committee, General Allvin and General Saltzman and I thank you313for the opportunity to testify here today. We're looking314forward to it.315    The Department of the Air Force is at an inflection point.316We are engaging in a fast paced race for technology superiority317against a well resourced, strategic opponent. However, we318simultaneously face personnel and platform challenges affecting319our immediate readiness.320    We must balance our requirements to generate readiness and321project power today with imperative to rebuild our military and322develop capabilities so that we can continue to deter our323adversaries tomorrow. Our fiscal priorities are focused on324addressing the balance between these realities and supporting325national security objectives as outlined in the Interim326National Defense Guidance. The scope and severity the threat to327our homeland and national interests are significant and328increasing, and we are now facing one of the most dangerous329security environments in our history.330    Department of the Air Force has structured our long-term331strategy around the belief that China is a pacing threat. And332this reality directly influences the Department's fiscal333priorities. China's defense budget has nearly doubled during334the past 11 years, growing 6 percent annually on average.335    United States defense spending has seen around 3 percent336growth over the same period, increasing below the rate of337inflation over the last five years. And many of our allies and338partners, defense spending rates are even lower than ours.339These limitations have allowed China to start closing the gap.340    Defending the homeland is the Department of the Air Force's341top priority. We will be continuing to do so by modernizing our342nuclear force, especially through the Sentinel, the B-21, Long343Range Standoff weapons as well as the nuclear command and344control and communication that supports these systems. We're345also eager to support the President's Golden Dome for America.346While still in the conceptual stage, there's no question that347the Department of the Air Force will have a significant role in348this project.349    Our next priority is to deter China. We will do this350through investments in our people, our readiness, and our351posture within the Indo-Pacific region. We believe that our352people are and will continue to be one of the nation's key353competitive advantages.354    We're working to train our Airmen and Guardians to confront355the brutal challenges that warfare without sanctuary presents.356We're emphasizing readiness by creating new inspections,357assessments, and exercises geared towards preparing our358personnel for this environment. Finally, we are strengthening359our posture with an Indo-Pacific region, conducting high-level360operational exercises that will test our ability to deploy and361operate in austere environments.362    Lastly, the Department of the Air Force is prepared to363provide critical capabilities and forces to the joint364warfighter in order defeat our adversaries if deterrence fails.365We will concentrate our efforts in two areas, first, in our366ability to fight today, and second, in our ability to fight in367the future. Through our current and future investments, the368Department aims to establish a balance of high and low mix of369combat capabilities optimized to project power both from within370and outside the adversary's threat environment.371    The Department of the Air Force is also looking to372streamline our forces whenever possible. This includes finding373creative ways to remove excess infrastructure and retire374obsolete inventory. We also recognize our need and375responsibility to pass an audit as soon as possible. And we are376working to make that a reality.377    The Department of the Air Force is extremely proud of all378of our Airmen and Guardians defending our great nation and its379interest every hour of every day. We commit to working with380this committee to secure the FY26 budget request which will381directly support our Airmen and Guardians and their382uncompromising mission. We thank you for your time and look383forward to your questions.384    [The combined prepared statement of Dr. Meink, General385Saltzman, and General Allvin can be found in the Appendix on386page 79.]387    The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.388    General Saltzman, you're recognized.389390    STATEMENT OF GENERAL B. CHANCE SALTZMAN, CHIEF OF SPACE391             OPERATIONS, UNITED STATES SPACE FORCE392393    General Saltzman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Rogers,394Ranking Member Smith, distinguished members of the committee,395thank you for your continued support and for the opportunity to396testify on the Space Force's posture for FY26. Never before in397our history has space been more critical to the future of our398nation.399    Now more than ever, satellites underpin our economic400prosperity, enabling everything from transportation,401communication to agriculture and finance. Space has likewise402become the backbone of national security. And today's Joint403Forces built around the assumption that space power will be404there when needed.405    Global positioning system allows our forces to mass and406maneuver fires with unprecedented accuracy and efficiency.407Satellite communications ensure command and control of408operations around the world in real time. And today's cutting409edge satellites provide the warfighter with constant and410detailed battlefield awareness, alerting America's forces of411missile launches and threatening adversarial activity.412    All of these effects and more are provided by your Space413Force. At a cost of only about 3 percent of the larger414Department of Defense budget and with less than 1 percent of415the personnel, there's no question our nation's Space Force is416a great value proposition for the Department and an417indispensable national asset for modern power projection. It is418imperative that we match the dramatic rise in threats and419increasing importance of space with resources to arm the Space420Force effectively.421    The Space Force has been asked to accept new422responsibilities and new missions. These new missions require423new resources, or we will face tough choices between delayed424readiness, reduced capacity, or unaddressed vulnerabilities. To425illustrate my point, in the past three years, the Space Force426has been asked to take on critical new missions like ground and427air moving target indications, adding new space control428capabilities, advanced training requirements, and a threefold429increase in launch tempo at our national space ports.430    The most recent addition to our mission set is the space431base technology associated with the Golden Dome program. These432are not modernization efforts or shifts from legacy missions.433They represent new requirements for missions that have never434been accomplished by a military space organization.435    By FY26, we will have laid the foundational groundwork to436continue these efforts in earnest. Our acquisition efforts are437fully leveraging expanded authorities, enhanced contracting438mechanisms, and new processes like the software acquisition439pathway. If the resources are made available, the Space Force440will be postured to use them effectively in pursuit of these441critical priority missions at a time of increasing adversarial442challenges in the space domain.443    To be successful in our expanding mission portfolio, we444must be able to control the space domain, protecting our445capabilities in space while denying an adversary the ability to446use space against us. In pursuit of our critical mission, Space447Force priorities have remained consistent: build comprehensive448domain awareness, deploy resilient mission architectures, and449develop the capacity to hold an adversary's space assets at450risk.451    To that end, we are developing cutting-edge sensors and452networks to provide critical information to decision makers.453We're bolstering our launch infrastructure and deployed454proliferated constellations that are more resilient to attack.455We're developing a host of innovative means to protect our456satellites and networks, and we are investing in robust457counterspace systems to defeat space enabled threats to our458forces and to our homeland.459    Driving a cultural change to increase the speed and460effectiveness of acquiring these new systems will be critical461to our success. In fact, this is part of the Guardian DNA since462improving acquisition was a driving force behind the creation463of the Space Force from day one. Our acquisition professionals464understand the unique needs of the warfighter.465    And these Guardians have driven efficiencies across all466mission areas, saving hundreds of millions of dollars on launch467services, leveraging novel contracting authorities to shave468months off contracting timelines, and setting a new record for469tactically responsive space just last year. All this while470embracing a number of changes to our institutional culture to471support improved acquisition, readiness, and sustainment,472including standing up integrated units with sustainment and473operations side by side and establishing enhanced acquisition474training at all levels to ensure a firm understanding about475acquisitions and operations combined to create combat ready476forces.477    We must institutionalize these early wins to ensure that478complex ecosystems of acquisition, budget, and requirements479continues to rapidly produce equipment our warfighters need to480win in space. Today with your support, our nation's guardians481are poised to ensure we maintain our national advantage in482space. So again, thank you to the committee for providing the483support to make these successes possible, and I thank you for484the opportunity to highlight the tremendous work that our485Guardians are doing to secure our nation's interest in, from,486and to space. I look forward to your questions.487    [The combined prepared statement of Dr. Meink, General488Saltzman, and General Allvin can be found in the Appendix on489page 79.]490    The Chairman. Thank you, General Saltzman.491    General Allvin, you're recognized.492493   STATEMENT OF THE GENERAL DAVID W. ALLVIN, CHIEF OF STAFF,494                    UNITED STATES AIR FORCE495496    General Allvin. Good morning, Chairman Rogers, Ranking497Member Smith, and distinguished members of this committee. I'm498proud to represent the 677,000 total force Airmen serving our499nation. Thank you for your support, not only to those Airmen500but to their families as well.501    I'd like to open by expressing my immense pride in the502exemplary performance of our Airmen in securing our homeland503and deployed worldwide. From the Indo-Pacific to the Middle504East to our southern border, they're working around the clock505to deliver air power anytime, anywhere. The strategic landscape506has shifted dramatically.507    We now operate in a world where the People's Republic of508China is not only rapidly modernizing its military but is doing509so with the clear intent to coerce its neighbors and reshape510the international order to include a People's Republic of China511nuclear breakout that demands unmatched deterrence512capabilities. In parallel, we're seeing unprecedented threats513to our homeland. Our mission is clear: maintain air power514dominance, safeguard our security, deter aggression, and515prevail in conflict. To achieve peace through strength, we must516adapt and evolve.517    Reinforced by our most recent interim national defense518strategic guidance, our Air Force has three enduring519priorities. First, we must defend the homeland. Air and missile520threats are evolving in both speed and sophistication. And the521ability to detect, track, and defeat those threats in real time522is foundational to our national defense and is nonnegotiable.523    Simultaneously, the United States Air Force provides524reliable, effective, and safe nuclear deterrent that is the525backbone of strategic stability. These priorities are526paramount, cannot fail, and must be given equal weight.527Finally, we must project power globally, either independently528or as part of the Joint Force to rapidly respond anywhere to529deter aggression and win.530    This is what makes our Air Force unique, and it is needed531now more than ever. To achieve these priorities, we're asking532for sustained support for modernization and the development of533new capabilities. The FY26 budget request is designed to build534a force, aligned with today's operational realities.535    This means preserving current readiness and optimizing our536force tailored to design for contested environments, one that537blends next generation aircraft, autonomous systems, and538resilient command and control. Our modernization efforts to539rebuild our military include the continued development of the540F-47, the integration of collaborative combat aircraft, and541other possibilities to expand combat mass at lower cost. We're542also upgrading the F-35 and F-15.543    These platforms are critical to retain the edge our544warfighters need. At the same time, we're recapitalizing aging545fleets, essential for maintaining power projection in the546interim. Our investment in nuclear modernization remains a top547priority with funding directed towards Sentinel Program, B-21548radar, and revitalized B-52 fleet.549    These systems will anchor our strategic deterrent for550decades to come. Equally important is the investment in our551Airmen. We are enhancing recruiting, expanding training552opportunities, and strengthening family support structures.553    We suffered a recruiting setback due to the year-long554continuing resolution and subsequent reduction of nearly half a555billion dollars in our military personnel account. This will556result in our inability to fund the recruitment of 3,000557Americans who want to join our Air Force. Furthermore, the558reduced FY25 triggered by the continuing resolution led to a559decrease in facility sustainment, restoration, and560modernization by $642 million, directly affecting our Airmen's561quality of life. We must find a better way.562    Investing in our Airmen means ruthlessly prioritizing the563right capabilities and projects while divesting from aging564systems and unused infrastructure. In January 2025, we reported56523 percent in excess facilities and 60 percent in excess566parking aprons and ramps. This inefficient lay down floor567structure across our installations suggests there are568opportunities for consolidation, innovation, or to divest and569focus our limited resources where they are most needed.570    With your support, we will focus on utilizing the existing571authorities to reduce infrastructure, identify cost reduction572and revenue generating opportunities, and right-size our573infrastructure to achieve long-term efficiencies. We don't just574need more Air Force. We need a more capable one.575    We need more tooth, less tail, a force that can deliver576rapid, decisive blows and reposition quickly. That means577investing in platforms and people that enhance our warfighting578capacity. More means more options for our nation, enhanced579homeland defense, strength and deterrence, and unmatched power580projection, one strategically postured to deny adversaries.581    No other service can match what the Air Force delivers,582affects anywhere on the globe at any scale on minimal notice.583Our Airmen are the best in the world, ready to win today and584build the enduring force for tomorrow. With your support, we585can ensure the Air Force remains the cornerstone of American586power to the 21st century. Thank you and I look forward to your587questions.588    [The combined prepared statement of Dr. Meink, General589Saltzman, and General Allvin can be found in the Appendix on590page 79.]591    The Chairman. Thank you, General Allvin. I thank all of592you. I'd like to recognize myself first for questions.593Secretary, as the Space Force works to develop the culture of594warfighting in space, I want to make sure that we aren't595leaving behind our acquisition Guardians. General Saltzman and596I have talked about this at length. Can I get your commitment597to make sure that we aren't going to see their promotion rates598falling behind the average promotion rates of Space Force599officers in other categories?600    Dr. Meink. Yes, Mr. Chairman. I commit to that.601    The Chairman. Thank you. And as you are probably aware--I602hope you're aware that our current--and some of you have603referenced this. Our current defense acquisition system is604failing us. The ranking member and I have made it our focus605this year to address that. What specific authorities or support606can we provide you to fix this?607    Dr. Meink. I think you actually--you highlighted it right608away with making sure that we have the right workforce and609promoting the right officers with the acquisition workforce.610The experience I've had is if you don't have the right team,611the right experience and educated team, the construction of the612program won't execute the program. No matter what else you do,613you're not going to be successful. So that's a starting.614    And then you have to give the team the authority, right?615All the way from being able to manage, maybe not the high level616but the lower level requirements, the funding, all the things617that go into delivering the systems. You have to make sure that618they have that authority to do so.619    And to be able to have that authority that they'd execute620quickly in a streamlined fashion. That's one of the problems621that we have is in many cases, technically, we have a lot of622authority to do these things. It's just there's so much623bureaucracy tied up that it takes too long.624    The Chairman. Well, that's what we're trying to weed out.625So if your staff is already not doing so, I hope that they will626stay in touch with the House Armed Services Committee staff and627the Senate Armed Services Committee staff because this is not628just bipartisan. This is bicameral. And make sure that the629language we're putting in this year's National Defense630Authorization Act gets after the problems you just described631because we're all going to have to live with what we enact this632year. Go ahead.633    Dr. Meink. Chairman, I would be happy to personally sit634down and walk through that with you if you're interested.635    The Chairman. Well, we look forward to that. And also, it's636my understanding our newest KC-46s are coming off the line637hovering at a fully mission capability rate of only 60 percent.638We talked a little bit about this in the sensitive639compartmented information facility yesterday. I just urge you640to get after that. Sixty percent is not acceptable.641    You made reference to and it's accurate that China's642defense budget has doubled in recent years. In fact, I think it643was General Allvin that brought this up. We have got to address644our defense spending in this country.645    We are at the lowest level of defense spending as a646percentage of gross domestic product since before World War II.647And it's unacceptable. We're going to deal with it. The648President has set the goal.649    He went over to Europe and told every member of the North650Atlantic Treaty Organization that we all need to get 5 percent651of gross domestic product and defense spending. I fully agree652with him. General Saltzman talked about the need for his653department to have budget relief as did General Allvin.654    We can't do it at the current rate. This reconciliation655bill is going to be a nice bump, a one-year bump. But to get656after the issues we talked about in our opening statements and657that you all just described is going to require sustained658increases in defense spending.659    And I assure you that we're working to try to get there.660But it's going to be important that you continue to talk about661it. The fact is the public doesn't need to hear from the662President and us. You need to be talking about it because663you're the tip of the spear. And they need to hear from you664what the challenges are for you to meet the threats given the665constraints of your fiscal support at this point in time. So666with that, I will yield to ranking member for any questions he667may have.668    Mr. Smith. Thank you. Excuse me. Just curious, it's been a669lot in the news, Ukraine drone strikes that affect its ability,670basically tiny, cheap drones taking out billion dollars' worth671of big, heavy equipment.672    Has it changed your thinking at all about what our needs673are going forward in terms of having more of those cheaper674attritable unmanned systems and also the vulnerabilities of675some of the larger systems that we're building? How does that676change your planning going forward? Or is the Ukraine-Russia677war sort of unique and not applicable to some of these other678lessons?679    Dr. Meink. I can start, Congressman, and then turn it over680to General Allvin. But to be honest, I don't think it would681change my opinion at all. I've been very, very concerned with682that threat for years now.683    We've seen it within U.S. against many of our installations684and our inability to deal with those, actually probably lower685threat than obviously what happened within Russia. But that's686been an ongoing threat that I think we've been thinking about687for a long time. And it's going to take a whole of government688approach to deal with it in the United States.689    It's very difficult to defend against that sort of thing if690you're restricted to only operating within the geography of691your base. I think we have to work with a whole of government692to make sure that we have an approach to deal with that threat693because it is--694    Mr. Smith. Anything--695    Dr. Meink. --huge.696    Mr. Smith. --specific on that in terms of this is a system697that we've been looking at that we desperately need now because698of that whereas maybe we shouldn't build all of this because699it's really expensive and really vulnerable?700    Dr. Meink. If I could, I'll turn to General Allvin, maybe701take a couple of those.702    General Allvin. Thanks. Congressman, you make the right703point where we shouldn't learn too much and we shouldn't ignore704what happened in Ukraine because there are geography-dependent,705context-dependent. But I would say that when something like706this happens, it turns the idea of small and less expensive707capabilities from an academic conversation to a real708conversation because we've seen it. And so understanding the709context that made it successful and those which might be710limitations is important.711    But to Secretary Meink's point, we sort of always knew this712in the back of our mind. So when we're looking at it from two713directions, first of all to your point of where are our714exquisite systems and what are the vulnerabilities we hadn't715considered before which might be most vulnerable to those that716might have to cross an ocean and part of our continent rather717than just the geography of Central Europe, understanding those718nuances. But understanding also that the more sophisticated and719dependent we are on those exquisite capabilities, the higher720level of defense we need to have for them.721    The flip side that I like to bring up is something that722solves another problem. When we see how effective these can be,723we need to think about putting them into our offensive arsenal.724And that's what we're looking at the United State Air Force is725our change, and new force design understands this range of726capabilities to include those when they can be responsive at727low cost and be disruptive. So there's an offensive thing we728need to consider on this as well.729    Mr. Smith. Somewhat connected to that is the whole Golden730Dome concept. And I have a number of different concerns about731it. It reminds me vaguely of the future combat system that the732Army cranked up 30 years ago where it was, like, we know we got733to do a lot. So let's just put a name on it and say we're going734to do everything and it's all going to work.735    It was a complete disaster. And the Golden Dome idea that736there's one system that's going to protect, it is a lot more737complicated than that. So I don't have that much time, so I'm738going to put both of my questions at you.739    So number one, are we really going to make smart740investments about systems that have real world application as741opposed to engaging in some fantasy about some perfect system?742How much money could we potentially waste on that? And number743two, I haven't seen anybody in the White House or around this744system talking about the implications in terms of how745destabilizing it could be in the long-running understanding of746how to prevent nuclear war which is that it's not winnable.747Both sides will be vulnerable.748    The message starts to get out there. We're going to build a749Golden Dome so we can be protected and we might win. That can750be incredibly destabilizing. Now there's probably ways to751manage it. But the fact that nobody working on this is even752talking about what we say to the Russians and the Chinese about753this is a little bit concerning. So in 44 seconds, can you hit754those two points?755    General Allvin. Congressman, I'll do my best. To the first756part, about the capabilities, I think we--I have confidence757that at least in the air domain, the United States Air Force,758the capabilities that we imagine will be integrated as part of759the Golden Dome are not just bespoke, boutique capabilities for760that. Domain awareness, the ability to intercept hypersonics761and cruise missiles and those sort of things, those are762applicable globally. So we will ensure that--763    Mr. Smith. That's what it better be. I'm not confident764we're there. We better take a look at it just quickly.765    General Allvin. On the other hand, the strategic stability,766Congressman, very quickly, I would say what we need to focus on767as a nation is re-getting out intellectual capacity to768understand strategic deterrence. And now--like we did in the769Cold War. But understand it now with three capable which is770different.771    It's not just an algebra equation. It's different when you772have three great powers or aspiring great powers with nuclear773capabilities. It's a different equation we need to sort out to774understand the risks.775    Mr. Smith. Absolutely. I just say we seriously consider it.776Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.777    The Chairman. I thank the gentleman. The chair now778recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina, not California.779Wouldn't do that to you, South Carolina, Joe Wilson.780    Mr. Wilson. And thank you, Chairman Mike Rogers, for your781proven leadership, positive leadership in correcting states782correctly too. We appreciate all of your service and for a783strong America for peace through strength. We're in a Cold War784we didn't choose between dictators that invade democracies with785rule of law.786    War Criminal Putin and the Chinese Communist Party continue787to expand and modernize their capabilities and rapidly expand788while we're forced to react to changes in the battlefield.789President Donald Trump is correct. Iran must not have a nuclear790bomb to achieve their goal of death to Israel and death to791America.792    The U.S. [United States] must remain ahead of our793adversaries to ensure we do not fall behind, again, to maintain794peace through strength. With that in mind, Secretary Meink, we795are really grateful that the courageous patriots of Ukraine796cause devastating historic damage to Russia's strategic bombers797with a sophisticated drone attack. Ranking Member Smith is798correct as he just recognized bipartisan support of our799Ukrainian allies and the courage to the people of Ukraine.800    With that in mind, every since War Criminal Putin has801invaded Ukraine, we're seeing drones take a larger role in802conventional warfare. The most recent attack once again803demonstrates the damage that low cost weapon systems can have804to a battlefield. Does the Air Force currently possess the805capability to protect its basis from such attacks in the United806States and abroad? If not, what is the Air Force doing to807ensure that we're able to counter these threats in a timely808manner?809    Dr. Meink. So I think currently it's very challenging. As I810mentioned, we have a technical challenge that we're addressing811as quick as we can with counter-drone capability. But I also812think there's basically an operating conditions challenge that813we have.814    And it really is going to require a whole of government. As815I mentioned, trying to defend against that sort of attack when816we're limited to just operating within our geographic817constraint of our base is very challenging. You have to be able818to address these issues in a much broader perspective working819with FAA [Federal Aviation Administration], local law820enforcement. That all has to be addressed. Or I think we're821going to continue to be very, very challenged to address that822threat within the U.S. or overseas.823    Mr. Wilson. I can see the challenge. I grew up in the holy824city of Charleston. And so you have the Air Force base and the825civilian air base--airport next door. Good luck.826    Also, Mr. Secretary, the United States is known to have the827most powerful Air Force in the world. However, we can't take828for granted our adversaries, especially China, as they continue829to modernize. And I especially appreciate the issue as my830father served in the 14th Air Force, the Flying Tigers, in831China during World War II, Kunming, Chengdu, Xian. Does the832U.S. currently have the capability to deter our enemies on833multiple fronts simultaneously?834    General Allvin. Congressman, I'll take a shot at that.835Certainly, as we look to the size of our Air Force, we also836need to look at shaping it, to your point of being able to837project power anytime, anywhere and be able to deter. And we838have--within a limited capacity, we have a range of839capabilities from high end to low end.840    And as I mentioned about our reimagination of our force841design, understanding we're learning from things in the Middle842East that we're seeing, their low cost capabilities. We're843starting to develop some low cost capabilities of our own so844we're not on the wrong side of the cost curve when we're845engaging with the Houthis, et cetera, et cetera. So as we do846that, we are preserving the force for the most pacing threat847that our national defense strategy has basically said over the848past near decade for the pacing threat of China. However, we849retain through our capacity and capabilities and our850interactions with our allies and partners the ability to deter851across the rest of the world.852    Mr. Wilson. And General, in regard to the A-10 fleet, we853see that they're getting ready to be retired. But they've been854so successful and important. Is there any way that instead of855retiring them that we can provide them to our allies such as856Jordan to deter aggression?857    General Allvin. The challenge with that, Congressman, is858the cost. It seems like it's cheap. It's not cheap. You have to859have the ability to maintain the depot structure to sustain860them, the pilot training, institutional. The actual overall861cost versus the value is more expensive than our allies could862really afford or want to pay. And for us, we can't afford it863within our budget to be able to privilege the higher end864capabilities we need against the pacing threat.865    Mr. Wilson. Well, we have your trust in what you're doing,866but any way we can protect our allies such as Jordan. Thank you867very much.868    General Allvin. Thank you.869    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now870recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Moulton.871    Mr. Moulton. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Secretary872Meink, congratulations on your recent confirmation. As873Secretary of the Air Force, you oversee two-thirds of the874nuclear triad as well as the Space Force.875    So I just want to pick up on some of the questions from the876ranking member about the implications strategically for Golden877Dome. There are a lot of things that are parts of Golden Dome878that we clearly need to do. The Ukrainian attack on the Russian879bomber fleet highlighted the vulnerability of bases, and that's880a vulnerability we face as well.881    You said that we've been working on addressing it. There's882also bipartisan agreement on the need for better domain883awareness so that if we get attacked by hypersonics or other884missiles coming our way, we know in time to respond. Both of885these things would increase strategic stability because we and886our adversaries know that our nuclear deterrent is safe,887reliable, and effective.888    So in other words, if they attack us, we'll know they're889attacking and we will be able to respond. And what establishes890strategic stability for the world and has prevented a nuclear891exchange for 70 years is the fact that both sides know that. So892how do you expect Russia and China to respond to the idea that893their nuclear deterrent is not effective because Golden Dome894will shoot down all their incoming missiles?895    Dr. Meink. Thanks for the question, Congressman. When we go896to deterrence, you're exactly right. It started with MAD many,897many years ago, mutually assured destruction. I think the world898we're in right now is a little bit different. You have that899high level strategic deterrence you need to do. But there's900also a significant threat of a smaller scale attack that is901less than a full strategic kind of engagement but is still--902    Mr. Moulton. I agree. But my question is how do you get903Russia and China to respond to the idea as the President has904stated that we will shoot down all of their incoming missiles?905    Dr. Meink. Well, I would hope that the response would be906that they would be more open to negotiation to ensure that907those engagements never happen in the first place. In the end,908peace through strength, right? Make sure that we can protect909ourselves and then it opens a lot more opportunity for910negotiation.911    Mr. Moulton. Mr. Secretary, hope is not a strategy. And it912would be helpful to know if we're going to spend what the CBO913[Congressional Budget Office] estimates could be about 500914billion taxpayer dollars that we understand how our adversaries915are going to respond. Because a more logical response would be916for them to develop ways to get around Golden Dome.917    That's exactly what they've done ever since President Bush918pulled out of the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in the early9192000s. That's why they've developed hypersonics, to get around920those defense capabilities. So if we're going to put something921up in the sky for $500 billion and it just starts an arms race922and then it doesn't work because they can get around it, then923that's a massive waste of taxpayer dollars.924    But even more concerning, it decreases strategic stability925and it makes it more likely we have a nuclear exchange. But926what is the administration doing to develop a philosophy, a927plan, a strategy for how this thing is going to work? The enemy928gets a vote here.929    Dr. Meink. The enemy does get a vote. And I would say two930things. First off, there's been an arms race ongoing already.931To be honest, what we're doing is responding to the arms race,932both from the space--not just for the nuclear perspective but933from the counter-space, space control perspective. The U.S. has934actually sat idle for quite some time and allowed the Chinese935to make huge advances and really in some cases gain the high936ground in that area. So sitting back and not doing what's937necessary--938    Mr. Moulton. The high ground--Mr. Secretary, the high939ground in what area?940    Dr. Meink. Well, actually unfortunately, Congressman, they941made significant advances both in space, air, maritime, across942the board.943    Mr. Moulton. Would you say--944    Dr. Meink. They've made significant advantages--or945advances.946    Mr. Moulton. Where have they made the most advances?947Percentage-wise, where have they increased their capabilities948the most?949    Dr. Meink. I think their fielding of their space systems.950    Mr. Moulton. I would agree. I would agree.951    Dr. Meink. But I wouldn't underestimate--952    Mr. Moulton. Mr. Secretary, I'm running out of time. But I953agree that space is where they've expanded the most. So why are954you cutting the space budget? Why are you cutting our space955budget?956    Dr. Meink. So the final total budgets have not been957released.958    But we'd be happy to come and talk about it.959    Mr. Moulton. But what we know right now is the space budget960is going to be cut. So you have no theory for how Golden Dome961is going to work. But we're doing it because China is962increasing its space and you plan to cut the space budget. That963doesn't sound like a good plan.964    Dr. Meink. We do have a--I think we have some pretty good965ideas of how Golden Dome would be developed. And I think--966    Mr. Moulton. We'd like to hear those ideas--967    The Chairman. The gentleman's time has expired.968    Mr. Moulton. --Mr. Secretary.969    The Chairman. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from970Virginia, Mr. Wittman.971    Mr. Wittman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to thank our972witnesses for joining us. General Saltzman, I was really973encouraged by our conversation yesterday. And I'm glad that you974share my sense that we need extensive launch capability across975all the different spectrums, especially small and medium976launch.977    We know that we're quickly getting to capacity there,978Canaveral and there in California. We want to make sure that979we're using the other areas to the same extent that we're using980Vandenburg and Canaveral. From your perspective, give me your981thoughts about the value of small and medium launch capability,982especially in the context of the national security space launch983program, Phase 3 Lane 1, and the rocket systems launch program,984all of those integrated to make sure we continue to build that985capacity.986    We are still ahead of the Chinese there. But we know what987they're doing to quickly catch up. Our existing facilities are988getting at capacity pretty quickly.989    General Saltzman. Thank you, sir. I agree with you990completely. Capacity is an important issue with regards to our991launch infrastructure.992    If we are going to continue on the pace of growth that we993have seen over the last few years, we are going to have to994increase that capacity.995    With regards to small and medium launch capabilities, this996is an important area in terms of putting up experimentation,997putting up prototypes, putting up demonstrations. This is all a998campaign that reduces risk in programs that mature technology.999    And, rather than a large satellite or a large investment1000with a high-end satellite, the ability to test payloads at1001smaller scale using small and medium launch, will be important1002going forward.1003    Mr. Wittman. I would like to formally invite you to join1004Representative Kiggans and myself at the Mid-Atlantic Regional1005Launch Facility there.1006    I hope that your staff will work with ours to set a date1007for us to go there and visit and continue this conversation. I1008think it is incredibly important.1009    I also want to talk about the Space Force's effort to have1010a tactically responsive space mission. I mean, we talk about1011the threats in space, those continue to grow.1012    We have to be able to do the launch of a satellite in a 24-1013hour scenario. And, that requires things across the spectrum.1014    I think capacity at our launch facilities and the cadence1015that they can provide is they are, the challenge is, is how do1016we bring our partners in that produce the space launch1017platforms, the constellations, the interfaces, those kinds of1018things?1019    So, I wanted to get your perspective, now that we know, we1020know we have the CASR [Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve]1021program that has now been ramped up to where we can use1022existing assets in space.1023    But, there are going to be instances where our adversaries1024are going to look to take out key assets and we can't find1025layering opportunities there. We are going to have to be able1026to launch literally on a moment's notice.1027    I am interested in your thoughts about how can we leverage1028commercial space launch capabilities, not just the launch1029itself, but also the interfaces and the satellites to go along1030with it?1031    And, can we use that capacity for testing and training1032activities that can actually provide us opportunities to1033exercise a capability, if necessary, to go at a moment's1034notice?1035    General Saltzman. Thank you, sir. Thanks for that question,1036because I agree completely.1037    First, I am very proud of what our Acquisition Corps has1038been able to do in terms of reducing the time line associated1039with what we are calling tactically responsive space. We were1040able to take a satellite from a warehouse and put it on orbit1041and operationalized in less than 90 hours.1042    We were going to beat the 24-hour launch order to obit,1043three hours of weather kind of got in the way, we did it in 271044hours. We really reduced all of those to really provide a real1045capability.1046    Your point about tests and training is spot on, sir. The1047ability to buy capability, and maybe it is there for an1048insurance policy.1049    But, because we can't just have, pay hundreds of millions1050of dollars for an insurance policy to use it on a routine basis1051to add test and training capability on orbit and then replenish1052that with the next reserve launch capability, I think, is a1053good strategy that we are exploring.1054    Mr. Wittman. Very good. Thank you. General Allvin, you have1055a pretty complex calculus problem in front of you to go ahead1056and modernize tactical aircraft, strategic aircraft, all the1057different elements there, modernizing our nuclear deterrent,1058both with aircraft and with missile platforms.1059    Give me your perspective on how do you do that? How do you1060do that too in a round where there may be a little infusion of1061resources, but if you look longer down the road, you know, we1062are going to have to find ways, I think, internally, to make1063best use of the resource that we already have.1064    And then, you talked a little bit about maybe redirecting1065resources and being able to maximize efficiency and what1066happens within the Air Force structure. So, just give me a1067quick viewpoint on that.1068    General Allvin. Thank you, Congressman. I say very quickly,1069it is two parts.1070    Mr. Wittman. Yes.1071    General Allvin. The first part is, do what we have been1072doing more recently, which is more clearly articulating what we1073think the value of air power is to the nation. And, that lets1074the Department, the President, and the Congress decide how much1075Air Force that they are willing to resource.1076    So, we want to provide that. But, the other part is1077internally, we are making sure every dollar is going to the1078maximum lethality but also solving for agility.1079    Not putting ourselves into capital investments that we1080won't be able to adapt to the future, ingest disrupt1081technologies, et cetera, et cetera.1082    The Chairman. The gentleman's time has expired. The Chair1083now recognizes the gentlelady from Pennsylvania, Ms. Houlahan.1084    Ms. Houlahan. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am going to do my1085very best to ask two pretty wonky questions in my five minutes.1086    I was in the Air Force as an acquisition officer. And, in1087keeping with this committee's emphasis on procurement and1088acquisition, on modernization, Mr. Secretary, my first question1089is to you.1090    We have long been supportive on this committee of the Air1091Force's innovation efforts, particularly through AFWERX and the1092Agility Prime program. I am concerned by very recent reports1093that the vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL, portfolio is1094being descoped and terminated, not due to contractor1095performance, but because of budget constraints and contracting1096shortfalls.1097    These actions are obviously very risky, because they waste1098taxpayer dollars and private sector dollars, and they also1099delay or derail capabilities that our military urgently needs.1100    So, my first question, and there are many, is, are there1101any transition plans in place to ensure that there would be1102continuity or orderly transition of the contract that is being1103administered by AFWERX and VTOL contracts?1104    Is there a standard transition protocol that you are aware1105of?1106    Dr. Meink. I am not aware, Congresswoman. General Allvin,1107are you aware of that issue?1108    General Allvin. Congresswoman, one of the reasons why we1109had, we looked to descope is again, with the limited capacity1110budget, we are looking to find ones who did have a transition1111partner.1112    So, it is really about making sure we look at the force1113design and see how these capabilities can find their way into1114actually delivering capability to the war fighter.1115    And so, as we look at that, we are transforming our1116organizational structure to move towards a more integrated1117capability command that can take those great innovative ideas1118but be able to see more clearly their value proposition going1119forward.1120    Ms. Houlahan. So, I appreciate that. And, this is where I1121am trying to tease this out. When I was, a while ago, looking1122at my phone and realizing all of a sudden there was a1123capability to text or voice to text, and my first thoughts were1124why would I ever need that?1125    I think the problem that I am struggling with right now is1126that these are technological ideas and innovations that don't1127necessarily have a natural transition because why would I ever1128need such a thing?1129    I think that that is our problem in acquisition, is that we1130are not being innovative enough and we are looking for1131traditional pathways that we used to have in acquisitions,1132rather than being thoughtful about our transitions.1133    General Allvin. I think that is correct. And, it is also a1134matter of those are the art of the possible that are always1135competing with the art of the known, with respect to the1136readiness and the modernization challenges that we know of.1137    So, that is a constant tension that we have. But, I take1138your point that we don't want to pass opportunities up just by1139focusing on the known risks.1140    Ms. Houlahan. I would love to continue to follow up with1141you on this. I also have understood that there are1142conversations or reports suggesting that the Air Force doesn't1143have enough people to manage these kinds of contracts.1144    Is this something that is true? What is the basis if that1145is true for this shortage?1146    Is this happening because of DOGE [Department of Government1147Efficiency] cuts? Or, are perhaps early retirements or1148resignations? Or, perhaps in my case because we didn't see a1149pathway for promotion?1150    Dr. Meink. So, may I jump there. I don't think it is in1151numbers games, Congresswoman. I think it is what you hit on in1152the end.1153    I think we need to make sure that we are training and1154properly incentivizing the acquisition workforce to ensure that1155we have that skill mix from the very entry level all the way up1156through the senior general officers.1157    And, that is something I will be focusing on, because back1158to my earlier comment is, the most important thing in1159acquisition, I would love to talk more about it Congresswoman,1160but the most important thing in acquisition is having a1161skilled, well-educated team. Otherwise, you have no hope.1162    And, it is not just innovation. We have to be innovative,1163but we also have to innovate faster than our potential1164adversary. And, they are innovating very fast.1165    So, it is a combination of just innovation, but you have to1166innovate quickly. And, you need a team to do that.1167    Ms. Houlahan. And, in the interest of the time that I have,1168the other thing that I remember very acutely is that this is1169not just a force of uniform personnel, there is a significant1170force of civilian personnel as well, that we rely upon.1171    And, my real concern is that we are DOGEing these people1172without understanding why they are important, because they are1173critical to our mission.1174    Dr. Meink. I came through, most of my career has been as a1175civilian acquisition person in both the IC [Intelligence1176Community] and the DoD [Department of Defense]. So, I agree1177with the Congresswoman.1178    And, that is, will it be a priority to not only the1179military side of the house, but the civilian side of the house,1180to make sure we are recruiting. And, quality of service that is1181key too, that is quality of life, quality of service across the1182board.1183    Ms. Houlahan. Yes. And, I only have 30 seconds left, so I1184probably will submit the bulk of this question for the record.1185    But, my other concern is with the Space Force, General,1186whether or not we are continuing to be very thoughtful of1187taking advantage of commercial capabilities that are already1188available to us rather than reinventing them.1189    I remember the not invented here problem, and would love to1190make sure that we are following. I follow up with you on that1191concern as well.1192    [The information referred to can be found in the Appendix1193on page 107.]1194    Thank you, and I yield back.1195    The Chairman. The gentlelady yields back. The Chair now1196recognizes the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Turner.1197    Mr. Turner. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. General Saltzman,1198thank you for your leadership, not just for the amazing way in1199which you are rising to the threats that we are facing, but1200also your leadership in shaping the organization that is new1201and is rising to the needs that we have.1202    The topic I am going to discuss with you is not going to be1203a surprise to you. And, that is what I believe, is the Cuban1204Missile Crisis in space.1205    And, the fact that we are facing the prospects that Russia1206might place in space, an anti-satellite nuclear weapon. The1207Secretary General of NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization],1208Rutte, recently just said that as early as this year, Russia1209might place an anti-satellite nuclear weapon in space.1210    I believe, as do many on this committee, that that anti-1211satellite nuclear weapon should never be permitted to be put in1212space. You, I believe, coined the best phrase ever, and that1213was, you said, if that went into space, it would be day zero.1214    And, many people think that if an anti-satellite nuclear1215weapon was in space and it was detonated, that that would be1216day zero. But, you identified it being placed in space as day1217zero, because you said that would be the day from which we1218would no longer be able to depend on space.1219    Because, the very next day it would be irresponsible to1220depend on space, because if it was detonated, as Dr. Plumb has1221said here, that it would wipe out everything in low earth1222orbit, and low earth orbit would be unhabitable for up to a1223year. And, it would take trillions of dollars in technology1224that we don't have in order to be able to respond to that loss.1225    So, since this is a budgetary hearing, General Saltzman, if1226that, if day zero happened, how would it affect your budget,1227the budget of DoD, the budget of the Air Force, if we were at1228day zero and that anti-satellite nuclear weapon was permitted1229to be in space and we had to suddenly face that, it would be1230irresponsible to count on space the next day?1231    General Saltzman. Well, thank you for that. And, obviously,1232I agree with you that this is a tremendous threat that we have1233to think through in terms of contingency planning.1234    A detonation on orbit would be catastrophic across a number1235of mission areas. It would foul the domain. It would foul1236certainly lower earth orbit and potentially middle earth orbit1237for an extended period of time.1238    So, it would make replenishment and reconstitution1239extremely difficult. It would put at risk the lives of the1240astronauts that are currently on orbit, catastrophic.1241    And so, when you asked me how would it affect our budget,1242if this came to pass and it became a real threat that we had to1243invest and to mitigate, we have run some basic numbers in terms1244of trying to harden satellites and trying to position them in a1245way so that there is redundancies.1246    Should we lose any portion of the constellation, will we1247have redundancies? And, I can't get to a cost reasonable number1248to say, with $3 trillion, I can fix this.1249    I just can't come up with a reasonable number. And so, that1250is why I am trying not to be too alarmist. But, day zero really1251is that.1252    We just cannot count on space, because I don't know how to1253create the replenishment and the reconstitution to overcome1254that kind of a detonation.1255    Mr. Turner. It should never be permitted to be placed in1256space. And, General Saltzman, thank you for the clarity of your1257description of the threat if that is in space.1258    Mr. Secretary, you have some of our most important advances1259that need to be made for our being able to address the advances1260that our adversaries have made. You have missile defense, you1261have hypersonics, you have nuclear deterrents, you have our new1262advances in weapon systems.1263    You have our advances in air, both manned and unmanned1264systems. Our adversaries are currently doing some things that1265we can't do, and you are the one who is supposed to close that1266gap.1267    CRs [Continuing Resolutions] have an impact on that. How1268are you going to close the gap, and could you please give a1269commercial as too why Congress should stop giving you the1270impediment of continuing resolutions that affect your ability1271to close that gap?1272    Dr. Meink. Yes. Well, yes, continuing resolutions are very,1273very challenging. They have implications, as was mentioned,1274just from a personnel perspective.1275    The personnel budget, it has also some significant, in some1276ways, an outweighed effect on acquisitions. How you do1277acquisitions, how you start new, how you be innovative, as our1278last discussion, is heavily infected by, particularly with a1279year-long CR.1280    It stops a lot of that, or at the very least, makes it much1281more challenging to get approved. So yes, it has a huge impact1282on our ability to innovate, and innovate quickly, as well as1283making sure we have the personnel that can execute those1284programs.1285    Yes, the Chinese have made, and I would be happy to talk1286about it in a different forum in more detail, but they have1287made phenomenal advancements.1288    The Chairman. The gentleman's time has expired. The Chair1289now recognizes the gentlemen from Connecticut, Mr. Courtney.1290    Mr. Courtney. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, thank you to1291the witnesses for your testimony today.1292    Again, at the outset, I just want to associate myself with1293the remarks of the Chair and Ranking Member about the lateness1294of the budget.1295    We are less than four months away from the start of the1296fiscal year, and we are now being told that the actual budget1297document won't be over here until the end of the month, the1298last week of the month. And, you know, I certainly agree with1299Mr. Turner about the harm of CRs and the testimony of the1300Secretary.1301    But, having a delivery date of the budget with less than1302three months to go before the start of the fiscal year, I1303think, you know, this process is doomed in terms of trying to1304avoid a CR. This place is not a rubber stamp.1305    Article One of the Constitution makes it pretty clear, you1306know, who is the decision maker in terms of both appropriations1307and authorizations.1308    And, the lateness of the delivery of the budget is the real1309impediment that we are facing right now. So, again, the sooner1310the better in terms of it coming over.1311    On page 11 of your testimony, paragraph, special mission1312aircraft, there is a discussion about the replacement of Air1313Force One program. Again, I serve on the committee with Mr.1314Kelly that has jurisdiction over Executive Air Lift.1315    We had a hearing a couple weeks ago where Barbara Costello,1316the Acting Secretary, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force,1317testified that there was actually some progress being made as1318far as the replace, the recapitalization of the two aircraft1319that were purchased back in 2018.1320    And, she actually talked about a possible delivery date1321sometime during the calendar year of 2027. Mr. Secretary, can1322you sort of give us your view of that testimony?1323    Dr. Meink. Yes. Yes, Congressman, we have, and thanks for1324the question. We have been working closely with the contractor,1325Boeing, in this case, to accelerate that program.1326    As you know, it has experienced significant delays. Is it1327going to get back into 2027? I couldn't guarantee that1328Congressman.1329    But, we are doing whatever we can to pull it back to, I1330think it was, before they started working to pull it back, it1331was in the 2030s I believe.1332    So, it is tough to do. But, we are working with the1333contractor to pull it back. I think 2027 is going to be really1334tough though.1335    Mr. Courtney. Yes. It was actually 2029 I think, was the1336last sort of guesstimate that was there. And, certainly, yes,1337we have been tracking this from day one.1338    Can you give us the cost estimate of the retrofit of the1339Qatar plane that is all over the news?1340    Dr. Meink. I think it would be difficult for me to give you1341the exact details here. But, we would be actually happy to talk1342about some of those specifics in a different forum.1343    I think there has been a number thrown around on the order1344of $1 billion. But, a lot of those costs associated with that1345are costs that we would have experienced anyway.1346    We just, we will experience them early. Buying additional1347platforms for training, for spares, things like that are1348actually the majority of that amount.1349    So, it wouldn't be anywhere near that. But, we can talk in1350detail about exactly what we are buying in a different forum1351and what the cost drivers are. But, it is nowhere near that1352much.1353    Mr. Courtney. So, I think, you know, it is unfortunate that1354again, and when we are hearing about all the challenges the Air1355Force faces that what I think is going to be a pretty big1356ticket item can't be sort of discussed publicly, because I1357think people need to know that.1358    And, I would just say, based on the experience of the 20181359planes, we know that the contract for retrofit was $3.91360billion. Again, some of that was purchase of the planes from1361Boeing, roughly about $800 million.1362    But again, if you just do the math, it was about $3 billion1363for retrofit. There has been cost overruns. They had to strip1364those planes that were built for another purpose down to the1365studs.1366    And, as you said, there has been issues. The contractor who1367was doing the interior work went out of business, and Boeing1368has had to kind of figure out a plan to do the fitting out of1369the interior of the plane.1370    But again, just using that as and extrapolating from that,1371I mean, it is clear that this new third plane is going to cost1372well over $1 billion. I mean, it is just you can't retrofit a1373plane that is built for another purpose for Air Force One and1374expect it to be a free plane.1375    You have got to, you know, install encrypted communication1376technology. You have to harden the defenses. You have to put1377countermeasures in there. Obviously, you need to have all the,1378it is a flying situation room that is there.1379    And, the notion that we can't find out when we are about1380to, you know, take up a very difficult budget. And, based on1381the experience we already have gone through with retrofitting1382planes that, 747s, it is clear that this is going to be a drain1383on the Air Force's budget.1384    And, I think that the sooner we just sort of rip the1385bandaid off and get that information out there, it would be1386helpful for us in terms of deciding whether this is a smart1387path to go down.1388    With that, oh, go ahead.1389    Dr. Meink. Thank you, Congressman. We would be happy to1390come down and talk to you in detail about it in a different1391environment.1392    Unfortunately, some of the, particularly some of the things1393you are talking about and what those costs are, those are1394classified sensitive capabilities that we put on the platform.1395    So, we would be happy to come down and talk to you about1396the specifics. But, again, I will restate that we believe the1397actual retrofit of that aircraft is actually significantly, it1398is probably less than $400 million to retrofit that aircraft.1399    We will be happy to come talk to you about it.1400    The Chairman. The gentleman's time has expired. I just want1401to emphasize a point that Representative Courtney just made.1402And, I am not blaming you.1403    But, Congress is going to decide what we do and don't1404spend. The Administration, OMB [Office of Management and1405Budget] in particular, not getting us a budget, is not going to1406compel us to comply with what they give us late.1407    So, whoever is listening to this hearing from OMB needs to1408understand, we want to have a healthy dialogue with military1409professionals like this, about what we need to spend to get us1410where we need to be.1411    We need a budget to help inform that dialogue. But, if we1412don't get it, we are going to write it without it. We have1413gotten a skinny budget which legally allows us to comply with1414the requirement that we receive a budget.1415    So, there is no reason not to get us some information. But,1416I think Mr. Courtney is right, and we all need to acknowledge1417the fact that being delayed with that presentation is not1418helpful.1419    With that, I will recognize the gentleman from Tennessee,1420Dr. DesJarlais.1421    Dr. DesJarlais. Thank you, Chairman Rogers. General Allvin,1422I appreciate our meeting yesterday, and also your comments1423about doing everything we can to accelerate Sentinel.1424    As I noted to you, and as our Chairman made abundantly1425clear in his opening statement, I am concerned that the Air1426Force's decision to cut funding for FY2025 adds risk to the1427program, the Sentinel program, particularly if we begin FY20261428on a Continuing Resolution.1429    Secretary Meink, I would like to ask you a question I1430raised with General Allvin, will the Air Force be prepared to1431submit an anomaly request for Sentinel, or reprogram additional1432resources to the program to avoid disruption?1433    And, is that something you will consider if the1434circumstances warrant?1435    Dr. Meink. So, Congressman, Sentinel is, if not the number1436one priority for me, it is definitely in the top two or three.1437    We will do whatever it takes to deliver that program as1438quickly as possible. It is nuclear deterrence. It is national1439security.1440    We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that that1441program is properly funded. I expect you probably know it is in1442the middle of a Nunn-McCurdy.1443    So, some of the work has been slowed down, which required a1444rephasing of the resources. But, we are making sure the1445resources are there and that we are taking the appropriate1446recommendations out of the Nunn-McCurdy restructure and move1447forward with that program.1448    It has my highest priority. It is the thing I have spent1449the most time on since I have been in this job. It has only1450been two and a half weeks, but it is the program I spent the1451most time on.1452    Dr. DesJarlais. Okay. And, by the way, congratulations. I1453wanted to talk just for a second about the Arnold Engineering1454Development Complex.1455    First, General Allvin, I thanked you yesterday, and I want1456to thank you again for taking time to meet with the Arnold1457Community Council from AEDC last month.1458    That visit was deeply appreciated, not just by the local1459community but by also the broader Tennessee Congressional1460Delegation. And, Secretary Meink, we look forward to hosting1461you at Arnold at your earliest convenience.1462    As you know, Arnold Engineering Development Complex plays a1463central role in testing for hypersonics, next generation1464aircraft, and potentially an expanded mission into space1465testing, depending on what happens with the basing decision for1466space command.1467    But, based on what we have seen, the current funding model1468doesn't appear to keep pace with the scale or complexity of1469those demands. Do you believe there is a need to rethink how we1470resource and manage test infrastructure like AEDC, to ensure it1471is aligned with the Air Force and the broader mission where it1472is headed?1473    General Allvin. Yes, thank you, Congressman for that1474question. I think it is very important. And, as I was1475mentioning before, we need to make sure we are getting every1476bit of capability out of every dollar we put into the United1477States Air Force.1478    And so, the manner in which we are sort re-imagining the1479way we develop capabilities in an integrated fashion, different1480from the past where we might look at developing a fighter1481system, and over here a mobility system, and here a, you know,1482an IT [Information Technology] system.1483    Looking at it from an entire, we will call a mission1484thread, what it takes to do everything from the concept to1485developing an entire capability, that will allow us to shed1486more light on some of those critical, but maybe not headline1487grabbing capabilities, much like AEDC.1488    And, those things that require the testing that if you1489don't fund them, they will find themselves the cause of slowing1490down of a program.1491    So, as we look at it through more of that lens, I think we1492are going to be able to highlight and advocate more for those1493critical but less popular parts of the entire capability1494development portfolio.1495    Dr. DesJarlais. And, Secretary Meink, did you have anything1496to add to that?1497    Dr. Meink. Just wholehearted agreement that the testing1498infrastructure across the board is just critical for us to be1499able to train against the representative threats of what we are1500almost assuredly going to see overseas.1501    Dr. DesJarlais. Well, thank you both for that. And, I will1502just note for the record that OSD's [Office of the Secretary of1503Defense] O&E [Obligation and Expenditure] requirements are1504placing a real burden on the work being done to modernize1505Arnold.1506    Director Wilcox, who oversees T&E [Test and Evaluation] has1507been a strong advocate for Arnold's unique mission. But, as far1508as we are aware, there is no clear path to address this through1509NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act], only through SD's1510[Secretary of Defense] internal policy direction.1511    So, I plan to raise this directly with Secretary Hegseth in1512the coming weeks and hope I can count on your support as we1513look to accelerate our testing enterprise.1514    And, with that Chairman, I yield back.1515    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The Chair now1516recognizes the gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Crow.1517    Mr. Crow. Thank you, Chairman. General Saltzman, what is1518your most important asset?1519    General Saltzman. Are you talking about the on-orbit1520capabilities?1521    Mr. Crow. I hope you say it is your people.1522    General Saltzman. Well, of course. I mean, there is no1523doubt that the acquisition, and operators, and intelligence1524personnel--1525    Mr. Crow. It is the guardians.1526    General Saltzman. --are the assets.1527    Mr. Crow. Do they have a unique skill set and technical1528capability?1529    General Saltzman. Yes.1530    Mr. Crow. Do you rely on a large civilian workforce?1531    General Saltzman. In relative comparison, probably. It is1532about 5,000 civilians in the Space Force of our total, less1533than 15,000.1534    Mr. Crow. So, but, about a third, over a third, which is a1535larger proportion than most services.1536    General Saltzman. Yes, sir.1537    Mr. Crow. Secretary Meink, would you share that assessment1538that your most important asset is your people?1539    Dr. Meink. Yes, definitely, Congressman.1540    Mr. Crow. And, that your people have unique skills and1541capabilities?1542    Dr. Meink. Yes, they do.1543    Mr. Crow. And, that the civilian workforce is an essential1544element to your mission.1545    Dr. Meink. Yes, across the entire department.1546    Mr. Crow. General Saltzman, can you force your civilian1547workforce to move?1548    General Saltzman. Not most of them.1549    Mr. Crow. But, guardians, Active Duty servicemembers, you1550can compel to move. But, you can't go to a civilian and say you1551have to relocate you and your family.1552    General Saltzman. With very few exceptions.1553    Mr. Crow. They can actually leave employment if you do1554that.1555    General Saltzman. Correct.1556    Mr. Crow. What would happen if you lost half of your1557civilian workforce for a major unit or capability?1558    General Saltzman. That unit would be underperforming.1559    Mr. Crow. Is China moving really fast?1560    General Saltzman. Yes, sir.1561    Mr. Crow. Are they moving faster than us in some1562capability, in some technologies?1563    General Saltzman. I don't know how to measure the speed of1564certain capabilities. But, they are definitely moving fast in1565counter-space capabilities for example.1566    Mr. Crow. So, if we slowed down one of our capabilities,1567would that put us at a strategic disadvantage?1568    General Saltzman. I do not want to slow down the1569development of any of our capabilities.1570    Mr. Crow. Secretary Meink, U.S. Space Command is1571headquartered in Colorado. It is at full operational1572capability. And, it relies substantially on the civilian1573workforce, correct?1574    Dr. Meink. That is correct.1575    Mr. Crow. Are you familiar with some of the surveys that1576were done of the civilian workforce that if it were to be moved1577out of Colorado, a substantial portion of that civilian1578workforce would refuse to move?1579    Dr. Meink. Yes, Congressman, I am aware that we would have1580attrition. And, it would be very important that we manage that1581move over a period of time if that occurs.1582    Mr. Crow. With what General Saltzman just said, would it1583slow us down though, relative to the speed of China?1584    Dr. Meink. I think it would be our job to do everything we1585can to assure that doesn't happen.1586    Mr. Crow. Well, of course it would be your job. But, it is1587true, those civilian workers, many of whom have said outright,1588they will not move, and that is why it is unacceptable in a1589very important command and mission that we move it at this time1590or ever.1591    It is working. It is built out, and we owe it to America1592and our national security to invest in it in Colorado.1593    And, there are a lot of folks in Congress who believe that1594is an important part of our mission in National Defense.1595    General Allvin, to you. Are you familiar with our National1596Defense Strategy?1597    General Allvin. I am familiar with the current one as well1598as the National Defense Strategic Guidance.1599    Mr. Crow. And, what is the number one goal of the National1600Defense Strategy?1601    General Allvin. Defend the homeland.1602    Mr. Crow. And, do we have an integrated, fully capable air1603defense system that can operate without fixed wing aircraft to1604do that job?1605    General Allvin. Could you repeat the question? Do we have1606a--?1607    Mr. Crow. Can we do that without fighter jets in the United1608States?1609    General Allvin. Not currently. No, not with a--1610    Mr. Crow. In the next eight years could we do that without1611fighter jets?1612    General Allvin. It is hard to predict if we have our1613collaborative combat aircraft--1614    Mr. Crow. It is unlikely, isn't it?1615    General Allvin. Given our current inventory.1616    Mr. Crow. Are you familiar with the north, the Commander of1617NORTHCOM [United States Northern Command] came before this1618committee, and just last year testified that it is essential1619for his capability to protect the homeland that there be1620fighter jets in Colorado on mission ready status to protect the1621Western United States?1622    Are you familiar with that testimony?1623    General Allvin. I am not familiar with the testimony. But,1624I trust General Guillot. And, I trust that if he said that he1625did that under his--1626    Mr. Crow. It was his predecessor.1627    General Allvin. Authority as the responsibility for NORAD1628[North American Aerospace Defense Command] NORTHCOM.1629    Mr. Crow. I represent Buckley Space Force Base where that1630mission is located. There is an F-16 squadron there that1631actually does that mission of protecting the western United1632States.1633    General Allvin. Yes.1634    Mr. Crow. There is no integrated, fully capable missile1635defense system in the United States. We need a plan to1636recapitalize that fighter wing to keep that capability to1637protect the homeland.1638    We all want to invest in long-term capabilities. But, that1639is a ways out. We need to make those interim investments today1640to make sure we can accomplish that mission.1641    I yield back.1642    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The Chair now1643recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska, General Bacon.1644    Mr. Bacon. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, thank you to all1645three of you for being here today. And, I enjoyed seeing all1646three of you at the Air Force Academy graduation.1647    What a moving ceremony. I got to tell you, there is nothing1648like seeing the graduating class march out on that field with1649the music. So, it was an incredible sight to see.1650    I am concerned about what we are hearing on the President's1651budget. It appears he is proposing a minor increase for the Air1652Force and a decrease for the Space Force.1653    And, if that is true, it is hard to put that up with the1654fact that we are trying to counter China, because both the Air1655Force and the Space Force will be front and center in any fight1656in the Far East.1657    I would anticipate if we were serious about countering1658China that we would be seeing a sizable increase in both the1659Air Force and the Space Force budgets.1660    I also want to just remind folks in this room and those1661listening that 20 percent of the budget that goes to the Air1662Force and Space Force is pass through money and doesn't even go1663to the Air Force or Space Force. It goes to DoD agencies.1664    So, if you look at the share of the pie of what the Air1665Force and Space Force is getting, it is quite a bit smaller1666than the Army and the Navy. And, I just think we need to1667readdress this in this committee, but also in the Pentagon.1668    I have, my first question is to the Secretary. I really1669enjoyed chatting with you about the Looking Glass mission. I am1670excited that you understand that mission better than most.1671    Could you give us an update with what you know that is1672going on there?1673    For those who aren't familiar with the Looking Glass, it1674gives us the capability to command our ICBMs [Intercontinental1675Ballistic Missiles], or bombers, or submarines if the White1676House is hit, if the Pentagon is hit, or STRATCOM [United1677States Strategic Command] is hit. We used to have a 24-hour a1678day airborne mission. We stopped doing that when the Cold War1679ended.1680    However, I think we are going back to the threats where1681this capability is needed again. And, we know the Navy is at1682some point walking away from this mission.1683    So, I would love to get your update, Mr. Secretary, on this1684important mission.1685    Dr. Meink. If I could Congressman, I would just say I1686agree, and thank you for coming out to the Academy graduation.1687    It is just under three weeks I have been here and that was1688the funnest thing that I have done. And, it is impossible to1689not get kind of excited when you have 900 cadets.1690    Mr. Bacon. The keynote speaker must have got you excited.1691    Dr. Meink. To come through the, yes, come up there, also1692excited. My hand got a little sore after 900 cadets. But, it1693was great.1694    Yes, so, but specific to your question. Yes, the Looking1695Glass, the Air Force has postured to support our role in that.1696And, we will continue to do so.1697    As you have alluded to, there is discussion going on about1698the future of the mission. And, we will continue to participate1699in that, and we will take on whatever role that the Department1700assigns to us.1701    General Allvin, if you have anything else?1702    General Allvin. Just, the Navy has agreed to continue that1703until they are relieved. But, when they are relieved, if the1704mission comes to us, we will take it.1705    We would ask to be appropriately resourced for it. But, as1706long as that mission is required, we will ensure that between1707us and our other services, we are able to support the nation in1708that critical mission.1709    Mr. Bacon. And, I submit to you, it is critical with 15-1710minute warning times with some of the nuclear weapons that1711Russia and China can deliver here with hypersonics.1712    We need to have the survivable thinking, and it is1713important for deterrence. They need to know that no matter what1714they do, they can't decapitate us. That we have the ability to1715respond.1716    General Allvin, you have been a two-time classmate with me.1717The Air Combat Command says we need over 20 Compass Call1718aircraft, yet the programmer record is at 10. Could you give us1719your mind of what we should be doing with this in the future?1720    General Allvin. Congressman, and correctly so. We are1721understanding that, you know, electronic warfare it sort of1722drifted in the back of our mind, is now back in the front of1723our mind as we see the criticality of that.1724    The great thing about the EA-37 is, once we put that, as1725you know, once we put the operators in the back of them, those1726things, they are creating new and interesting ways to really1727put dilemmas in the minds of the enemy.1728    So, the program of record right now is 10 and understand1729those ACC [Air Combat Command] puts the requirement as higher.1730This is a matter of resources. Is it this or munitions? Is it1731this or tankers? Is it this or other things? All of the things1732we need.1733    But, I will tell you, we are understanding how we can1734squeeze every ounce of capability out of every platform that we1735get. And, they all go into the big prioritization.1736    Mr. Bacon. General Saltzman, what are the one or two things1737you think you need to do first to posture the space for the1738Golden Dome?1739    General Saltzman. Well, I think as we look across the1740portfolio of things that we already bring to bear, whether it1741is sensors, whether it is the data networks that have to move1742the data quickly, the software that enables rapid decision-1743making, even before we get to the effectors that actually can1744mitigate the threats, that all has to be stitched together.1745    So, we are doing the mission analysis, and I think that is1746the first thing that has to be done, which systems are required1747to put together so we can move data to the right places, and1748most effectively orchestrate a very complex mission set.1749    So, we have got to do the mission planning first.1750    Mr. Bacon. Okay. Thank you. With that, I have got one1751second left. I will give it back to the Chairman.1752    The Chairman. Thank you. The Chair now recognizes the1753gentlelady from New Hampshire, Ms. Goodlander.1754    Ms. Goodlander. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And, thank you to1755our witnesses for being here today. I really appreciate it.1756    I appreciate your testimony at the outset about the1757importance of an audit. It is something I care about deeply. It1758is something that is important to my constituents and their1759public trust in our military.1760    And, I wanted to ask you, Mr. Secretary, if you could tell1761us more about the concrete steps you are taking to ensure that1762the Department of the Air Force passes a clean audit this1763fiscal year.1764    Dr. Meink. Yes. Thanks, Congresswoman. Yes, we spend quite1765a bit of money in the military. I want to make sure we are good1766stewards of the taxpayer in how we do that.1767    In my previous job, the organization I worked in, we1768actually had 16 clean consecutive audits. So, I do understand1769those, kind of the steps and the things that are required to do1770that.1771    Now, obviously, this is a much larger scale. So, I am in1772the process of actually assessing where we have our1773deficiencies, and then laying in a plan to go after those.1774    I just signed out a note to put the Undersecretary, and it1775is one of his primary jobs is to ensure that that gets1776accomplished. But, the fundamental thing is--1777    Ms. Goodlander. What is the time line, Mr. Secretary, for1778identifying those deficiencies?1779    Dr. Meink. So, those deficiencies, yes, with the past1780audits have been, many of them have been identified. I think1781the question is what do you do?1782    Okay, what is the strategy, you probably know,1783congresswoman, what do you do to address those deficiencies?1784    Ms. Goodlander. Yes.1785    Dr. Meink. Some of them can be very challenging. Some of1786them are just tying together all the systems that manage the1787data, manage the finances.1788    Those can be really challenging steps. And so, identifying1789those deficiencies, budgeting to fix those things right, and1790get them right, is what we are going to be focused on.1791    Ms. Goodlander. Well, I would appreciate the chance to hear1792from you in real time how your progress is going and what this1793committee can do to support you in that effort. We have got the1794National Defense Authorization Act, which is one of the reasons1795I came to this committee. It is knocking on wood, 63-years and1796running a bill.1797    And, we would very much like to work with you to be sure1798that you can join our colleagues from the Marine Corps in1799passing a clean audit as soon as possible.1800    I wanted to also ask you about, you know, another issue1801that matters a lot to my constituents, the right to repair.1802Could you tell us a bit about your understanding of what the1803right to repair means?1804    To me, the notion that our military cannot repair our own1805equipment, and weapon systems, and aircraft is an outrage. It1806is costing us billions and billions of dollars to the taxpayer.1807    It is delaying our military readiness. It is a driver of1808waste, fraud, and abuse. And, we are all very committed to1809cutting down on waste, fraud, and abuse.1810    So, I wanted to ask you, we heard from Secretary Driscoll1811yesterday about his commitment to ensure that going forward,1812any contracts and, you know, the way that the right to repair1813is undermined is really through highly obscure and technical1814provisions in our contracts, that going forward that doesn't1815continue and working retroactively.1816    So, can you tell us about your efforts on this front?1817    Dr. Meink. So, first off, as with Secretary Driscoll, I1818gave you my commitment that this will be something that we will1819ensure contracts going forward that we have full flexibility.1820    And, I think as you alluded to, there is a whole spectrum.1821It can be all the way from the contractor who has the full1822right and authority to do that.1823    To, even if they don't, the government doesn't actually1824have enough of the technical specs to actually do it. So, we1825are still relying upon the contractor.1826    So, one of the things I have been doing, and there isn't a1827one size fits all, because it varies across the different1828contracts we have within the Department, looking into the1829conditions are different, and we are going to have to go in and1830address every one of those conditions in a little bit different1831way.1832    But, in the end, and we have already made some progress.1833But, in the end, I think we have to get there. There is no1834question about it. I don't know, General, if you have any other1835comments on that?1836    General Allvin. I just totally associated with what the1837Secretary said. It is some of the contractual pieces that we1838entered into. The more we can get relief from that, the more1839flexibility. We are all about that.1840    Ms. Goodlander. Well, I appreciate that. And, we want to1841support you. We have got bipartisan support for provisions in1842the year's NDAA. And, we would love to work with you on that.1843    General Saltzman, I thank you for being here. My home state1844of New Hampshire is home to the New Boston Space Force Station1845in Hillsborough County.1846    And, you know, I had a chance to visit New Boston. They are1847providing critical around the clock satellite command and1848control capabilities for our country.1849    I wanted to ask you, I only have 10 seconds left, so maybe1850we can follow up offline. But, I am eager to talk to you about1851how we can ensure that our infrastructure installations, like1852the New Boston Space Force Station, are protected from the wide1853range of vulnerabilities that are out there?1854    General Saltzman. Very quickly. We have a new program--1855    [The information referred to can be found in the Appendix1856on page 108.]1857    The Chairman. The gentlelady's time has expired. The Chair1858now recognizes the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Gimenez.1859    Mr. Gimenez. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Last weekend, I think1860we saw a pivotal moment in warfare when the Ukrainian Army1861launched an unbelievable attack on the Russian Air Force.1862    But, it also, for me, underlined a vulnerability for us.1863For a long time we thought, you know, distance was a great1864equalizer.1865    But, now with the, you know, with the onset of drones, et1866cetera, you could have malign actors here in the United States1867take out a lot of our assets in a very short period of time.1868What are we doing to protect against drones?1869    This kind of activity to protect our assets here on the1870homeland, General Allvin?1871    General Allvin. Thank you, Congressman. And, to the1872conversation we had earlier, it is really a, it is a joint1873force problem.1874    And, it is one of those that is multifaceted different. It1875is different in characterization than what happened with Russia1876and Ukraine.1877    But, it certainly shows the consequences if we don't pay1878attention to it. This is one of those where we have to have an1879understanding of the current restrictions that we have in place1880with respect to rules of engagements with the local county,1881state, federal.1882    Mr. Gimenez. Well, forget that.1883    General Allvin. Okay.1884    Mr. Gimenez. Okay. Do we have--my concern is the capability1885of us being able to defend against AI [Artificial Intelligence]1886drones. We may have the capability to defend against piloted1887drones. All right?1888    But, I have always been afraid of AI drones that are1889unpiloted. And, that you basically have to knock them out of1890the sky.1891    You just can't say, okay, you can't pilot anymore, and they1892fall to the ground. That is not the case anymore. I am worried1893about our capabilities there. All right? And, that is all I am1894going to say.1895    And also, not only for our civilian, our military, but also1896on our civilians and our civilian transportation1897infrastructure, because if some kind of an attack happens on a1898civilian aircraft, then basically air travel grinds to a halt.1899Nobody is going to take a plane.1900    And so, I would hope, Secretary that we are on this. And,1901not only just for protecting our military assets, but also our1902entire transportation network.1903    So, that is all I am going to say. I really don't want to1904get into what you are doing. But, maybe in a classified setting1905we would find out what it is we are doing to protect against1906this threat.1907    I have been really worried about this threat for a really1908long time. And, what happened last weekend just, you know, puts1909an exclamation point on my worry about what could happen here.1910    Just for the sake, how much does a B-2 bomber cost?1911    Dr. Meink. Yes. I think it is probably, I don't know what1912the replacement cost would be.1913    Mr. Gimenez. It is billions.1914    Dr. Meink. But, I think originally they are multiple1915billions.1916    Mr. Gimenez. Are they all clustered around the same place?1917    Dr. Meink. Well, a lot of them are at one base.1918    Mr. Gimenez. Okay. So, one of the things maybe we should be1919looking at, is maybe dispersing our assets, okay? In the near1920term, until we figure out how we can deal with this.1921    On space, and I think that we do need to enhance our1922capabilities, but I also think that eventually we are also1923going to need to develop redundancy to a lack of space.1924    If somebody knocks our space assets out, are we too reliant1925on space?1926    Do we have redundancy so that we can continue to operate1927without the space platform? General Saltzman?1928    General Saltzman. No. I think there are missions we are1929doing from space that we can't easily just redundantly cover if1930we were to lose space.1931    Mr. Gimenez. Well, I think if we are too overly reliant on1932space and we don't have redundancy, we are asking for trouble.1933Because, everything that we can put up can be taken down.1934    And, you have to, you know, I kind of believe in Murphy's1935Law, which doesn't mean that everything that--it means that1936everything that bad can happen will. It just means that1937anything that can happen will.1938    And so, let's not rely too much on space. I am not saying1939invest in space, absolutely, okay. And try to defend it as much1940as we can. But, as a just in case, if it just gets taken out,1941we can't be helpless as a nation.1942    And so, Secretary Meink, I am asking again, are we, do we1943have redundancy? Are we developing redundancy to space?1944    Again, that is another question for another time. Are we1945investing in directed energy?1946    Dr. Meink. I think at this level we can say yes, we are1947investing in direct energy.1948    Mr. Gimenez. Okay. Very good. And, you know, I guess I have194915 seconds left. And, I guess my time is up and I yield back to1950the Chairman. Thank you.1951    The Chairman. I would follow up, let the gentleman from1952Florida know that we have been for many years developing1953directed energy capabilities. And, it is maturing at a nice1954clip.1955    What you just saw happen in Israel with Iron Beam is part1956of our investment. But, yes, and a lot of it, I would be happy1957for you to learn more in SCIF [Sensitive Compartmented1958Information Facility].1959    But, I am very proud of that technology. And, it has got1960great potential in the future.1961    With that, the Chair, I recognize the gentlelady from1962Maryland, Ms. Elfreth.1963    Ms. Elfreth. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Gentleman, thank you for1964being here and good morning.1965    I echo the Chair's and the concerns you heard from both1966sides of the aisle of this committee around the lateness of the1967budget, and particularly Mr. Courtney's concerns around having1968an open, honest, and transparent conversation on the future of1969Air Force One.1970    I am going to start with a local issue and then expand to a1971national issue. We have talked about A-10s quite a bit. And, I1972know that you all have talked about the future of A-10s quite a1973bit in every one of our states.1974    But, as you well know, Maryland's National Guard, our 175th1975Wing is unique, it comprises both the flight component and the1976cyber component, which I am very grateful for the expansion of1977the cyber component.1978    But, with the divestment of the A-10s, we will lose that1979flight mission, but the cyber component is not yet stood up.1980And so, there is going to be a bit of a gap in our mission.1981    And, I would just love some greater clarity, I guess,1982General Allvin, about Cyber Wing's expansion, when do you1983expect the full operational capacity?1984    What is our planning to manage this transition period? I am1985giving you all this at once. And then, how are we coordinating1986with CYBERCOM [United States Cyber Command] in particular, to1987properly integrate this expansion?1988    General Allvin. Well, thank you very much. And it truly is1989a key mission going forward in the growth industry in the cyber1990wing. So we want to go as fast as we possibly can.1991    So it really is not going to be a gap of sorts. There will1992be a gap from full capability to full capability, but we expect1993the sundowning of the A-10 mission by the end of fiscal year19942025, so in about five months. But in October is when we start1995building, and we expect within 36 months of that we'll have an1996initial operation of capability.1997    But in between times, we will slowly be gaining missions.1998So there will be things we will already be doing, just1999robusting up in both capacity and sophistication. And having2000Fort Meade right up the street is one of those where we're2001going to be leverage that capability to bring that on as fast2002as possible.2003    One of the advantages is the greatest asset that we have in2004a cyber wing are the personnel. And so being able to track that2005talent in that area is one of the big advantages there, and it2006also reduces the ability for potential extra MILCON that will2007go within another platform coming in.2008    So we are going to be aggressively standing up between 12009October, 2025, to the beginning of 2026. Thirty-six months2010later, we are looking to get IOC [Initial Operating Capacity],2011and we would like to get it sooner.2012    Ms. Elfreth. I share I would like to get it sooner, as2013well. And, Mr. Secretary, just following up on that, our air2014wing in Maryland, we have seen eight combat deployments in2015just--since 2001, just over 23 years. My governor, Governor Wes2016Moore, recently sent you a letter, I believe it was last week,2017asking for a meeting. I appreciate you have been on the job two2018and a half weeks, but, to expand in detail on what the general2019just shared, can I ask for a commitment right now, you and your2020staff to meet with my governor and the Maryland delegation to2021walk through this so we have that seamless transition?2022    Dr. Meink. I would be happy to.2023    Ms. Elfreth. Okay. My staff will follow up with your staff2024literally as we walk out the door. Thank you very much. Thank2025you for that.2026    Okay. Moving on to General Saltzman, well, actually, to2027everybody at the panel. I bring this up, I am a broken record,2028but I am really proud that my first CODEL [Congressional2029Delegation], being a member of Congress 153 days so far, was2030actually to Vandenburg, and I greatly enjoyed that experience.2031It also kind of opened my eyes to physically seeing you have a2032solar field. You are generating energy at Vandenburg, which is2033very exciting. We talk about energy resilience and capability,2034particularly as, you know, we are overly relying on 50 states2035for energy generation and delivery.2036    So you have a solar-generating farm, but you have no2037storage. So it gives me great pause to think about our2038vulnerabilities, both just from a grid system but also our2039vulnerability from foes. Very easy to disrupt readiness2040capabilities when we don't have energy to and from.2041    So if you could speak specifically to Vandenburg, General.2042And then, Mr. Secretary, your plans to--obviously, the low-2043hanging fruit is at Vandenburg, but I would love to hear your2044plans on how we are going to make sure our installations are as2045energy independent and resilient as possible from a readiness2046perspective.2047    General Saltzman. Well, thank you for that. And I2048appreciate you coming out to Vandenburg and taking a look at2049all the great people and mission they are doing out there.2050    I couldn't agree more that energy resiliency is operational2051readiness, especially in the Space Force where we do most of2052our missions from our in-base locations. We don't have to2053deploy to do space operations or launch operations. And so we2054take it very seriously. We do mission-continuity exercises on a2055routine basis to uncover where the particular shortfalls or2056vulnerabilities are. We flow those back up to try to make sure2057we are as resilient as possible.2058    The other initiative that we have taken on is a weapon2059system infrastructure accounting drill, making sure that, when2060we talk about power generation, it is a part of our readiness2061account. We haven't traditionally done that. That is not2062something that other forces have to do to the same degree we2063do. So we are redesigning how we have transparency of our2064readiness in that kind of infrastructure, and I think that2065will--2066    The Chairman. The gentlelady's time has expired. The chair2067now recognizes the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Luttrell.2068    Mr. Luttrell. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen, thank you2069for coming to see us today and thank you all for your service.2070    Ms. Elfreth and Mr. Wilson actually started this2071conversation about the A-10s. I think I got lost in space when2072I was talking--I am not talking to you when I say that--that2073the A-10s shelf life is gone and then we are going to create2074the next asset. I think that is a horrible idea. I think the A-207510 is probably one of the best creations we have, and I have2076been in the theater of war calling that plane in and it saved2077my life countless times. And there is nothing more terrifying2078than that flying bathtub with bombs and that gun hanging off2079the front of it, and I think we are in a bad spot, if we clack2080off somewhere and we put boots on the ground, that is going to2081be the asset that we are going to be flying overhead. I am not2082taking anything away from everything else that we have, but I2083just felt like I needed to say that because, again, that plane2084has saved my life and my teammates' lives more times than I can2085possibly count.2086    I am going to shift gears and talk hypersonics. Mr.2087Secretary and General Allvin, you guys can kind of pick which2088one is going to answer this. I have a list of the weapon assets2089and the weapon systems that China and Russia have right here.2090And, General, you said rapid modernization evolving, kind of2091evolution of technology in the PLA [People's Liberation Army],2092I think they are there. I mean, I think we are kind of looking2093at them as that is kind of the bar that has been set.2094    Very focused in on hypersonic. Can you give me a current2095briefing on where we are and when that capability and that2096asset will be able to be employed?2097    General Allvin. I can give you the broad brush at this2098classification level--2099    Mr. Luttrell. Absolutely; yes, sir.2100    General Allvin. --broad brush it, and it is interesting2101because, when you juxtapose, you know, the rapid advance in2102technology and go into hypersonics and you compare it to what2103we all love, which is the A-10, that second question is sort of2104the answer to the first. Those are the things that are making2105that awesome A-10 less and less survivable. The most important2106thing for--2107    Mr. Luttrell. I would agree with you if we had hypersonics2108that worked.2109    General Allvin. Well, I would say it is not only2110hypersonics. It is the other advanced capabilities are going to2111be more survivable for our boots on the ground in the future,2112given the enemy capabilities, than the A-10, which we all love.2113    In the element of hypersonics, at this level, I will tell2114you that we are looking, we are developing and have, you will2115see in the budget submission, assuming it is what we had put2116forward, two different programs. One is a larger form factor2117that is sort of more strategic long range that we have already2118tested several times; it is called ARRW. And the other one is2119HACM [Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile]. We will just leave it2120there.2121    But there are two systems that are now continuing to2122develop and moving beyond the R&D [Research and Development]2123team and getting into the procurement range in the very near2124future, and I will be happy to go, at a higher classification2125level, the specifics of both of those. But we are accelerating2126in our development not only the technology but of the2127procurement of the capabilities that it will create.2128    Mr. Luttrell. Mr. Secretary, are you having conversations2129about increasing funding for hypersonic capabilities in the Air2130Force?2131    Dr. Meink. Yes. Well, two sides of that coin. The first is2132we really need to, as we mature the technology, and we focused2133on maturing the technology, and now we need to focus on2134lowering the cost and getting it into production. It has got to2135be affordable. We have got to be able to buy more than ten of2136these things, right. So that is a big focus right now is2137lowering the production costs, well, ramping up the production2138and lowering the costs, so we can get enough of that kit to2139actually make a difference.2140    But, yes, on the other side of the house, making sure that,2141once we do kind of get more efficient in production, that we2142will probably fund those programs to deliver that capability,2143and it is really across the force, not just in the Air Force2144but the entire department is looking at these systems. And2145there is no question the Chinese moved really fast on these2146capabilities.2147    Mr. Luttrell. General Saltzman, as far as AI capabilities2148in Space Force, when the current budget plan comes out that we2149get to see, how are those numbers looking? Are we comfortable2150in where we sit at this classification level?2151    General Saltzman. Yes, sir. A lot of it is early S&T work2152that is being done. We are focusing heavily on decision support2153kinds of AI, take a lot of data and turn it into decision2154quality as fast as possible. There is some good returns in the2155S&T [Science and Technology] environment, and they fully fund2156it and are in support of those efforts.2157    Mr. Luttrell. Okay. And I will close with this. Mr.2158Secretary, you and the general answered this, and I know2159General Allvin would say the same thing, but your most2160cherished asset is your people. And their health and well-being2161is everything, and I would ask that you take, even if you R&R2162[Rest and Recovery], take a very hard look currently and as2163they transition out because, once they transition out, we get2164lost in space.2165    And, Mr. Secretary, you most likely probably already know2166that. But the generals, mark my words, okay, so health and2167welfare of our servicemembers as they transition out, current2168and transitioning out, please--2169    The Chairman. The gentleman's time has expired. The chair2170now recognizes the gentleman from California, Mr. Whitesides.2171    Mr. Whitesides. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all for2172being here today. Mr. Secretary, congratulations on your2173confirmation. It is good to have someone with your depth of2174relevant experience leading a military department. I had the2175opportunity to work with Director Scolese back at NASA2176[National Aeronautics and Space Administration], so welcome.2177    I represent the northern side of Los Angeles County, and I2178want to begin by just thanking your teams for their crucial2179role in fighting the Los Angeles fire storm in January. Between2180the Fire Guard data program, firefighting aircraft, and other2181aspects, we are deeply grateful to your teams. I want to2182support those efforts going forward as much as I can. I am also2183enthusiastic about the possibility of using autonomy and aerial2184platforms and advance remote sensing to enable us to more2185quickly suppress fires that threaten critical installations,2186like the Vandenburg Space Force Base, in our home communities.2187And I would love to work with your teams to continue to think2188about that.2189    As you know, I am proud to represent Plant 42, the home of2190the B-21 Raider. To me, that program is really a gold standard.2191It is delivering tremendous capability with an efficient2192development and manufacturing program.2193    With that said, I want to follow up on a question that2194Senator Fischer asked this group during the SASC [Senate Armed2195Services Committee] posture hearing late last month. As Senator2196Fischer noted, General Cotton has recommended that the Air2197Force procure at least 145 B-21s. I couldn't agree with him2198more, especially when increasing our total could decrease costs2199and move the production time line to the left.2200    Mr. Secretary, you noted to Senator Fischer that you were2201going to meet with General Cotton and discuss his B-212202requirements. I was just wondering has that discussion2203happened? Are there any updates that you might be able to share2204at this time?2205    Dr. Meink. I have not, but I expect to have an opportunity2206to talk to him next Tuesday, right? Just checking. I have not2207had that detailed conversation with him, but I will soon. And2208we are looking very closely at how we increase production just2209to get to the 100, right. We want to increase the production2210rate. The program is executing very well.2211    Really the challenge we have right now is getting the2212production rate up to deliver the numbers that we would like,2213which then gives the opportunity to increase numbers if we can.2214    Mr. Whitesides. Thanks for that, Mr. Secretary. The2215committee has had multiple discussions over the past few months2216about the importance of developing robust space domain2217awareness, something that I strongly support. Most of my2218career, I have been focused on securing U.S. leadership in2219space both from an economic and national security perspective.2220Remote sensing is central to the fight of the future, and2221space-based capabilities are critical.2222    That said, as I recently raised with General Guillot and2223his representative Gimenez discussed, space-based capabilities2224cannot be the basket in which we put all of our eggs. We need2225redundancies across domains. That is underscored by the2226insatiable appetite for remote-sensing information from forward2227operators.2228    Mr. Secretary, I know you spent much of your incredible2229career around space assets. Can you give us some reassurance2230that you will support an appropriate balance between space,2231air, and terrestrial-based systems when it comes to remote-2232sensing capabilities?2233    Dr. Meink. Yes, Congressman, I can. You never allow2234yourself to be put into a single-point failure situation to2235where, if you lose a system, you have totally lost that2236capability. So both on space, redundancy in space is going to2237be critical. General Saltzman talked a little bit about that2238earlier, so that is going to be important. But, also, you know,2239a mix between the different domains is going to be critical2240going forward, and that is something we intend to continue.2241    It is always a balance. You are never going to be able to2242afford everything. As was mentioned, we have a lot of2243modernization going on simultaneously across the department, so2244we're never going to build in everything you would like, but it2245is important to make sure that you are not, you know, single-2246point failure on these critical capabilities.2247    Mr. Whitesides. Thanks so much. Last week, I had a great2248visit to Edwards Air Force Base, which is just north of my2249district in the 412th Test Wing, and just on the point that--by2250the way, you have got an incredible team out there. They are2251doing incredible work. And, General Allvin, we are grateful for2252the great support you have made to them.2253    Just on the point, minor point, but on the point that2254Representative Elfreth made about energy storage, they have a2255huge private solar storage installation on that base territory.2256And if you could just provide a little linkage in solar local2257storage, I think you could make Edwards ensure that it keep2258operating through potential natural and manmade disruption. So2259something to think about for the future.2260    And with that, I yield back. Thanks so much.2261    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now2262recognizes the gentleman from Guam, Mr. Moylan.2263    Mr. Moylan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And to our2264distinguished witnesses, thank you for your leadership and2265joining us here today.2266    General Allvin, given the recent reports of unsafe and2267substandard conditions in unaccompanied housing on Guam, what2268steps is the department taking in the fiscal year 2026 budget2269to address these deficiencies and ensure habitability of our2270servicemembers?2271    General Allvin. Thank you, Congressman. I appreciate the2272question, and, certainly, that is something that we take very2273seriously. We always pride ourselves in really working hard for2274unaccompanied housing; and, when the secretary of the Navy went2275out there, he happened to find our very worst, through the2276Building Condition Index, assessment, the very worst in our2277United States Air Force, but even our very worst should not be2278that bad.2279    So with respect to specifically Palau dorm and then Rota2280after that, we aren't waiting until fiscal year 2026. We had2281seen this coming, and it has been about 56 months since we took2282over all of those facilities from the Navy. And we tried to2283identify and ensure that we are moving forward with all of our2284unaccompanied housing across the way. And then, of course,2285Mawar didn't help at all.2286    But this year, we now expect to award $53 million for the2287improvement of Palau dorm this year, and it should start2288within, we should award it within 90 days and should start2289within 60 days after that. And so we are getting after that2290right now.2291    It is never enough and, as you know, Guam is such an2292important place, we need to make sure our men are focused on2293mission rather than just their housing. So between the Palau2294dorms and the Rota dorms and across the board, we have an2295aggressive schedule against that.2296    Mr. Moylan. That is great to hear, General. Thank you so2297much for that. And as a follow-up, is the department2298considering privatizing unaccompanied housing as a long-term2299solution? And what oversight mechanisms will be in place to2300ensure quality and accountability?2301    General Allvin. Now, of course, the secretary has said he2302has only been in for two and a half weeks. We certainly haven't2303had those conversations, and it isn't really, of all of the2304things we would consider, privatizing. That really isn't on our2305list right now because of that criticality of the young Airmen2306who are living in there need sort of that oversight and2307leadership of other next-level NCOs [Non-commissioned Officers]2308to be there.2309    That's not currently in the plans for me to propose for the2310secretary. We want to remain that under government control.2311    Mr. Moylan. I am looking forward to this great improvement.2312Thank you, General. Another question, General Allvin. Your2313testimony highlights REFORPAC [Resolute Force Pacific] and the2314need to operate from austere airfields in contested2315environments. How is the Air Force resourcing Guam to support2316agile combat employment, particularly in terms of dispersed2317logistics, airlift, and handling of infrastructure under real-2318world contingency conditions?2319    General Allvin. Thank you for that question, Congressman.2320Now, we are very excited about the REFORPAC, the Resolute Force2321Pacific, exercises. This will be one of the largest exercises2322that we have done since the Cold War, quite frankly, because,2323as we do exercises by sort of piece parts, we get insights, but2324we really want to see where the true shortfalls are.2325    And we expect and we have talked about this, Congressman,2326and we know logistics is going to be important. It is not just2327logistics because the tyranny of distance. It is going to be2328logistics under attack and understanding those contested2329environments.2330    We are going to ring this out this summer. We have already2331in the past couple of years been putting forward requests in2332our budget for things like shelters and hardening and some non-2333kinetic capabilities to sense, so we know we have work to do to2334make this very critical concept of agile combat employment2335work. This summer, this exercise is going to help expose2336anymore shortfalls that we haven't already identified. In2337addition, we know having preposition of parts and forward2338storage to be able to accelerate the repair of the platforms2339when they break down, that is also another key performance that2340we have to have in the Indo-Pacific. And that's why I put in my2341unfunded priority list about $1.5 billion for spare parts to2342increase the health of the shelf, so we can increase the combat2343generation under attack.2344    Mr. Moylan. Excellent. Thank you, General. Secretary Meink,2345on a CODEL last Congress, I flew to Guam with my colleagues on2346an Air Force C-40. The jet suffered a landing gear malfunction2347and was stranded on Guam, which doesn't mean it is bad to be2348stranded on Guam but it was stranded there for several days2349while awaiting parts from CONUS. Does our operational force2350encounter this type of issue? And how can new force design2351concepts, or prepositioning, ensure Airmen are not stranded2352while operating in the Pacific?2353    Dr. Meink. I know I don't have much time, so, just real2354quickly, yes, that happens. I think the key thing you almost2355alluded to is making sure you have enough spare parts and2356enough supplies to repair the aircraft across the force, and2357that is a focus in our budget submissions.2358    And then prepositioning. We can't preposition everywhere2359because we will never have--it would be terribly inefficient.2360So those sort of conditions do happen, but those are the two2361things: make sure we have the right parts and make sure--2362    The Chairman. The gentleman's time is expired. I would2363point out that all housing at Guam has fallen into an2364unacceptable state of disrepair, not just unaccompanied, and2365there is a lot of blame to go around up on the dias, as well as2366at the witness table. But we all need to be focused on2367correcting that, and, General Allvin, I am thrilled to hear2368about what you just described. But I would urge you, General2369Saltzman and the secretary, to let us know how we can help deal2370with all of it because that is a critical area for our national2371security, and we need to start putting a lot of resources2372against its capabilities and what we need to do for our2373servicemembers that are stationed there.2374    With that, I recognize the gentleman from California, Mr.2375Cisneros.2376    Mr. Cisneros. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to all2377our witnesses today for taking time, I know, out of your busy2378schedules to be here today.2379    General Allvin, I appreciate, in your opening comments,2380about the continuing resolution and really the effect that it2381is having on quality of life, as well as recruiting. I wonder2382if you could go into more detail about how important it is to2383have a robust budget with recruiting in order to recruit2384individuals? Because we are competing with corporations out2385there today that is vying for the same talent, so please.2386    General Allvin. Thank you for that, Congressman. It really2387is because our recruiters are just the hardest working in the2388business right now, and they work very hard to bring those2389Americans who want to raise their right and serve the United2390States Air Force, they work very hard to give them some sense2391of this is what you can expect, welcome to the team, this is2392when you're going to get here. And if we don't have that2393funding to be able to follow through on that and to bring those2394in not only to keep the Americans to want to come into our2395force but to ensure that we are bringing the right talent at2396the right time. Without that predictability of funding or, in2397this case, the mark that, when we already intended to recruit23983,000 more, we had to back off of that because we didn't have2399the funding. It is very disruptive, and, that lack of2400reliability, it has ripple effects well into the future.2401    Mr. Cisneros. All right. So even though we are talking2402about a continuing resolution now, a possibility of maybe2403another one, I mean, how many years down the line could that2404have effects into your recruiting?2405    General Allvin. Well, actually, the fact that we have been2406under a continuing resolution about most of the time for the2407past decade-plus, that is part of the challenge that we are2408seeing here today.2409    Mr. Cisneros. Well, thank you for that. I appreciate your2410answer on that.2411    General Saltzman, former Secretary Kendall had written an2412article at the beginning of this year about the future of the2413Space Force and really about how it needs to really kind of2414transform. I think the example you used was he's Navy, now that2415you have a Merchant Marine going into actually becoming a2416fighting-force Navy. Where are we on that time line, and,2417really, what is it going to take us to get there to where we2418can see the Space Force becoming the fighting force that it2419should be?2420    General Saltzman. Thank you for that, sir. It is equipment,2421it is training, and it is the operational concepts. I think we2422have done some pretty good work on the operational concepts. We2423generally know what we want to do. Acquisition of the equipment2424is a little longer-to-lead item, but I feel good about the2425protection assets that we put in place in terms of resiliency2426and now we have got good plans in place to put together the2427counterspace capabilities that convert us to the Navy, not the2428Merchant Marine.2429    And then training: modeling and simulation, range assets,2430high-fidelity simulators to train our people to make sure that2431they practice the tactics that are going to be necessary. All2432of those are coming together. We will have to grow a little bit2433as a force as we bring new capabilities on, new missions on.2434But I think we are well along our way to evolution.2435    Mr. Cisneros. And, you know, all the services still do2436space. They are still in the space game there. But as the Space2437Force grows and becomes, you know, larger, is it taking over2438more of these roles to where now it will be Space Force will2439kind of be there, or will it be more of a working together with2440the other services to kind of oversee their missions, as well?2441    General Saltzman. Well, thank you for that because it came2442up a little earlier, too. And I think General Allvin would2443agree with me, when we think about our missions and how we are2444going to perform our missions, the last question we ask is2445which domain should we use. First, it is about what are the2446threats, what are the capabilities, what is required of us to2447be survivable, to create the effects we want. You can get to2448where should this platform be located, is it an airborne2449platform. You can get to that, but that's not our starting2450point.2451    And so I see all of our challenges as all-domain2452challenges. Some of those will play out in space. Some of2453those. I rely on maritime capability do the counterspace2454missions. So it is an all-domain effort now in this networked2455environment. The modern battlefield doesn't just restrict2456itself to one domain or another.2457    Mr. Cisneros. All right. Thank you for that. Mr. Secretary,2458you commented earlier about the Qatari 747, about $250 million,2459yes, $250 million to retrofit it. But in that estimate that you2460gave to kind of modernize it or estimate to bring it up to2461standards, to meet the president's needs, did it also consider2462what it is going to take to go through that and make sure that2463that aircraft hasn't been compromised? Because as soon as I2464heard about this in the news, if I was the CPC [Chinese2465Communist Party], I would be trying to get somebody on there2466bugging it, doing whatever they can. So how are we going to2467make sure that the aircraft was not compromised?2468    Dr. Meink. Thanks, Congressman. First off, I didn't say2469$250 million. We can talk more details in a different2470environment about what needs to go on there, but part of2471upgrading it is, essentially, doing a deep-sweep to make sure2472that there is no counterintelligence threats on the platform.2473    The Chairman. The gentleman's time is expired. The chair2474now recognizes the gentleman from Texas, Dr. Jackson.2475    Dr. Jackson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you to our2476witnesses for being here today. I have three real quick2477questions I am going to try to ask for General Allvin and for2478the Secretary all related to Sheppard Air Force Base, but I2479will start with one of my early achievements as a member of2480Congress was back in 2021 when I was successful in getting the2481new child development center at Sheppard Air Force Base funded2482and authorized years ahead of its schedule. Shortly after2483breaking ground in 2023, however, construction crews identified2484asbestos in the ground and the project has still yet to be2485completed. I am concerned that the Department of the Air Force2486has not been aggressive enough in resolving these types of2487issues.2488    Mr. Secretary and General Allvin, how are we addressing2489delays for projects like the CDC [Child Development Center] at2490Sheppard? Would both of you please commit to ensuring that this2491project can stay on track, if at all possible, and we can2492deliver this critical support that we need for our families at2493Sheppard?2494    General Allvin. Absolutely, I can commit and I can commit2495to proposing to the secretary that we put the right funding2496against it. The remediation should be complete by October to2497get us back on track. We understand this is one of those at2498discovery. The last thing we want to do, though, is put a CDC2499where there is lead and harm to the children, so we wanted to2500make sure that entire environment is fully cleaned up. And so,2501by October 2025, we should be over remediation and get back on2502track.2503    Dr. Jackson. Yes, sir. I understand that, and I appreciate2504that. Mr. Secretary.2505    Dr. Meink. I think we are expecting by the end of the year2506get it cleaned up, get going. I think we are looking at, like,25072028 to have it complete.2508    Dr. Jackson. Thank you. I appreciate that. And if there is2509any opportunity to expedite things after that to make up for2510some of the lost time, I think we should do that. Thank you. I2511appreciate it.2512    Another question here. Across the aircraft fleets in the2513U.S. Air Force inventory, pilot training is foundational to our2514readiness. As the service continues to struggle with the pilot2515shortage, I am also concerned about the delayed acquisition of2516the T-7, which is further constraining the pilot-training2517pipeline. Despite announcements earlier this year that the2518program may achieve an accelerated initial operational2519capability, there has been limited information about whether2520this will translate into expedited deliveries.2521    General Allvin, would you provide an update on the T-7 time2522line and what these delays mean for the Air Force's ability to2523train our pilots? What actions has the department taken to2524expedite delivery of these platforms, and when could we expect2525delivery at Sheppard Air Force Base in particular?2526    General Allvin. Congressman, we can give you the current2527understanding of the lay down of the order and the sequence and2528the timing. It still is for Sheppard--I will go to the last2529question first--right now, it is about seven years from now2530before it finally--however, that can be accelerated, and here2531is what we have done to accelerate that: We have taken some of2532the articles that were going to be production articles and we2533put them into tests. We have accelerated the number of T-72534platforms that are in tests. Now, we have completed 1402535flights. Sixty-seven of them were in all of last year. Already2536this year, we have made up the other ground.2537    So we are accelerating the tests, and, as a test pilot, I2538have been checking in with it quite often and the airplane is2539performing phenomenally. So we are trying to buy down the risk2540as fast as we can.2541    If, when we put the more platforms in, we can accelerate2542and move it to less by buying down the test risk, we are ready2543to do that because you know, Congressman, the T-38s are2544operating great, but those J-85 engines and all those2545challenges are things we don't want to contend with into the2546next decade.2547    So we are stepping through and making sure that the MILCON2548is lined up associated with all the funding. And with Sheppard,2549of course, we have, it is a crown jewel. It has got the Euro-2550NATO piece, which means they all get a say in when funding goes2551in to do the MILCON. And so we want to make sure we don't get2552ahead of that and make promises that our international partners2553would have to put money against that we have to renege on. So2554we want to make sure we have confidence in that and buy down2555the test risk as we lay out the actual production and the2556delivery capability across. It is a great platform. We can't2557get it fast enough.2558    Dr. Jackson. Thanks. I appreciate that. And I agree 1002559percent, and, obviously, as important as that training program2560is to not only our pilots but our allied pilots, seven years is2561a long time. So anything, you know, that I could do on my end,2562obviously, from where I see it, I am anxious and willing to2563help expedite that. It seems like that is a long ways out.2564    Thank you. With that, I yield back, Mr. Chairman.2565    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now2566recognizes the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Sorenson.2567    Mr. Sorenson. Thank you to our chairman and ranking member.2568Good morning, just about good afternoon, and welcome to2569Secretary Meink, General Allvin, and General Saltzman. Thank2570you for your many years of service and dedication to our2571nation.2572    I first have to say I am really excited about where the Air2573Force is headed in terms of investing in new technology and new2574capabilities while also making sure that we are equipping the2575Air National Guard. These new assets and capabilities will be2576crucial to our national security. Our next-generation air2577missions, like the F-47s and CCAs [Collaborative Combat2578Aircraft], must also be fielded to the Air National Guard.2579    I proudly represent the heart of Illinois, home to the2580182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria. As you all are well aware, they2581are the gold standard for Air National Guard service. And I2582know I speak for everyone back home when I say that we are so2583excited to welcome the C-130J model to our airports and our2584airspace. The 182nd Wing is exemplary, and I am proud to2585support their work. Doing the crucial work that many of our2586neighbors, my neighbors are doing, Title 5 employees, at the2587Peoria Air National Guard.2588    Like so many of my colleagues here in the committee, I am2589troubled why Donald Trump's administration thinks that cuts to2590the defense workforce are a good idea. This drain of expertise2591is detrimental at a time when we should be improving our2592readiness to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. I am2593concerned about the loss of Title 5 civilian employees in our2594Air National Guard bases across the country and what it means2595for overall readiness.2596    To the secretary, could you explain how the loss of these2597employees in Air National Guard will impact our missions, but2598how should other federal workers feel? How are they supposed to2599keep their morale so high if cuts are happening to the best2600workers on their team?2601    Dr. Meink. Congressman, thanks. I can't speak specifically2602to Peoria. Been there a couple times but can't speak to the2603Guard base there and how they are going to handle the civilian2604workforce impacts. I think, overall, though, across the2605department, the push--and, again, civilian workers have been2606critical, I have been one for thirty-odd years, so critical to2607the Defense Department.2608    Saying that, though, there is always an opportunity to2609improve efficiencies in your organization has an opportunity to2610improve efficiencies, and I think that is what is going on in2611the department right now is how do we continue to increase2612efficiency, support or prioritize the workforce on the highest-2613priority missions, so that we can deliver these capabilities2614and have more resources to build our critical capabilities.2615    But it is always going to be a balance, right? There is2616always going to be a balance. I have seen this many times in my2617careers where there is give and take on the size of the2618workforce, and we are in another area where we are trying to2619improve our efficiencies. You know, I have done it before, and2620that's where I will be working across the department to try to2621make sure that we continue to meet the priorities.2622    Mr. Sorenson. So what do I say to people when they, back2623home, when somebody hears we want to improve efficiency, there2624is a skip of your heart because does the improving of the2625efficiency mean it is my job? What do I say?2626    Dr. Meink. So it is always hard. You are exactly right, it2627is always hard. But as we have discussed, the prioritization of2628funds, both on hardware and people, are the tough decisions,2629sometimes, that we have to make. But we need to do everything2630we can to support the workforce as we do that.2631    Mr. Sorenson. I am also concerned about our National Guard2632federal technicians. Do you expect that the president's 20262633budget will request adequate funding to support our National2634Guard's federal technicians?2635    Dr. Meink. I would be happy to discuss that once the budget2636is released, Congressman.2637    Mr. Sorenson. I look forward to seeing it, as everyone2638does. And while I have just one minute left, I want to2639acknowledge that just yesterday the Rock Island Arsenal's Joint2640Manufacturing and Technology Center just received their AS91002641certification. This will allow them to deliver the best2642components to the aerospace industry, and I strongly urge the2643Air Force to make efforts to partner with our organic2644industrial base to make sure that our warfighters have2645everything that they need.2646    Also, as a meteorologist, I would be remiss, as we begin2647hurricane season, my thanks to the courageous folks at the Air2648Force Reserve Hurricane Hunters who do everything that they can2649to fly into the world's biggest storms with the sole purpose of2650keeping us safe. So may they stay safe in this hurricane2651season, and, if you ever need a meteorologist from Congress to2652fly with them, just give me a call.2653    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.2654    The Chairman. That is a first for me. The gentleman from2655Virginia, Mr. McGuire, is recognized.2656    Mr. McGuire. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to our2657witnesses. Thank you to our men and women in the military. Your2658service is important, and we would not have a country without2659you.2660    I want to make a couple of statements before I get into2661questions. I have a resolution I am working on. It is H.R.26623478. I would ask the witnesses to write that down, H.R. 3478.2663It is the Manned Aircraft Clarification Act. There are many2664reasons why Langley and other places didn't engage drones. I am2665sure you know some of that I don't know. But I believe a lot of2666the hesitation was an advisory put out by the DOJ [Department2667of Justice] in 2020. So the Manned Aircraft Clarification Act,2668H.R. 3478, will take care of almost all of the SLTT [State,2669local, tribal, and territorial] problems and almost all of the2670DOT [Department of Transportation] problems. And I know you2671guys have got actual ways of shooting them down.2672    Now, my wife and I were with our church in Israel about2673three years ago on a mountain looking into a valley, and we saw2674F-35s come in and landing and then disappearing under ground,2675kind of like an aircraft carrier. I am sure that would be super2676expensive, but look at what happened in Russia. I am sure you2677guys would consider that and other options.2678    All right. Now to the questions. Secretary Meink, I think I2679heard one of you say earlier that new missions require new2680resources. The Air Force continues to prioritize modernization2681across its missile enterprise, including next-generation2682missiles, propulsion, advanced tactical and air defense2683systems, space launch, and nuclear modernization, all of which2684depend on solid rocket motors. Concerns have been voiced about2685the domestic supply chain and increase in domestic demand2686signals for these critical Air Force needs. How is the Air2687Force working to ensure a stable and competitive domestic2688supply of solid rocket motors to meet program requirements to2689include addressing current industrial base constraints and2690production bottlenecks?2691    Dr. Meink. So, Congressman, thanks for the question. I am2692not sure I can speak to the overall approach. I'll ask General2693Allvin for help on that. I know we have seen a couple of2694challenges, particularly in some of the, actually, in some of2695our launch programs and other programs there has been some2696challenges with the solid rocket motors that are being2697addressed right now. But for the overall, particularly in the2698missile category, I will have General Allvin--2699    General Allvin. Actually, I have nothing to add2700systemically across the board, but, with each, the integration2701has always been the challenge and making sure that we have the2702right capability on those. But we can take that one for the2703record and see if there's anything more--2704    [The information referred to can be found in the Appendix2705on page 109.]2706    Mr. McGuire. Sure. Has the Air Force considered supporting2707campus-style solid rocket motor production models that would2708leverage proven private-sector expertise collate, located,2709manufacturer--I went toward Starbase in Texas, and they have2710got this campus style, everything is all in one spot. So I2711would ask that you guys consider that.2712    All right. General Saltzman, President Trump's Golden Dome2713executive order calls for development and deployment of non-2714kinetic capabilities to augment the kinetic defeat of advanced2715cruise missiles. Some of these capabilities include lasers and2716particle beam weapons technologies, which require a large2717amount of power to operate. I would expect the Space Force to2718fully explore deploying these capabilities to their Interceptor2719architecture. Since I have been in Congress, I have been a big2720proponent of deploying advanced nuclear reactor technology,2721like small module reactors and micro, micro nuclear reactors on2722orbit and microreactors in orbit. Nuclear energy has 1,0002723times the power density of solar and will power not just lasers2724but our communications and data collections, as well.2725    So is the Space Force looking into the adoption of nuclear2726technology into our next-generation space architecture?2727    General Saltzman. Well, first and foremost, I can tell you2728that we are looking into directed energy. We see this the same2729way you do. This is a very promising technology that we have to2730explore. If you don't mind, I would like to talk to you maybe2731in a different environment about the things that we are doing2732and see if there is room for that. We will have to take that2733for the record. I am not tracking anything specific.2734    [The information referred to can be found in the Appendix2735on page 109.]2736    Mr. McGuire. That sounds great. And then, Secretary Meink2737and General Allvin, what is the Air Force strategy to store and2738transport a large stockpile of CCAs? How will you coordinate2739your efforts with the U.S. Transportation Command?2740    General Allvin. Thank you for that question, Congressman,2741because the beauty of what we are doing right now, we are still2742having those CCAs be developed in a prototype, part of its life2743cycle. At the same time, we are standing up an experimental2744operations unit, so, as we understand the platform, we2745understand the autonomy, we are looking into how we intend to2746actually employ, sustain, maintain them, and that will drive2747our operational concepts as to whether they are, some are2748forward positioned or whether forward deployed or whether2749stored here. That is work that is ongoing, but that is front of2750mind for our experimental operations units, understanding how2751to make sure that we take on this capability as the game2752changer that it really is.2753    Mr. McGuire. Well, thank you very much, and I yield back my2754time.2755    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now2756recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina who almost has2757good barbecue, Mr. Davis.2758    Mr. Davis. Thank you for acknowledging that, Mr. Chair. Mr.2759Secretary, congratulations on your recent appointment; and,2760actually, I really look forward to working with you. So2761congratulations to you. And, General Saltzman, thank you always2762for what you are doing in this space world.2763    General Allvin, it is always good to see you. I appreciate2764our conversations in between these meetings, and I probably2765just want to spend a little bit more time on questions that we2766have already talked about, just having your assurances, you2767know, towards those conversations, to be candid.2768    So the first question is, as we are talking about Seymour2769Johnson Air Force Base, could you please expand on the2770commitment, if it remains as we have had many conversations now2771or several conversations, and I am saying beyond just you,2772General Spain, and others, regarding bringing the block 229 F-277315Es to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base once those F-35s come2774online.2775    General Allvin. Yes. Thank you. That continues to be our2776plan as we get them there. So that is on track or has been in2777the last couple of years. We still think it is the right thing2778to do, to keep that capability and keep Seymour Johnson for the2779core F-15E and F-15EX training, as well.2780    Mr. Davis. Thank you so much, which then also brings me2781into the next question. Being that we are seeing an increasing2782role of the training at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base,2783continue to put on, obviously, a reconciliation package going2784through, how do we plan to address that increased training?2785    General Allvin. Yes. We are certainly working with that2786with Air Combat Command to understand what the increased2787throughput would be. Right now, we are also looking at getting2788more pilot training graduates out as we are starting to2789increase that pipeline. So Air Combat Command is looking at2790specifically to make sure that we can handle--now, at that2791point, it just becomes you put more platforms in and do require2792more maintenance and more instructors, et cetera, et cetera, to2793accommodate that. So we are looking at the increased throughput2794caused by those, which is going to be ramping up over the next2795few years. We are taking a close look at that right now.2796    Mr. Davis. Thank you so much for that. And then, obviously,2797then it brings me back to still dealing with reconciliation.2798When we have dealt with Congress, the prior conversations2799dealing with investment, obviously, there was a period, as we2800were dealing with those conversations and the ultimate2801decision, and now the decision has been made and we are2802bringing forth now revenue appropriations, $127 million, to2803address the current needs in terms of operational needs at2804Seymour, the F-15Es that are currently there, those 220s. Could2805you speak on that, please, the commitment of making sure those2806funds remain in place?2807    General Allvin. Because those are just as critical as the2808others. We still have a portion of our force that is flying in2809the 220s and, regardless of that, the quality of the support2810infrastructure and everything that makes that mission happen,2811we can let it drop because, as we see with an increase in the2812introduction of the F-15EX, there is just a general proposition2813that this is going to be a platform with both variants. That's2814going to be a part of our future, a growing part of out future,2815more so than we thought of when we started these conversations2816several years ago.2817    Mr. Davis. That's fine. And I will just take a moment to2818continue to articulate I am constantly on the base, constantly2819staying engaged, and realize the dire need that exists there.2820And some of this is because of just dealing with the prior2821decisions that now have been made but, nevertheless, as2822decisions are being made, we need to make sure we are still in2823position to deal with addressing those decisions. And I just2824want to continue to uplift those, bring them to the forefront.2825    Now, looking into the future, I, obviously, a lot of2826interest in Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. In a world of we2827continue to talk about F-15EXs and notice the argument and our2828conversations have driven just trying to increase the H-15E2829presence at Seymour with the 229s, but do you maybe see the2830world, a world in which maybe the F-15EXs or, you know, under2831NGAD [Next Generation Air Dominance], you know, my question2832would be, you know, even potentially F-47s at Seymour.2833    General Allvin. Well, we certainly need to look at the2834mission. Of course, when we think of the F-47, it eventually is2835the follow-on to the F-22, so it is never a one-for-one2836replacement but understanding the different mission sets that2837are required of those different types of platform.2838    But when we certainly look at the future, we need to also2839understand where we might want to put--2840    Mr. Davis. Let me take my last five seconds here. Do you2841see the world as transferring aircraft from Seymour to the2842Guard to help--2843    General Allvin. We need to have a balanced total force to2844make sure that we have capability for the future, so I wouldn't2845take anything off the table at this point.2846    The Chairman. The gentleman's time is expired. The chair2847now recognizes the gentleman from Georgia, Dr. McCormick.2848    Dr. McCormick. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you,2849gentlemen, for being here with us today. That is awesome.2850    One of the things that really worried us about the lessons2851learned we had overseas right now with the Operation Rough2852Rider and the deployment to the Yemen area. What kind of2853lessons--I'll probably this with you, General. What kind of2854lessons have we learned with the Houthis and what we can do2855better with both measures and countermeasures, offensive and2856defensive coordination, against those sort of terrorist2857organizations?2858    General Allvin. Well, we are certainly learning a lot in2859CENTCOM [United States Central Command]. You mentioned Houthis2860specifically. Between that and the salvo that came from Iran 182861months ago or almost two years ago now, we are learning a lot2862about how we need to address threats that might be low cost,2863high volume, and don't end up on the wrong side of the cost2864curve.2865    And so even just most recently, we had developed2866capabilities that were lower cost that we are now putting on2867platforms over in the Middle East. So, for example, whereas2868before we would have an F-15 E with an AIM-9X on it, which2869400,000 a pop, to maybe an AMRAAM [Advanced Medium-Range-Air-2870to-Air Missile], which is over a million dollars a pop,2871shooting down the cheaper drones.2872    Now, we need to protect our assets, so we did what the2873situation required. However, we have more recently developed2874capabilities to where we can have laser-guided rockets, which2875are doing the same thing against those platforms. So instead of2876$400,000 or $1 million a pop, these things are $32,000 a shot2877and you can put 42 shots on an aircraft. So it is showing that2878we have the ability to adapt our current force structure to2879meet those threats in the Middle East, that we aren't expending2880all the resources that we need to do to develop the2881capabilities, the high-end capabilities to meet the Chinese2882threat in the Indo-Pacific.2883    Dr. McCormick. And do you think our countermeasures, as far2884as like they can send after us, we had some U.S. troops2885actually killed not that long ago by drone strikes from2886terrorists and it was on our bases. What kind of hardened2887structures are we using or even nets, anything cheap, whatever2888we can use? Are we looking at some things that are2889realistically going to be deployed against these things that2890are very difficult to go after mass-wise?2891    General Allvin. We are. In fact, within CENTCOM, and I'm2892speaking for the Air Force bases, of course this is all2893outside, but, in the Air Force bases, I was in one of the bases2894here over Christmastime, and they are using these various,2895stitching together the various counter-UAS [Unmanned Aircraft2896System] systems but rethinking this is not only just the2897capabilities, it has to be the operational concepts on how to2898defend a base in a way we haven't thought about because they2899have been uncontested for 25-30 years.2900    So, now, having a unit train ahead of time to know how to2901defend the base and go in and preserve that installation and2902the force generation that it provides is absolutely key. I2903think we are making some progress. It is not only capabilities.2904It is the units that are trained to go over there and fight,2905but they are trained ahead of time as units. Those things are2906key.2907    Dr. McCormick. Perfect. And, Mr. Secretary, I know one of2908the things that we talked about, AI predictability and2909maintenance, and the chair talked about our ability to stay up2910above 60 percent, especially with aircraft, and I know that,2911when you have a bunch of aircraft that are down because we2912didn't predict it appropriately, it puts us at a disadvantage.2913    Some of the readiness rates are really, really poor,2914obviously. Are you using AI-predictive models to get on top of2915that?2916    Dr. Meink. We are. There has been a number of efforts to2917start doing that, and I think that is going to help. But I also2918think, even over the years, because of budget pressures, we2919have squeezed that and even though we knew--well, we knew we2920were squeezing it. So it really didn't take advance predictive2921models to know that we were actually squeezing it and we are2922trying to put more focus on readiness, trying to make sure that2923we have the parts, sustainment, and we had a little discussion2924over there about right to repair, those sorts of things.2925    So there is going to be a focus across the board, but some2926of the advanced analytics to help predict that are going to be2927important, as they are now. But they will continue to probably2928increase in importance.2929    Dr. McCormick. I always encourage the secretaries, just2930like the commandants and the leaders of each individual2931service, to be as transparent as possible about the stuff you2932guys need, and you always need more, always need more. I2933remember when General Krulak was the only general out of the2934service commanders that really said, hey, we need more, we're2935suffering. And then, when everything started falling apart,2936they are like only one general told us we needed more. The2937chair has been very open and honest about the fact that we need2938more investment in our military, so just be very aggressive on2939that. We will receive that well, I think.2940    Final question. Now, this doesn't really apply to the Space2941Force because you guys are brand new, but we can see a lot of2942legacy systems that aren't benefitting all the services. The2943Marine Corps is trying to shed some of those things that we2944don't use for the next war, not the last war. And there is some2945protectionism in Congress, I think, on systems. I think the2946last recent Futures Command analysis of the Air Force was like294730 percent of your assets really aren't futuristic, they are2948not thinking about the next war, they are thinking about the2949last war. Maybe they are protectionist from the standpoint of2950people have things produced in their districts.2951    I would love to see you identify stuff. We can replant2952those things with the futuristic cheaper, better stuff that we2953use in the future. I hope you will work with us to identify2954those things that we don't need anymore. It is okay. Work with2955us in Congress. We will help you collectively.2956    The Chairman. The gentleman's time has expired. The chair2957now recognizes the gentleman from California, Mr. Tran.2958    Mr. Tran. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Meink, General2959Saltzman, General Allvin, thank you all for your service and2960for your testimony today. As you know, the Space Development2961Agency was created to drive innovation and field capabilities2962rapidly, but, as the SDA transitions further into the Space2963Force, there are uncertainties about maintaining its agility2964and unique acquisition model.2965    Recently, there have been rumors suggesting that SDA's2966Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 transport layers are facing termination2967within the current 2026 DoD budget in favor of Mil Net. As you2968know, SDA's transport layer is the only direct-to-platform2969constellation in development. The alternative currently does2970not have a direct-to-platform capability and is optimized for2971high-data rate transfer to ground stations and then2972dissemination of data. SDA's transport layer provides essential2973low-latency communication that reaches the tactical edge.2974Transport is the only proven Link 16 capability in space. The2975Link 16 capabilities will not exist for at least three years.2976Not only would cancellation of Tranche 2 result in the2977termination of hundreds of millions of dollars of ongoing2978fixed-price contracts severely degrading and eliminating areas2979of the growing space industrial base but also would delay2980getting this critical capability directly to the warfighter.2981Can you ensure that SDA's Tranche 2 transport layer will be2982protected within the department's 2026 budget? Will you also2983speak generally about the importance of SDA to the growing2984space industrial base in California and across the country and2985how it ensures competition and resiliency moving forward?2986    General Saltzman. So the fiscal year 2025 budget, of2987course, is not finalized yet. The request hasn't come over yet,2988so we will take a look at the specific details once those are2989finalized for sure.2990    I agree with you 100 percent that the capabilities that SDA2991is pursuing are vital to almost every aspect of the Space Force2992mission and the joint force writ large. The data transport2993layer is vital. And the capabilities that we are delivering in2994Tranche 2 in particular are key to that success, so we are2995committed to making sure that that program is successful and2996looking at the broad array of capabilities that might2997complement it.2998    Mr. Tran. Thank you so much. I appreciate that. The Air2999Force has emphasized the urgency of the Combat Collaborative3000Aircraft, CCA, program in enabling affordable mass and3001operational advantage against pure adversaries. Yet, there is3002concerns that Increment 1 aircraft under development may be3003treated primarily as test beds rather than operational assets.3004What specific steps is the department taking to ensure that3005these Increment 1 platforms are not merely prototypes for3006evaluation but are, in fact, fielded in meaningful numbers on3007an operationally-relevant time line to meet the pacing threat3008from China?3009    General Allvin. Thank you very much for the question3010because, frankly, that is the first I have heard that anyone is3011considering them only becoming test articles. We are absolutely3012integrating them into our operational Air Force. As a matter of3013fact, the two competitors that we down-selected for prototypes,3014General Atomics and Anduril, are competing very heavily against3015each other for us to be able to use both of them.3016    In parallel to the development and the prototyping of the3017actual platforms, we have a simultaneous program going on for3018the development of the autonomy. It is called Project VENOM. So3019we are understanding how we can leverage the autonomy, put them3020into the platforms, and make better use of them in human3021machine teaming. Simultaneous to that, we have the experimental3022operational unit. So as soon as they come online, we are3023expecting to have a couple of hundred of them by the end of the3024FYDP. As soon as they come online, we want to be able to3025integrate them, employ them, and advance their capabilities,3026and learn about the human-machine team in an operationally3027relevant time frame.3028    The challenge is that we are going to stick with, there is3029always something you say, if you spend a little longer, we can3030put something else on it, we can put something--speed to ramp3031is the key here. Get it out there, get the usefulness of it,3032and learn from it. I fully expect them to be operationally3033utilized.3034    Mr. Tran. That is right. Thank you so much, General. I3035appreciate that testimony. And thank you to all three of you3036for being here.3037    With that, Chairman, I yield back.3038    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now3039recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Harrigan.3040    Mr. Harrigan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for3041your testimony today, gentlemen. Great to have you here. We had3042the Army in here yesterday and learned a lot from them, and I3043wanted to talk to you, General Allvin.3044    In January of this year, you wrote an op-ed for Breaking3045Defense in which you stated that the Air Force is now kind of3046at a make-or-break moment. And I fully agree with you, couldn't3047agree more. The Air Force cannot afford to keep doing things3048the way that it has always done them. And if we are truly3049serious about prevailing in the next conflict or properly3050deterring the next conflict against the PRC [People's Republic3051of China], we have got to get serious about how we actually3052align our resources. And when I take a look at the equivalent3053of the balance sheet in the P&L [Profit and Loss]for the Air3054Force, it bleeds red from both an infrastructure perspective3055and a legacy systems perspective. Your own end budgets are just3056absolutely bleeding, and you talked a little bit about that3057today. You talked about some excess infrastructure that you3058have both from facilities perspective, as well as from an3059available apron perspective. My colleague from Georgia talked3060about identifying certain systems that, as we all know here,3061may be parochial, right? They may be, and some of these3062decisions have been made in the best interests of certain3063districts across the country, but they haven't been made in the3064best interests of the United States of America moving forward.3065And I think we need to fix that.3066    So my question for both you and the secretary is are and do3067you have a similar plan, much like we were briefed yesterday by3068the Army, the Army Transformation Initiative, do you have a3069similar plan in the Air Force to purge these legacy weapon3070systems, these legacy force structures, and reallocate some of3071this real estate that you have that is not helping your budgets3072right now so that we can create the Air Force of the future? Do3073you have a formal plan for that?3074    General Allvin. I will take the first shot at it and then3075let the secretary correct me 100 percent. But our plan is3076different from the Army's is that our plan, it requires growth3077either way. And so when we look at specifically with the3078infrastructure, that is one where there can be pure savings,3079but it is not as easy as saying, well, let's just close this or3080that, which is why we really want to work with Congress because3081you might have ten installations that might have ten-percent3082excess each on them, but that doesn't mean you close any one of3083them without some collaboration or understanding.3084    For me and for my advice to the secretary is, however that3085gets resolved, as long as it is off my books, that excess3086infrastructure, whatever it costs to do that, we can3087recapitalize that. So that would be one plan is to work with3088ways to generate revenue or do something to where that excess3089infrastructure that is not supporting our Airmen's quality of3090work or quality of life is no longer on our books because that3091is when, tooth to tail, that is all tail. And so eliminating3092that is part one.3093    The other part is, the tougher part is really fully3094divesting ourselves of some of the legacy force structure. I3095will tell you, though, that this prioritization that we are3096directed to do to ensure what would it look like if we had to3097drop off some percentage of our budget to make room for the3098president's priorities, that sharpened our focus. And so it is3099very clearly in the aggregate. Three things: defend the3100homeland from the air, and we do the nuclear recapitalization3101to support strategic returns, and then projecting power to3102deter the PRC.3103    Some things fall out of the bottom of those, but they are3104very important to the joint force. So we find that the joint3105force loves the Air Force, as well. So we find ourselves3106challenged to say pull any of the main capabilities out not3107only because they are a parochial interest within districts and3108states but also there are some parochial interests within other3109parts of the joint force.3110    So we will continue to identify those things that are least3111dear to us, but, before it makes it out of the Department of3112Defense, you need to understand they may be least dear to us,3113but, if they are so dear to the joint force, then that needs to3114be resourced elsewhere. So that is the challenge for us.3115    Mr. Harrigan. Thanks, General. And before, Mr. Secretary,3116you give your answer, I would like to say very clearly I don't3117think anybody has any interest in closing off any3118infrastructure. We have got to make it relevant because, once3119we lose it, we never get it back, and it is a loss of national3120capability. So just to clarify that.3121    Mr. Secretary, do you have any thoughts? You have got about312240 seconds.3123    Dr. Meink. I guess I would just reinforce your statement3124that evolving and modernizing the force is critical. The3125question I asked earlier about some of the things we learned in3126Yemen and you had a lot of the low-end threats, but we also3127learned that, unfortunately, the proliferation of some of the3128high-end Russian anti-aircraft and other systems and what we3129have seen within the Ukraine theater is, if you don't have a3130survival system, you are in trouble, even if you are over3131Yemen.3132    Mr. Harrigan. Mr. Secretary, in about ten seconds, I am3133going to reclaim my time here. I would just encourage both of3134you to take a very hard look at the assets that we have and, if3135they have not helped us win the last 30 years of war and if3136they are not helpful to deterring or defeating China, we need3137to make the hard decisions and get rid of them. Thank you.3138    The Chairman. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from3139California, Mr. Garamendi.3140    Mr. Garamendi. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Meink,3141welcome. I look forward to working with you in the days ahead.3142I note your extensive experience in space operations and I'll3143focus on that.3144    General Saltzman, good to see you once again. You are going3145to get a bye this time. As for you, General Allvin, we have3146been down through this. Would you be disappointed if I didn't3147take up the Sentinel? I suspect, Secretary, you have been well3148briefed. I understand the Sentinel has come up from some of my3149colleagues, and that is good.3150    This is a question for you, Mr. Secretary. This is a quote3151from the president not so long ago: There is no reason for U.S.3152to be building brand new nuclear weapons. We are all spending a3153lot of money that we could be spending on other things that are3154actually, hopefully, much more productive.3155    Secretary Meink, do you agree or disagree with the3156president?3157    Dr. Meink. Well, what I will tell you is that nuclear3158deterrence across the board is one of the highest priorities of3159the nuclear enterprise. National security is the highest3160property, and Sentinel is one of those programs. We continue3161to, obviously, support that program, and we are doing3162everything we can to get it back on track. I think the concern3163has been, and this is really the delivery system for nuclear3164weapons, nothing to do with nuclear weapons themselves. We3165don't build those. This is the delivery systems and just the3166fact that we need to modernize, given the age of the Minuteman3167III, is critical, as well as some additional capability we need3168to operate in the future environment that we can talk about in3169more detail in a separate environment.3170    So we are spending a lot of time making sure that we are3171doing this program right. Obviously, costs grew, and we got to3172make sure that we execute, execute, execute, so that we are3173efficient in line with the president's directive to support the3174homeland and deter China.3175    Mr. Garamendi. If I were to look at the written testimony3176that will soon be available, yours and others, it would seem as3177though you disagree with the president because the Sentinel is3178a new nuclear delivery system.3179    Dr. Meink. So, Congressman, I would have to go back and3180look at specifics at the quote you pulled. I have never and do3181not believe that I disagree with the president on anything. I3182think we are supporting his priorities, which is support the3183homeland, and this is one of the programs that we will use to3184support the homeland, along with a number of the other programs3185that the department provides to the nation.3186    Mr. Garamendi. This introduction was specifically to bring3187your attention a $200 billion new weapon system. The rocket3188itself and the various infrastructure needed is well over $1503189billion now. There is a new nuclear bomb, new command and3190control systems, and other bits and pieces along the way that3191have pushed this to $200 billion. Quoting the president, we are3192spending a lot of money that we could be spending on other3193things that are actually, hopefully, much more productive.3194Direct quote from the president, and I will get that delivered3195to you.3196    Bottom line of this is that we have a third leg of the3197triad, the Minuteman III, which, under the current plan for the3198Sentinel, would require that the Minuteman III continue to be3199operative for at least another decade, at which time the first3200Sentinel would be available to begin the replacement process.3201We don't have to stop the Sentinel program, but we can3202certainly delay it and then spend that money on things that3203have been discussed by my colleagues here, which are much more3204relevant to today's fighting.3205    There is a very interesting word that is used in support of3206the Sentinel and the Minuteman III and that is that it is the3207most responsive leg, and I would opine that the reason it is3208the most responsive is that it is the use-it-or-lose-it leg in3209which the rockets would have to be deployed or be taken out by3210an incoming nuclear attack. However, there are other very3211responsive ones. The B-21, for example, that is something less3212than a billion dollars a copy. Let's just assume it is $1503213billion. How many B-21s could you have that are clearly3214responsive?3215    Dr. Meink. Congressman, I am not going to try to do the3216math in my head. I would say that--3217    Mr. Garamendi. Somewhere about 150.3218    Dr. Meink. --the Sentinel program is designed to be,3219actually, a very survivable system and--3220    The Chairman. The gentleman's time is expired. The chair3221now recognizes the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Fallon.3222    Mr. Fallon. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the3223witnesses. What I want to talk to you, General Allvin, about is3224recruiting. We had the posturing on the Army, and, literally,3225when the secretary of the Army mentioned that they had hit3226their goals, I cheered and other members of this committee did3227because we were in a crisis mode year over year. It is one3228thing to miss your recruiting goals in a given year, but when3229you are doing it year over year three, four, five in a row,3230then it gets to be crisis.3231    So if you could talk to us a little bit about where we are3232with recruiting with the Air Force, why you think it turned3233around. What I would also encourage you to do and the3234secretary, as well, is let's find out the reasons. Everybody3235has their suppositions and maybe expectations as to why, but I3236would really like to figure out why people are now joining so3237we can then replicate it and continue on, if you could expound.3238    General Allvin. Thank you very much. And I am going to be3239very brief because I could go on for an hour with you. Maybe I3240will come and see you afterwards. I would say, first of all, I3241love the way you characterize it, crisis versus a challenge.3242The Air Force only had one year we didn't make it.3243    Mr. Fallon. Okay.3244    General Allvin. We have only had one year that we didn't3245meet our recruiting goals. Since then, we have. We think it is3246a combination of several things: The COVID hangover where we3247couldn't get our folks into the schools and start getting the3248Americans excited about joining the United States Air Force. We3249also had certain maybe outdated policies. We also had this sort3250of mix-in of the new medical system by which you evaluated3251people's ability to join, and that caused some bottlenecks in3252the time between when you got the contact or, as the Marines3253say, contact to contract, that sort of mucked up that for a3254little while. All those things came together.3255    But, fundamentally, we think it is several things. It is3256also a unifying focus, focusing on the threat, focusing on the3257warrior ethos, all of these things come together. And as we do3258that, we want to ensure, to your point, Congressman, to your3259point, we want to ensure the things that we are doing3260different, we want to track in a longitudinal study format to3261see, year over year, are those the recruits the ones that are3262staying, the ones that are performing.3263    So we are doing that analysis. We are confident with good3264shoe leather, good IT support for our recruiting, it will3265continue to get more contacts out there, and that is the--3266    Mr. Fallon. In general, roughly, what is the number when3267you are talking Air Guard, Reserve, and active on a year-over-3268year basis? What are we looking at roughly?3269    General Allvin. Well, on the active side, we look for about327031,000 was the goal for recruiting, and on the Guard side it is3271closer to--I want to make sure I got it right--3272    Mr. Fallon. Guard and Reserve total.3273    General Allvin. Well, on the Guard side, I think it is32746,000 and the Reserves 4,000. I will get you--3275    Mr. Fallon. Okay. Thank you. And then are we making--real3276quickly because I want to move on to a couple of other things.3277For those that qualify in every other regard but, you know,3278physically, they're not quite up to mark, are we doing anything3279special for them?3280    General Allvin. We are still holding them to the same3281standard.3282    Mr. Fallon. Okay. We're not, if they miss--I think one of3283the other branches is putting them through another month of3284prep. They are not kicking them back out.3285    General Allvin. We haven't had to do that.3286    Mr. Fallon. You haven't had to do that. Okay. Thank you. As3287far as, Mr. Secretary--I'm sorry. General Saltzman, with cyber,3288tomorrow it is going to be more important than it is today and3289furthermore. How are we attracting folks to serve in cyber3290because it is set with specificity and maybe not just with the3291military, maybe on the civilian side; and how are we training3292them and how are we retaining them? And then what can we do in3293Congress to give you the tools to get these very critical3294people in the future, today and in the future?3295    General Saltzman. We have had a lot of luck with3296recruiting. There is a lot of interest in coming in and3297learning cyber techniques and cyber capabilities in the3298military, and we are taking advantage of that certainly. We3299rely on the Air Force training pipeline to train our enlisted3300cadre with regards to cyber, and we are almost uniquely wholly3301committed to cyber mission defense, meaning we are not3302protecting our unclassified networks, our administrative3303networks. We are focused on just the weapons systems and those3304mission networks. So we have a smaller cyber force dedicated to3305just that mission network protection.3306    But the point you raised about can we keep them in and keep3307them retained, we are doing everything we can to make sure they3308stay on the leading edge of cyber defense technology, working3309with industry, deploying some of our guardian cyber people into3310industry to learn the techniques there and then come back and3311deliver to us. So we are trying to do as much as we can to keep3312the education at a high level.3313    Mr. Fallon. And if we have to in Congress provide any3314monies for specific scholarships, just let us know, Mr.3315Secretary, what we can do in that regard because it is so3316critical moving forward.3317    And with my last 20 seconds, I want to say, Mr. Secretary,3318welcome. You were the right man at the right time in the right3319place for the right job, and it is great to have you here.3320    Dr. Meink. Thank you.3321    The Chairman. You have 11 more seconds.3322    Mr. Fallon. Thank you very much. Chairman, I yield back.3323    The Chairman. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from3324Massachusetts, Mr. Keating.3325    Mr. Keating. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank our3326witnesses. I just want to deal first with the probe about3327research and development and readiness issues, and I noticed,3328you know, with AFWERX and I noticed with AF Ventures, you know,3329coordination with the Air Force and the commercial side of3330things. But one of the areas I think it really would be3331advantageous is to have more of a collaboration with the3332universities, colleges, and other schools. I know the Air Force3333does that with Howard, but, you know, in my district, I am3334looking at collaboration sometimes with MIT [Massachusetts3335Institute of Technology] and Lincoln Laboratories, those3336groups; but I also look at a program we have we deal with the3337Navy at the University of Massachusetts in my district where3338they have a program for marine undersea technology research and3339they develop their own curriculum in conjunction with the Navy,3340and they are working on the research very successfully. But,3341also, those people are a pipeline to more recruitment and more3342service personnel.3343    Elsewhere in my district is a community college working on3344avionics. The Cape Cod Community College has a program on3345avionics training, and they have avionics maintenance3346technician licenses that come out of it, avionics electronic3347technology technicians licenses on it. And there is a waiting3348list to participate in this.3349    So could you tell me what avenues you have either with3350grants or other outreaches to the universities and the schools3351that are there? Bridgewater State University in my district has3352a pilot training program. So is there ways we can link because3353I see a benefit all the way around to really expanding interest3354in these kind of relationships. I guess Mr. Secretary or3355General Allvin probably would be the better two, I guess, for3356this.3357    Dr. Meink. So, Congressman, I agree. We develop and operate3358some of the most complex systems and innovating faster than the3359adversary is just critical for us to maintain our lethality3360edge. Access to the technical skills within the U.S. not just3361industry but at universities is important. One of the things,3362interestingly, just yesterday, I had a conversation about how3363we might make it easier to get access to some of that technical3364skill. Sometimes, it takes a while for us to set up agreements3365with universities. Is there a way we can standardize that--3366    Mr. Keating. The Navy, for instance, has a grant.3367    Dr. Meink. Yes. Maybe we can make it a little bit easier3368for us to get access and more flexible for us to get access to3369that talent. So I think it is important and that is something3370that I will continue to--3371    Mr. Keating. Yes. I think it is not just research, it is a3372pipeline to recruitment.3373    Dr. Meink. Oh, sure. Once you get access and--3374    Mr. Keating. Trained recruitment, too. They are already3375trained.3376    Dr. Meink. One of the best ways to maintain and get people3377to stay in the service is keep them interested, and one of the3378ways to get them into the service is to get them interested3379through university programs like--3380    Mr. Keating. Well, thank you. I just have a little over a3381minute left, and I just wanted to just touch on one issue. We3382have done a lot of discussions about morale from the bottom up.3383Can you discuss--I have some concerns for morale from the top3384down in our branches. How important is it to have that strong3385morale at the top of the chain of command?3386    General Allvin. I think it is critical across the board to3387ensure that, you know--and, of course, by the time you hang3388around as long as Salty and I have, you know, you have got that3389commitment and you know what the purpose is, but it is very3390important to keep the morale and--3391    Mr. Keating. Yes. I am worried because, you know, and I3392understand there is discretion. But in the short period of this3393administration, there is 40 generals or somewhere along that3394line, four-star rank and above, and ten percent of them have3395been removed, and that is the discretion of the administration.3396But I am worried.3397    And, you know, when I look at someone that I have had great3398admiration for by being on this committee, General Timothy3399Hawk, by being on this committee, I mean, few people in our3400military have the expertise that he had. I mean, he has got the3401cyber expertise unmatched, I think, among many and the3402technical intel that goes with that. He is an extraordinary3403resource, and he was removed without cause, even though he3404served four presidents. He was removed without cause, and the3405rumors were or the reports were the only reason was a3406conspiracy theorist for 9/11, Laura Loomer.3407    So I am worried if this continues for morale from the top3408down, and I yield back.3409    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now3410recognizes the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. Scott.3411    Mr. Scott. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Meink, Robins3412Air Force Base, Robins Air Logistics Complex is a critical3413logistics depot maintenance part of the United States Air3414Force. I would love for you to come down and visit Robins and3415accompany you there where we look forward to accepting the F-341635. Can you confirm that the U.S. Air Force is still committed3417to a three-depot strategy?3418    Dr. Meink. Yes, Congressman, I can confirm that and looking3419forward to coming for a visit and Robins' critical3420infrastructure.3421    Mr. Scott. Yes, sir. Is the Air Force, as other branches3422continue to divest older equipment, non-survivable equipment, I3423want to speak specifically to ISR. So we are getting rid of a3424lot of theater airborne ISR [Intelligence, Surveillance, and3425Reconnaissance]. How are you going to handle the demand for the3426ISR services that the combatant commanders need? How are we3427going to take that with the draw downs?3428    Dr. Meink. Congressman, that is always, you ask any3429combatant commander, they are always looking for more theater3430ISR. And they say ISR. When you think about it, intelligence is3431an outcome. SNR, you know, surveillance and reconnaissance, is3432a mission. They really want that situational awareness to help3433them make decisions. That is what it is. And, historically, it3434has come through platforms, and so that's what they say, I need3435the theater ISR. They really need some of those decision3436support mechanisms.3437    And so, as we move from some of that that's been manned to3438some of that that's been unmanned, some of that has been an3439airborne layer, and now some of it is going to go to space.3440Some of it has been evolving with open-source intelligence3441fusion.3442    So I think we need to be creative about understanding what3443is the capability you need rather than the platform you need3444and, as they do design the platforms in any one domain or3445another, then we are going to have to manage those scarce3446resources as we evolve to those things that we have used in the3447past because we have had more permissive environments to those3448things that will be survivable in the most contested3449environment.3450    Mr. Scott. I agree with you on that. I would also tell you,3451though, that we have the Western Hemisphere, we have large3452areas of Africa that we do have systems that are capable of3453operating in those areas, and we are drawing down those systems3454in the belief that we are going to have other systems. And I do3455worry that we draw down faster than we put up. And when it3456comes to carrying out the mission, we are collecting a3457tremendous amount of data in the new platforms. That data has3458to be processed and turned into information to carry out the3459mission on the ground. So there are a lot of steps there, and3460we have to get every one of them right because any missing3461link, you know, causes a problem for the troops that are3462carrying out the mission on the ground.3463    One last question. The training ranges. This was brought up3464during the confirmation hearing of General Caine. He3465highlighted how the training ranges are inadequate to prepare3466both air and space forces for our modern adversaries. How do3467you intend to better incorporate low cost, electronic warfare3468targets, and decoys to better replicate near-peer adversaries?3469    General Allvin. Thank you, Congressman. I can let General3470Saltzman speak to the space side, but on the air side,3471obviously, the Nevada Test and Training Range and JPARC [Joint3472Pacific Alaska Range Complex] up in Alaska in the Pacific are3473the primary ones that we want to ensure we are paced for the3474high-end threat. To the extent that we can bring up the other3475ranges, we will do so.3476    But you made the right point which is these threat emitters3477are the ones that can replicate better than they have been able3478to do in the past to get better training on those ranges. Those3479low and mid-cost threat emitters are the key. And as we do3480that, we also need to look into the procurement of those3481emitters, just like we are doing everything else, think about3482open systems, modular architecture that allows us to take new3483technologies, as a new characterization of threats changes,3484that we need to be able to adapt so the emitters that we have3485today aren't obsolete tomorrow.3486    So those are the answer. You hit the answer: getting more3487of those emitters, putting them on the ranges, and being able3488to exercise them is going to be the key going forward. And that3489is our path.3490    Mr. Scott. General Saltzman, briefly.3491    General Saltzman. Yes, sir. I would just add to that that3492we are investing heavily in digital ranges to make sure that3493operators have the threat replication to practice their3494tactics. But we are also looking at on-orbit capabilities both3495for live tests, as well as training, to make sure we get live3496data to better build the models that go into our digital3497ranges.3498    Mr. Scott. Gentlemen, thank you.3499    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now3500recognizes the gentleman from California, Mr. Carbajal.3501    Mr. Carbajal. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thank you to all3502the witnesses for being here today and your service. General3503Saltzman, as you know, the increased launch cadence at3504Vandenburg, which is in my district, has caused noise3505disturbance. As the cadence of launches has increased, the3506number of constituent complaints have grown. Space is critical3507to our national security, and I am one of the biggest3508supporters in Congress. But we need to get buy-in from the3509surrounding bases.3510    The leadership at Vandenburg has been extremely helpful, I3511must say, in working with me and my team to find solutions,3512like changing launch windows and trajectories, when possible,3513to minimize sonic boom impacts to area residents. So I wanted3514to thank you for that.3515    General Saltzman, do you think additional studies on sonic3516booms from launch would help us better understand how to3517minimize their impact on nearby communities?3518    General Saltzman. Well, thank you for your support,3519Congressman. It is good to see you. I think absolutely having3520data that we can assess based on the new environmental3521conditions with the launch tempo, the fog alone changes the3522acoustics out there on the point, as you know. So collecting3523that data, which we are actively doing and then building,3524modeling and simulation software to ingest that data and help3525us determine exactly how we might be able to best mitigate3526those circumstances is what we are pursuing. But we are doing3527that hand-in-glove with community outreach because we want to3528make sure we understand precisely what the issues are and where3529those issues are being seen as part of the data collection, and3530we want to be as transparent as we can with the local community3531because they are so important to us.3532    Mr. Carbajal. Thank you. I also appreciate you putting3533sound monitors throughout the Central Coast to make sure that3534we get it as best and as right as possible in mitigating the3535noise. So thank you again.3536    So far, through NSSL [National Security Space Launch], only3537SpaceX is certified to launch out of both the eastern and3538western ranges. ULA [United Launch Alliance] has had to give up3539two of its, previously one, launches out of Vandenburg because3540it lacked certification on the West Coast. Blue Origin can't3541even compete for launches from Vandenburg because they don't3542yet have a West Coast launch pad.3543    If NSSL launches out of the western range can only be3544provided by one company, then we don't really have competition,3545do we? The Space Force can create an environment for3546competition, but we still need providers to compete seriously.3547General Saltzman, will you say it is a national security risk3548to only have one NSSL provider certified to launch out of the3549western range, and what can the Space Force do to ensure we3550have all our Lane 2 launch providers operational on both3551coasts?3552    General Saltzman. Assured access to space requires that3553kind of resiliency. That is industrial-based resiliency, as3554well as geographic resiliency and different rocket systems so3555that a problem in one doesn't create an assured access problem3556for us. So I agree with you.3557    We are working quickly, and there is a pathway to getting3558ULA certification on the western range. And I just was out3559there and I listened to the leadership team talk about their3560long-term infrastructure plan to add additional launch complex3561capabilities to allow for other insurance to have the launch3562complexes they need, as well. So long-term plan, those aren't3563quick, but we do have a plan in place to do that.3564    Mr. Carbajal. Thank you. Well, the quicker, the better.3565General Saltzman, are there plans to make TacSRT [Tactical3566Surveillance Reconnaissance and Tracking] a program of record?3567If not, why?3568    General Saltzman. Because it is heavily reliant on3569commercial services, and so I don't want to take it on as a3570program of record where it is organically done by us because I3571think we would miss out on the innovation we get through the3572commercial imagery providers. So TacSRT, the benefit of it is3573that we only pay for what we need when we need it, and we allow3574the commercial industry to innovate as quickly as possible. I3575just need the money to bolster the marketplace, so there is a3576continued demand signal for that commercial imagery.3577    Mr. Carbajal. Thank you. And my last question may not get3578to an answer, but, General Saltzman, can you speak to the Space3579Force's commitment to the TacRS [Tactically Responsive Space]3580initiative, particularly how it plans to continue support-3581responsive space maneuvering for orbital warfare and space3582surveillance?3583    General Saltzman. Yes, sir. Tactically-responsive space is3584a key element of what we are trying to do, and we are committed3585to getting it better and more robust as we go forward.3586    Mr. Carbajal. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I yield3587back.3588    The Chairman. I thank the gentleman from California. The3589chair now recognizes the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Messmer.3590    Mr. Messmer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you,3591witnesses, for being here today. General Saltzman, during an3592interview earlier this year, you stated that the Golden Dome3593would need a layered approach with Space Force playing a3594central role in this new initiative. How significant is a3595contribution of Space Force have from a space-based Interceptor3596and space-based radar perspective?3597    General Saltzman. Yes, Congressman, we are central to that3598effort because there is going to be a sensor network that has3599to be space enabled that will have to move the data quickly,3600which will have a space component to it, as well. And then, as3601mentioned in the executive order, that space-based Interceptor3602is technology that we are pursuing, but it will be a system of3603systems. It is going to be more than just the Space Force to3604try to stitch together.3605    Mr. Messmer. Right. Which leads to my next question, have3606there been preliminary conversations on how the Space Force3607will contribute and integrate with other service branches?3608    General Saltzman. Absolutely. It is absolutely essential3609that we do.3610    Mr. Messmer. Okay. Secretary Meink and General Allvin, can3611you also comment on the Air Force contributions to the Golden3612Dome for America initiative?3613    General Allvin. Yes. Congressman, again, as that plays out,3614we do believe that there is the air layer in there, so there is3615the sense of domain awareness that we have to do. We need to3616understand how we can support and integrate with the sensing3617and the capabilities that are coming from Space to be able to3618either work with through see-through battle management,3619integrate that command and control with it, or be able to do3620the defensive interception of hypersonic and cruise missiles3621coming through the air domain and air layer.3622    But they come through multidomain, as General Saltzman3623mentioned. We all look at this multidomain, so my partner with3624the United States Air Force is to ensure that we have those3625capabilities to integrate overall in the Golden Dome.3626    Mr. Messmer. Okay. Thank you. Which kind of leads to my3627next question, General Allvin. During the Senate Armed Services3628Committee a few weeks ago, you stated that air and missile3629threats are evolving from both a speed and sophistication3630standpoint, hypersonics being one of the more significant new3631threats. How has the Air Force prepared for rapid innovation by3632Russia and China in their hypersonic programs?3633    General Allvin. So defending against hypersonics and then3634there is creating our own hypersonics. I think you are alluding3635to the defense of these hypersonics. This becomes more and more3636challenging. And we find that it is one of those that's not3637just an Air Force-only problem, it is a joint force problem.3638Any time you have fixed defenses or things that could be the3639target of those sort of hypersonics capabilities, ballistic or3640cruise missiles, this is an overall joint force challenge. And3641so we are looking at anything from the kinetic effects to3642directed energy to the non-kinetic, understanding that these3643are threats we need to have a layered approach to. And the3644further out you can get after them, the better. And if you can3645actually get after them to where they are seeking their targets3646through their long-range kill chain and you can interrupt that,3647we are looking at that, as well. So we are trying to make sure3648that we aren't just fighting from a point defense area. We are3649trying to fight them from as far away as possible.3650    Mr. Messmer. Further left of boom as possible, right?3651    General Allvin. There you go.3652    Mr. Messmer. And that, obviously, involves combining ground3653and satellite central systems.3654    General Allvin. Absolutely. Multi-domain, as General3655Saltzman said many times.3656    Mr. Messmer. Okay. Thank you. Secretary Meink, the Air3657Force's ability to project power through global strike and3658rapid mobility is critical. How is the Air Force integrating3659directed energy systems into its airlift and air refueling3660programs to protect these assets from drone threats during3661high-intensity conflicts?3662    Dr. Meink. I believe that I can say, at this level, at this3663level, is that we are looking at directed energy across the3664spectrum for both protection and defense and offense.3665    Mr. Messmer. Okay. Thank you. Secretary Meink, when3666President Trump recently spoke at Michigan's Selfridge Air3667National Guard Base, he stated that the United States Air Force3668will likely invest in the Guard to reinstate fighter wings. In3669my district, in the 8th District of Indiana, the 181st Fighter3670Wing transitioned in 2008 to the 181st Intelligence Wing.3671Bringing fighter capability back to Indiana is a priority of me3672and my district. What can Congress do to assist the Air Force3673in expediting the process of reimplementing fighter3674capabilities to former fighter wings?3675    Dr. Meink. Let me take a start at it, and then hand it over3676to General Allvin for additional comments. Yes. The biggest3677thing is support us in the production of the aircraft as we3678both grow all the way across from EXs to the 35s, F-47 going3679forward. The more airplanes we have, which is what we need, the3680more opportunity there is.3681    General Allvin, other comments?3682    General Allvin. Absolutely. It is about the funding and,3683quite frankly, when we are looking at the overall capabilities,3684we sort of do need to squint into the future and long range and3685say the capacity as far as physical assets in the Air Force is3686going to be different in the future from what it is right now.3687So just trying to regurgitate to make sure we have capabilities3688at the same number of installations that we had before I think3689is something that we are going to need to be very careful3690about. We are so proud of what Indiana has done in the3691transition to that wing; I think it's very important.3692    So it is an overall force structure where cyber and intel3693are gaining in importance. We want to make sure we just don't3694recreate what we had before.3695    The Chairman. The gentleman's time is expired. The chair3696now recognizes the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Bell.3697    Mr. Bell. First, I want to express my disappointment with3698the chair for recognizing North Carolina barbecue and not St.3699Louis and even Kansas City.3700    General Saltzman, General Allvin, thank you for being here3701today and for your continued service to our nation. I also want3702to join my colleagues in congratulating you, Mr. Secretary, on3703your recent confirmation to the role. And I also want to3704recognize the servicemembers sitting behind you. Thank you for3705your service, as well.3706    I am proud to represent St. Louis, a region that plays a3707critical role in our national security. Everyday, my3708constituents contribute to vital missions from intelligence3709work at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency to3710sustaining global mobility at Scott Air Force Base just across3711the river to advancing the capabilities of our warfighters3712through aerospace innovation and manufacturing. St. Louis is3713home to the production of some of the most advanced fighter3714aircraft in the world, including the F-15EX. Our region also3715plays an central role in the development of the Air Force's3716six-generation fighter jet.3717    However, while these contributions are vital, we must also3718recognize that the same people building our national defense3719are facing severe challenges at home. Many are still recovering3720from the worst natural disaster to hit our region since the3721late 1950s. My constituents are dedicated Americans helping to3722defend our country not only in uniform but through their work3723on our defense industrial base who now need our support. We3724cannot overlook their needs, nor can we afford to weaken the3725very industrial base they sustain.3726    That brings me to another crucial concern. The Air Force3727has contracted for 98 F-15EX aircraft with final delivery3728expected by 2029. I am concerned that, without continued3729procurement beyond that point, we risk not only losing critical3730workforce capacity in places like St. Louis but also3731jeopardizing the strategic resilience of our tactical air craft3732industrial base.3733    General Allvin and Secretary Meink, do you agree that3734maintaining a degree of redundancy in the nation's tactical3735fighter manufacturing capability is a strategic imperative?3736    General Allvin. Thank you for that, Congressman. I do. And3737the F-15EX, it is so far proving itself out very well. We will3738see going in the fiscal year 2026 budget and beyond what the3739possibilities for the future are, but we are seeing that it is3740putting more weapons on rails and being able to do that is very3741relevant in the Indo-Pacific.3742    Mr. Bell. Secretary, did you want to--3743    Dr. Meink. Agree. And we have multiple, Lockheed, Boeing.3744They are our two primary. F-16s are still being built in the3745U.S., so we actually have three contractors who are building3746fighters in the U.S. I think it is important to maintain that3747level of redundancy for competition in the future, as well as3748just resilience.3749    Mr. Bell. And then given the evolving and unpredictable3750threat environment our warfighters are now facing, what is the3751rationale behind not maintaining two active tactical fighter3752production lines until the next-generation aircraft is fully3753operational? General.3754    General Allvin. If your question is why aren't we having3755more fighter lines, it is a matter of resources. I mean, we3756would take all the resource and those are prioritizations3757against--you want to make sure also they are competing with3758munitions, also with the air refueling capability, also with3759the infrastructure. And so it really is just a matter of trying3760to build the whole force to the level that we think the nation3761needs and not having a misshapen force that has too much of one3762thing that can't be used because we don't have everything else.3763    Mr. Bell. And the F-15EX that just achieved initial3764operational capability last year is an even more capable3765aircraft building on the payload, range, and speed of the F-153766with the addition of next-generation capabilities for enhanced3767lethality and survivability. Can you talk about the importance3768quickly of the F-15EX to the Air Force's fighter fleet?3769    General Allvin. Adding that in, it is starting to prove its3770worth not only in our exercises but in our larger-scale3771exercises and, seeing it performing in the Indo-Pacific, it3772provides more weapons on rails and more range and more3773relevance and survivability in the Indo-Pacific.3774    Mr. Bell. Okay. And I will yield my remaining seconds back3775to the chair if he wants to respond to the allegations that3776have--3777    The Chairman. We are going to resolve this. Probably the3778night of the NDAA we will have to have a little competition. We3779will engage.3780    With that, I will recognize the gentleman from Colorado,3781Mr. Crank.3782    Mr. Crank. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Colorado has nothing to3783offer in regards to barbecue, by the way. Secretary Meink, I3784hope you will agree with me that the number-one priority of the3785federal government is our national security and that the first3786question our military leaders must consider when making major3787decisions is how it could affect defense on the homeland.3788    With that in mind and cognizant of the growing space-based3789threat from China and from Russia, to your knowledge, has the3790location of U.S. Space Command headquarters at Peterson Space3791Force Base caused the Air Force to need to withhold or sub-3792optimize any support to the command in any way that has3793undermined readiness?3794    Dr. Meink. And I will ask for a little help from General3795Saltzman here, as well, but, with respect to the current Space3796Command location, we have been supporting them to the full3797level required for them to get to FOC [Full Operating3798Capability]. As you are aware, I am sure there is restrictions3799with respect to MILCON, but we are supporting them for3800readiness at this point.3801    General Saltzman. Yes, Congressman. We have not seen any3802drops in readiness as a result of the location.3803    Mr. Crank. Okay. And as you may know, Mr. Secretary,3804Section 2889 of the Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA blocked the3805Department of Defense from constructing a new headquarters for3806Space Command at Peterson Space Force Base until the DoD IG3807[Inspector General] and the GAO [Government Accountability3808Office] released their reports on the 2023 basing decision led3809by the secretary of the Air Force that found Colorado Springs3810to be the best home for Space Command. The DoD IG report has3811been released, revealing the alarming loss of capability and3812personnel that would result if Space Command was moved from3813Peterson, and the GAO report finally came out last week3814highlighting the unique benefits to the command that the close3815proximity to Northern Command allows. The GAO report also says3816that Space Command is struggling to meet its staffing needs due3817to uncertainty regarding the command's final location, and this3818is delaying the command's ability to build long-term3819institutional knowledge.3820    The result is clear. The most effective home for Space3821Command is Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. And3822it is essential the issue is put to rest once and for all, so3823Space Command and the men and women who work there can put3824their full focus on one goal: defending the nation.3825    Secretary Meink, now that the conditions of Section 28893826have been satisfied, is it your understanding that the planning3827and design of a permanent headquarters building for Space3828Command at Peterson will resume immediately?3829    Dr. Meink. So, Mr. Congressman, we are in the process of3830reviewing the report, the final report out of the GAO. I would3831defer questions on the final decision for location of Space3832Command to the White House Leg Affairs.3833    Mr. Crank. Okay. Thank you. General Saltzman, any comments?3834    General Saltzman. Nothing there. Thank you.3835    Mr. Crank. Okay. Thank you. Very quickly, in the Fiscal3836Year 2025 NDAA, Congress required the Department of the Air3837Force to submit a report to Congress on how it intends to3838better coordinate emerging space activities, such as spacecraft3839reentry recoveries at DoD test ranges with other federal3840agencies, like the FAA. The report was originally due on3841January 31st of this year. The Air Force then delayed delivery3842of the report to March 31st, then to May 31st, and then last3843week it was delayed again to August 31st. Meanwhile, U.S.3844commercial reentry operators are seeking out and currently3845utilizing reentry landing sites in other countries, such as3846Australia.3847    I know this all took place before you were sworn in, Mr.3848Secretary, but it is frustrating that we will not have this3849report until after the committee drafts and marks up this3850year's NDAA. Mr. Secretary, I would like to respectfully ask3851for your commitment that this report will be delivered to the3852committee no later than August 31st and that it will contain a3853description of the factors leading to its delay. I would also3854appreciate a briefing on the report as soon as possible.3855    Dr. Meink. I will commit to giving that to you as soon as3856possible. I will have to go back and check on the status, and I3857will let you know one way or another.3858    Mr. Crank. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Thank you for your3859service, and congratulations on your confirmation. I yield3860back.3861    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now3862recognizes the gentlelady from Hawaii, Ms. Tokuda.3863    Ms. Tokuda. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Secretary, in 2004,3864the Air Force completed a full environmental impact statement3865for the closure of Johnston Atoll following decades of nuclear3866testing and chemical weapon storage. That exit process took3867years and involved extensive interagency and stakeholder3868coordination. Now, as the Air Force moves to reactivate the3869site for the Rocket Cargo Vanguard program, we are seeing far3870less rigor. An environmental assessment promised was now3871delayed until the fall and, from what we are hearing back home,3872the process feels very rushed, risky, and dismissive of3873ecological and community concerns, especially given that3874Johnston is a national wildlife refuge.3875    Coming from Hawaii, I fully recognize the strategic3876importance of this project to advancing forward logistics and3877sustainment in the Indo-Pacific. But that being said, if a full3878EIS [Environmental impact statement] was necessary just to3879close the site, why isn't one being done now to reopen it,3880especially given the ecological sensitivity, the long-term3881risks, and the growing public concern around Johnston?3882    Dr. Meink. Congresswoman, we continue to value safety not3883only for the people in the military but the communities. I am3884not that familiar with that particular issue, but I will make3885sure I go check on it and get back to you on why we are not3886doing additional activities there. I don't know, General3887Allvin, if you have any--3888    Ms. Tokuda. Well, I can definitely tell you that there is3889concern that at least an EIS is not being done. I would also3890suggest then, as you further review this, given SpaceX's role3891in this project, we would love the Air Force, in fact we would3892like the Air Force to factor in the company's environmental3893track record, particularly incidences like those at Boca Chica,3894where wastewater discharge violations were confirmed by the EPA3895[Environmental Protection Agency] when evaluating the3896environmental risks in this assessment.3897    Are you familiar with the fact that SpaceX is involved in3898this project and they have had past environmental issues and3899concerns in other areas where they are stationed?3900    Dr. Meink. I am aware of the operations of SpaceX in that3901area in the past. I am not fully aware of the environmental3902impacts, but I will take it for the record.3903    Ms. Tokuda. Okay. Again, in looking at this environmental3904assessment and perhaps a full EIS should be required,3905considering the partners involved have been in violation of3906various discharge, you know, regulations, I would suggest that.3907    I raise this, though, issue as part of a larger3908conversation unfolding across Hawaii. As you know, we are in3909the middle of land lease renewal negotiations ahead of the 20293910deadline, and just recently the Hawaii Board of Land and3911Natural Resources rejected the Army's EIS for Pohakuloa3912Training Area and will soon consider Army training lands on3913Oahu.3914    In Hawaii, environmental stewardship matters, respect for3915our natural resources, the waters that surround us, the3916ecosystems that connect us. And how the military across all3917branches handle sensitivity towards environmental and cultural3918issues shapes how our community views your presence and your3919partnerships, especially in the Pacific where our lands and3920waters are all seen as connected in one, all of this matter.3921    So while the Army may be at the center of those land lease3922debates today, the Air Force actions on Johnston Atoll, which3923native Hawaiians call Kalama, are part of that same equation as3924to how this will proceed successfully or unsuccessfully going3925towards 2029, and I think we all want to find a sustainable3926path forward but one that respects, recognizes, embraces, and3927protects our host culture, our natural resources, and our3928ecosystems. So I look forward to your response to that when you3929are prepared.3930    [The information referred to can be found in the Appendix3931on page 107.]3932    I wanted to move now to NOAA [National Oceanic and3933Atmospheric Administration] and our capacity, given that we are3934currently and officially in hurricane season. NOAA is3935forecasting a 60 percent higher chance above normal year for3936experiencing a hurricane. This is especially high stakes for3937Hawaii and other coastal communities.3938    The Air Force and NOAA have a vital partnership through3939Hurricane Hunter flights which collects life-saving data to3940support storm forecasting, evacuation planning, disaster3941response. But a recent GAO report found that both agencies are3942struggling to meet growing demand due to aircraft maintenance3943issues, staffing shortage, and poor coordination. It is now3944further compounded by the fact that there was a decision to3945slash NOAA's budget, layoff two of its eight flight directors3946and an engineer, reducing its mission capacity by over 253947percent.3948    Do these reductions concern you, and what steps is the Air3949Force taking to respond to the GAO's findings and ensure both3950the continued accuracy of our storm forecast and the strength3951of our partnership with NOAA?3952    Dr. Meink. I certainly can't speak to the impact with3953respect to NOAA, but I can tell you that our performance from3954the Hurricane Hunters and all those who gear up every year for3955this, they are preparing and certainly looking to put their3956best foot forward in whatever Mother Nature brings. But I don't3957have a sense really of how the impact--3958    Ms. Tokuda. Are you aware of the GAO report?3959    Dr. Meink. I have not read it--3960    Ms. Tokuda. Okay. I have run out of time. If you could look3961at the report and respond how you will be addressing those3962shortages, in addition to NOAA's 25-plus percent cuts.3963    [The information referred to can be found in the Appendix3964on page 107.]3965    The Chairman. The gentlelady's time has expired. The chair3966now recognizes the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Hamadeh.3967    Mr. Hamadeh. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have the honor of3968representing Arizona's 8th congressional district. I am the3969only member of our delegation on the House Armed Services3970Committee, and right next to my district is Luke Air Force3971Base, home to the world's largest fighter wing. Elsewhere in3972the state, we have Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, a KC-1353973refueler wing in Phoenix, and Barry Goldwater Range.Now, the3974Air Force is of huge importance to Arizona.3975    My first question to you, General Allvin, it was good to3976have that phone call with you earlier this year, and I know you3977have deep roots in Arizona in Pine Top. And it is pretty rare3978to meet somebody from Pine Top, Arizona.3979    But, General, I am concerned about what I have heard. While3980I will agree that we have too many flag officers, I received3981confirmation recently that Luke Air Force Base is being3982downgraded. Have you heard of that?3983    General Allvin. We are certainly considering that in the3984context of the GAO reduction and the reorganization for our Air3985Force, yes.3986    Mr. Hamadeh. So has any decision been made yet?3987    General Allvin. It hasn't become final, but it is certainly3988in our planning horizon.3989    Mr. Hamadeh. Okay. I just have concerns with it because3990Luke Air Force Base trains 75 percent of the world's F-353991pilots, and I know image and stature matter with our foreign3992partners quite substantially and we would support to keep a3993unified command behind a one-star general at Luke Air Force3994Base. But if you have an assessment, can you send that over to3995us for the ramifications of Luke Air Force Base for the3996potential downgrade?3997    General Allvin. Sure. We can put an assessment together for3998you. I think, to your point about the value of Luke Air Force3999Base, that is undeniable. But I think more so than stature, our4000foreign partners look forward, look at the quality, and the4001quality is there in the instructor pilots and all of that. I am4002not sure that a general officer versus a colonel leading that4003is as important as a quality of training, that when you are4004trained by the best in the world, that is how you aspire to be4005the best in the world. So we are never going to let that slip4006at all because that is what the real value of Luke Air Force4007Base is, in the instruction, I think.4008    Mr. Hamadeh. Of course. But it also being led by a one-star4009general this whole time, so I just worry that a downgrade, I4010don't want to see it affect our training mission over there.4011But, hopefully, we can arrange a meeting with you and the4012secretary with the Arizona delegation to talk about this4013further, as well.4014    And I have another question, I believe for you, General4015Allvin. As you know, Arizona is home to the massive Barry4016Goldwater Range used by the Marines and the Air Force, and Fort4017Huachuca is the Army's premier test bed for unmanned systems.4018No single post base or range can enable the testing across the4019expanse of kill chains. Yet, we can link these different4020domains together to simulate island chain warfare even within4021the American Southwest.4022    So how do we better connect all the air space land area and4023signal spectrum owned by different branches and think bigger4024and broader about joint capabilities, rather than just within4025the service silos?4026    General Allvin. It is a great point, Congressman. It is4027about collaboration and coordination, and we are getting there.4028We are doing that. We are seeing that, as you know, the ranges4029were, because of Arizona's unique sort of topography and4030geography, those were great things for each service. But right4031now, to your point, we can stitch them together and we can4032replicate something that really can't be replicated in many4033other areas of our United States, and that is sort of a long-4034range kill chain scenario.4035    So we are working with the FAA, and we are coming to sort4036of the final throes of a negotiation to be able to do that on a4037more periodic basis and sort of more routinize it. But, right4038now, we have been stitching them together to do these in4039exercises like Bamboo Eagle. It is a unique opportunity and a4040place so close to the West Coast that we are continuing to work4041with the FAA to make sure that is something we do more often.4042But it is just coordination and collaboration amongst all4043services, and we can all see value in it.4044    Mr. Hamadeh. Very good. And congratulations, Mr. Secretary,4045for your recent confirmation. And with that, I yield back.4046    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now4047recognizes the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Vindman.4048    Mr. Vindman. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to the4049witnesses for coming today. General Saltzman, General Allvin,4050great to see you again. And, Mr. Secretary, congratulations on4051your confirmation.4052    I have three military installations in my district about 254053miles from where we sit right now. Dahlgren is a Navy base, but4054it houses the 19th Delta, and I was privileged to go down there4055and observe the unique and critical skills and, frankly, the4056integral role they play in national defense. And so I just want4057to mention that I was truly impressed by the work they do4058there.4059    I want to turn my attention to Operation Spiderweb, which4060revealed how adversary military or terrorists could coordinate4061mass drone swarms, electronic jamming, and long-range precision4062strikes to paralyze U.S. strategic bombers with power4063projection capabilities before even a single shot is fired. It4064is really, if you think about it, a poor man's Air Force. In4065fact, if these drones exhibit the same characteristics and4066advantages as an air component does.4067    So, Secretary Meink, General Allvin, General Saltzman, I am4068going to open this to all three of you: What specific4069investments or shifts in doctrine are the Air Force and Space4070Force making to detect, disrupt, and survive this kind of4071integrated domain attack?4072    Dr. Meink. I will start and then have General Allvin jump4073in. We talked a little bit about before, I think you need to4074both look at the offensive and the defensive side of this4075equation. And the Ukraine attack demonstrated both, right? It4076demonstrated what you can do with a pretty innovative approach4077to utilizing UAVs [Unmanned Aerial Vehicle] at scale but also4078the challenges if you don't defend against it. So both of them4079are of interest to the Department of the Air Force, and we are4080investing on both sides.4081    As we discussed before, there is more than just the4082technical aspect of building systems to defend against UASs. It4083is really a whole government requirement. It is almost easier4084to defend some of our bases overseas than they are in the U.S.4085because of some of the restrictions in the air traffic that4086surrounds our bases, how careful we have to be. So you have to4087really look at both the technology side, on the defense on the4088technology side, and then on the whole-government approach to4089getting the proper authority so that you can operate and4090actually protect your bases against something like that.4091    On the offensive side of the house, we are looking closely4092at that, as well.4093    Mr. Vindman. If I could leave it at that and let the4094generals also pop in here.4095    General Allvin. Yes. I associate with what the secretary4096said, and then, of course, as we have had conversations all4097throughout this hearing about this, this is an area where we4098are taking note. I would maybe adjust the characterization of a4099poor man's Air Force. It does do some things to the air domain4100to be able to do it at scale, to be able to do it across all4101geographies, to be able to do it in different areas.4102Contestation is a little bit different. But the wake-up call is4103we have already been awakened to this, but it is showing that4104maybe our high-value assets, there is different ways we need to4105look at defending those.4106    These are not just Air Force issues. These are joint4107issues.4108    Mr. Vindman. That is what makes it a poor man's Air Force4109versus the Air Force that--4110    General Allvin. Right.4111    Mr. Vindman. General Saltzman, anything to add on that?4112    General Saltzman. Well, just real quickly, it is the4113asymmetric attack that was most disturbing, I think. And one of4114the ways I am thinking about that is, as we put together a4115network for networks, that increases the service area for4116attack, and so we have to make sure that, from a cyber4117perspective, we are looking at the vulnerabilities, where the4118shortfalls are, where somebody might have inroads into our4119systems. You don't have to attack space capabilities on orbit,4120you can attack them in the networks. And so we are looking at4121cyber mission defense as a key attribute.4122    Mr. Vindman. Thank you for that. So what I am concerned4123about is that, I mean, I don't think we have really good4124deterrence against these types of threats both from terrorists4125or from nation states because we are not going to--if we have4126our bases attacked and we lose billions and billions of dollars4127in strategic assets, we are not going to drop WMDs [Weapons of4128Mass Destruction] or anything like that. We are going to have4129to respond conventionally. And if they have these capabilities4130and we have already been degraded, I just feel like we are in4131danger of losing deterrence in this regard, especially if we4132think about the fact that they are killing the archer, not the4133arrow. That is a critical approach.4134    And, Mr. Chairman, if I may, given the nature of this4135threat and how far behind we are, I would suggest we go as far4136as creating a select committee to address the revolution in4137drone warfare both in the offense and defense. We know the4138regulatory issues associated here. There are statutory issues.4139There are multiple committees in the House that has overlapping4140jurisdiction and industrial barriers. And the costs, if we fail4141in this regard, are just too large to imagine, I think.4142    Eight seconds. Does Golden Dome do anything to protect us4143against this threat, yes or no?4144    General Saltzman. I would say it is too early in the4145mission analysis to determine.4146    The Chairman. The gentleman's time has expired. The chair4147now recognizes the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Bergman.4148    Mr. Bergman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And welcome to the4149fight, Mr. Secretary. General Allvin, nice to hear you use the4150phrase warrior ethos. Warriors don't leave warriors behind no4151matter whether it is in basic training, in the fight, in4152housing. General Saltzman, great to see you.4153    I have got good news and bad news. So let's start with the4154bad news. The Air Force is, I believe, way behind in fulfilling4155its obligation at Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan.4156Subject is PFAS [Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances]. There4157has been a lot of promises made over the years, and, despite4158years of testing and monitoring the PFAS levels and the4159groundwater, you know, still sits at literally tens of4160thousands of times above the EPA and Michigan safety standards.4161So given the persistent and severe PFAS--can't even say it--4162contamination. Too many syllables for a Marine. We are behind.4163The Air Force is behind.4164    I know you are coming into this, but there has been4165promises made but promises not kept over too long a time. We4166have done all the testing necessary, but the delay that the4167interim cleanup would be and the interim cleanup to address4168most of these, the PFAS plumes, has not occurred. The remedial4169actions have been delayed for years, and now we are not4170expected to begin until late in 2028 or potentially 2029. So4171this really is a breach of trust with the local residents up4172there because they are concerned about that.4173    Now, it is a combination, but we have been dealing with4174this for, well, let's put it this way: too long a time. We are4175talking decades now. So I am not going to ask you how the Air4176Force is justified in doing the delays. I am asking you to dig4177into it as the new secretary and make this right for the folks4178up there because we know PFAS is not going to go away on its4179own, and there has to be mitigated cleanup. I sound like I am4180giving a lecture now, but I just wanted to inform you of this4181because we are leaving some warriors behind and their families4182with the PFAS piece.4183    Now let's turn to something a little positive. Selfridge4184Air National Guard Base is now slated to get F-15EXs. In fact,4185I did literally a personal drive tour at the base a couple of4186days ago because I still have my retired military ID and I can4187just go on the base, and they didn't even know I was there,4188which is great because then nobody was trying to show me what4189they wanted me to see and not what I wanted to see.4190    The point is Selfridge is a base that, given its proximity4191to the Great Lakes and the training ranges that we have, the4192capabilities that are there right now, currently the A-10s that4193are being phased out--by the way, there was a flight or two4194taking off when I pulled in, and they were landing as I left,4195so it was really kind of interesting that, you know, the powers4196that be gave me a free air show there of the A-10s as they4197leave.4198    But the challenge is the, okay, the EXs are coming, the A-419910s are leaving. We don't want to accidentally create a gap4200where the people who do the maintenance and all the technical4201capabilities, that we don't lose readiness because of that.4202    So, again, I am really not asking you for answers. Now, I4203am asking you just for prioritized consideration of blending4204when the A-10s leave with when the EXs arrive, so we don't4205accidentally create some personnel gaps, skill set gaps,4206whatever it happens to be, okay?4207    You all are in a different fight because Space Force is4208going to fight in space. The Air Force is going to fight, you4209know, in the sky. The challenge we have as a committee is4210understanding how your vision of the fight is developing and4211how we appropriately fund you without some of the maneuvering4212that has gone on in the past, okay? You be honest, up-front,4213you're going to have pretty much a bipartisan effort here to4214support you.4215    So I am glad you are here, but let's get rolling on the4216PFAS up there and honor our commitment to those fine men and4217women up there. And just consider how we avoid the personnel4218gaps.4219    And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.4220    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. The chair now4221recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Higgins.4222    Mr. Higgins. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Gentlemen, you have4223displayed an impressive command of the issues and refreshingly4224candid and unscripted, so thank you for that. I had the4225opportunity, I am a hardworking guy, but I believe I am the4226only enlisted veteran with prior service in Army Military4227Police Corps, on this body, which is why the chairman gives me4228the privilege of questioning last on a regular basis.4229    I talked to my people across my district and state and,4230indeed, the country, and the American people are stakeholders4231in the decisions that we have to make regarding deployment of4232our assets and how we spend our money. And the American people4233have been through a lot and have been paying attention. Some4234things have happened, recent phenomena of the drone incursion4235of the East Coast. This was alarming to the American people.4236Observations of modern warfare and surprise attack and the4237Russian-Ukraine war, the people are observant of this. The4238terrorist actions in our own homeland, shocking. What we went4239through in 2021, '22, '23, and 2024 regarding open borders at4240our Southern Border.4241    This altogether has impacted the American citizenry and4242brought us to a point where there is a clear understanding4243amongst the Americans I speak to that our military must posture4244domestically to stage effectively to be able to patrol our4245borders, our maritime borders, and to respond to a threat,4246which brings us to my question to you gentlemen, Mr. Secretary4247and General Allvin, regarding the 159th Fighter Wing at Belle4248Chasse in Louisiana. The National Guard supports a 24/74249aerospace control alert mission with the F-15C support. It4250ensures our maritime's Southern Border response in the Gulf of4251America and to protect against threat. But I am concerned that4252the Air Force is not fully focused on the utility that the F-425315EX, that unique capability can bring to maintaining our4254Southern Border security, which, again, America is calling for,4255our security against unknown and alarming and surprise attack4256from the air and the sea.4257    I spoke with General Guillot of NORTHCOM about having F-425815EXs at Belle Chasse. He wants them, he wants F-15EXs. So I4259will ask you, Secretary and General Allvin, what are the plans4260for F-15EXs for the 159th Fighter Wing in Louisiana?4261    General Allvin. The plans for that really haven't changed.4262They are coming to Louisiana. Now, as we have this new4263integration, some of the fielding of it is how fast we can get4264Boeing to produce. We have procured them, and then we are4265trying to right feathering of this in with the Selfridge4266decision from the president to ensure that we don't have a gap4267anywhere. We want to ensure that, until we switch to the F-426815EX, we make sure those Cs are like the platinum F-15Cs. We4269are on path to continue that, as we have, to make sure that the4270F-15EXs do come to Belle Chasse.4271    Mr. Higgins. That is a beautiful answer, and I stand at4272your avail, good sir, to assist in that. And I happen to have a4273pretty good relationship with the chairman of the House Armed4274Services Committee. I feel confident that he will help, as4275well.4276    Mr. Secretary.4277    Dr. Meink. Yes. The chief hit the nail on the head there.4278The challenge of the F-15E is the same challenge we have had4279with the 35 and the B-21. Now it is getting the production4280rates to what we need to support what we are trying to do. It4281is very difficult to ramp up the production rates in these4282platforms, so we are just managing that across the board.4283    Mr. Higgins. And there is certainly recognition in your4284office, sir, and amongst your senior staff that the American4285people were alarmed about some of the things we have suffered4286and observed.4287    Dr. Meink. I think we were all alarmed at it, as well, with4288the American people for sure.4289    Mr. Higgins. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My time is4290expired. I yield.4291    The Chairman. The gentleman yields back. I want to thank4292the witnesses. Good job. Thank you for what you do for our4293country. Thank you for being here today. And we are adjourned.4294    [Whereupon, at 1:33 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]42954296=======================================================================42974298                            A P P E N D I X42994300                              June 5, 202543014302=======================================================================43034304=======================================================================43054306              PREPARED STATEMENTS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD43074308                              June 5, 202543094310=======================================================================43114312    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]43134314=======================================================================43154316              WITNESS RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS ASKED DURING4317                              THE HEARING43184319                              June 5, 202543204321=======================================================================43224323            RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MS. HOULAHAN43244325    General Saltzman. The United States Space Force (USSF)4326continues to implement the USSF Commercial Space Strategy.4327Pursuant to that strategy, the Space Force is committed to4328building a resilient and agile space architecture that supports4329mission execution in all environments-including contested and4330degraded ones. Commercial partnerships are a key element of4331that approach. They provide scalable capabilities, rapid4332innovation, and critical redundancy that complement our4333government-owned systems without supplanting them. This4334integration aligns with the direction set forth in Executive4335Order 14265, "Modernizing Defense Acquisitions and Spurring4336Innovation in the Defense Industrial Base." Issued in April43372025, the order directs the DoD to adopt a "first preference"4338for commercial solutions, using flexible tools like Other4339Transaction Authority (OTA) to accelerate procurement and spur4340innovation. This reflects a deliberate strategic shift toward4341leveraging-not limiting-commercial capabilities to enhance U.S.4342defense effectiveness and resilience.4343    In the past year we have fully integrated the Joint4344Commercial Operations Cell, which commercially purchases data4345to assist the National Defense Space Center with space4346situational awareness. Additionally, the USSF has commenced4347experimentation to build up the Commercial Augmentation Space4348Reserve to address how we will build the full integration of4349immediate response by commercial space in times of crisis and4350conflict. Lastly, our acquisition community has conducted a4351full review of their programs to determine what current program4352development we can transition or partially support with4353commercially available services and technologies.4354    We will continue to strengthen these partnerships4355thoughtfully, ensuring they are structured to support strategic4356objectives, maintain operational control, and uphold national4357security.  [See page 19.]43584359                                ------43604361             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MS. TOKUDA43624363    Dr. Meink. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is4364sensitive to the concerns of the Native Hawaiian community. The4365DAF is holding the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the4366proposed Rocket Cargo landing demonstration on Johnston Atoll4367in abeyance, during which time the Air Force Research4368Laboratory will explore if there are available options for4369conducting the demonstration at a location other than Johnston4370Atoll. The DAF will continue to ensure full compliance with the4371National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable4372laws on this activity regardless of where it occurs. When the4373DAF determines the way ahead for the demonstration, a decision4374about the appropriate level of environmental analysis will be4375made consistent with applicable law.  [See page 67.]4376    Dr. Meink. The Department of the Air Force values its4377partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric4378Administration (NOAA) and the critical role our weather4379reconnaissance missions play in enhancing storm forecasting,4380supporting the National Hurricane Center's (NHC) ability to4381produce accurate, timely predictions, and strengthening4382emergency preparedness. The Air Force Reserve Command's (AFRC)438353rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (53 WRS) "Hurricane4384Hunters" supports this mission through storm-penetrating4385flights into extreme weather events to collect atmospheric data4386that feeds real-time decision-making. This data is essential to4387NHC models used to determine storm track, intensity, and4388timing, enabling public officials to make informed decisions on4389evacuations and emergency response. This complements NOAA's4390capabilities, which support both operational forecasting and4391research, used by the Department of Defense to safeguard forces4392and assets at home and abroad. This reflects the close4393coordination essential to national storm response efforts. The4394recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlights4395a few challenges related to Hurricane Hunter operations,4396including increased mission demand, aircraft maintenance, and4397staffing pressures across both NOAA and AFRC. The 53 WRS will4398continue to meet mission demands by adjusting maintenance4399schedules around peak storm periods, managing aircrew4400availability to support forecast-driven taskings. AFRC is also4401taking steps to improve coordination with NOAA to ensure clear4402communication and strategic and operational alignment,4403consistent with the GAO's recommendations. While I am not in a4404position to comment on decisions made regarding NOAA's internal4405staffing or budget, the Air Force remains committed to4406supporting this important mission and maintaining the close4407operational partnership with NOAA that supports national4408preparedness and homeland defense efforts.  [See page 68.]44094410                                ------44114412           RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MS. GOODLANDER44134414    General Saltzman. The Space Force's ability to conduct4415critical 24/7 operations from our home stations is reliant on4416resilient installation systems and infrastructure. We maintain4417resilient energy and water through a comprehensive approach to4418security, multi-source system redundancy, and risk management4419to ensure our systems remain operationally capable across the4420entire spectrum of conflict. Guardians train to ensure mission4421continuity by identifying utility disruptions, ensuring their4422systems seamlessly transfer to backup power, and by4423implementing procedures to return to main power as appropriate.4424We have Field mission-continuity exercises at the command-4425level-similar to Department of the Air Force-level Energy4426Resilience Readiness Exercise (ERREs)-and intend to exercise4427utility disruptions to ensure operators identify their4428shortfalls, are prepared to survive first contact, and grow4429confidence in their weapon system infrastructure (WSI).  [See4430page 31.]44314432                                ------44334434             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. MCGUIRE44354436    General Allvin. The Air Force is partnering with industry,4437academia, and DoD stakeholders to ensure a robust, resilient,4438responsive, and competitive domestic solid rocket motors (SRM)4439industrial base that can meet the current and future needs of4440the Nation's defense. We are investing in expanding and4441modernizing domestic SRM production facilities to include4442infrastructure upgrades at our existing government-owned,4443contractor-operated (GOCO) facilities and investments in4444advanced manufacturing technologies. The Air Force is committed4445to working with DoD and SRM industry partners to review4446existing acquisition processes and explore all opportunities to4447expand the number of qualified sources for key SRM components4448and systems.  [See page 45.]4449    General Saltzman. On January 27, 2025, President Trump4450signed Executive Order 14186 directing the Secretary of Defense4451to plan, develop, and deploy a next-generation missile defense4452shield. To fulfill this mission, the DoD is developing the4453Golden Dome for America, which will provide technologically4454advanced capabilities to defend the United States against4455ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other4456next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue4457adversaries. The DAF is awaiting further guidance from OSD and4458looks forward to supporting this important effort.  [See page445946.]44604461=======================================================================44624463              QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS POST HEARING44644465                              June 5, 202544664467=======================================================================44684469              RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. SMITH44704471    Mr. Smith. Space is a contested, warfighting domain with increasing4472threats from both China and Russia to U.S. satellites. The Department4473must be assured of our ability to survive and operate in space during4474conflict. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations are in range of all4475adversary terrestrial anti-satellite weapons, and Russia is developing4476an indiscriminate orbital nuclear weapon to damage potentially4477thousands of satellites in LEO. The United States flies exquisite4478satellites in geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) that have been referred4479to as easy targets for an increasingly sophisticated adversary. But in4480between LEO and GEO is a vast volume of space called Medium Earth Orbit4481(MEO) that is very sparsely populated due to its higher radiation4482environment, among other reasons. Secretary Meink and General Saltzman,4483I'd like your thoughts on the value of MEO to the warfighter from a4484survivability perspective. If we can solve for the radiation challenges4485in a way that would enable affordable constellations, how would MEO4486strengthen the nation's space posture?4487    Dr. Meink. The mission of the United States Space Force is to4488secure our Nation's interests in, from, and to space. Space Superiority4489is the desired outcome of space control operations and allows forces to4490operate at a time and place of their choosing without prohibitive4491interference from counterspace threats, while also denying the same to4492an adversary.4493    Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) is no exception. MEO, an orbit between449410,000 and 20,000 kilometers above Earth, provides immense value to the4495Nation's space posture and improves Joint Force survivability. Today,4496the Space Force uses MEO to provide Positioning, Navigation, and Timing4497(PNT) and Missile Warning / Missile Tracking to the warfighter. Placing4498satellites in MEO continues enhancing a proliferated and resilient4499Missile Warning and Tracking constellation designed to detect and track4500a range of threats, from large, bright intercontinental ballistic4501missile launches to dim, maneuvering hypersonic missiles. Space Systems4502Command recently awarded a $1.2 billion contract for 10 Epoch 2 space4503vehicles, accelerating acquisition of robust, infrared-sensing Missile4504Warning and Tracking satellites. MEO capabilities offer opportunities4505to strengthen the Nation's space posture, and the Space Force continues4506to leverage these advantages in the space domain.4507    Mr. Smith. Space is a contested, warfighting domain with increasing4508threats from both China and Russia to U.S. satellites. The Department4509must be assured of our ability to survive and operate in space during4510conflict. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations are in range of all4511adversary terrestrial anti-satellite weapons, and Russia is developing4512an indiscriminate orbital nuclear weapon to damage potentially4513thousands of satellites in LEO. The United States flies exquisite4514satellites in geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) that have been referred4515to as easy targets for an increasingly sophisticated adversary. But in4516between LEO and GEO is a vast volume of space called Medium Earth Orbit4517(MEO) that is very sparsely populated due to its higher radiation4518environment, among other reasons. Secretary Meink and General Saltzman,4519I'd like your thoughts on the value of MEO to the warfighter from a4520survivability perspective. If we can solve for the radiation challenges4521in a way that would enable affordable constellations, how would MEO4522strengthen the nation's space posture?4523    General Saltzman. The mission of the United States Space Force is4524to secure our Nation's interest in, from, and to space. Space4525Superiority is the desired outcome of space control operations and4526allows forces to operate at a time and place of their choosing without4527prohibitive interference from counterspace threats, while also denying4528the same to an adversary. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) is no exception.4529MEO, an orbit between 10,000 and 20,000 kilometers above Earth,4530provides immense value to the Nation's space posture and improves Joint4531Force survivability. Today, the Space Force uses MEO to provide4532Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) and Missile Warning / Missile4533Tracking to the warfighter. Placing satellites in MEO continues4534enhancing a proliferated and resilient Missile Warning and Tracking4535constellation designed to detect and track a range of threats, from4536large, bright intercontinental ballistic missile launches to dim,4537maneuvering hypersonic missiles. Space Systems Command recently awarded4538a $1.2 billion contract for 10 "Epoch 2" space vehicles, accelerating4539acquisition of robust, infrared-sensing Missile Warning and Tracking4540satellites. MEO capabilities offer opportunities to strengthen the4541Nation's space posture, and the Space Force continues to leverage these4542advantages in the space domain.4543                                 ______45444545             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. WILSON4546    Mr. Wilson. While the Next Generation Air-refueling System (NGAS)4547is in development for future contested environments, an interim4548procurement strategy-often referred to as Air Refueling Capability4549Modernization (ARCM)-is needed to bridge the gap. Congress has directed4550the Air Force to submit a more detailed modernization plan or "tanker4551roadmap" with its FY26 budget request, and stakeholders are awaiting a4552formal acquisition strategy in 2025.4553    Has the Air Force finalized its requirements for the interim tanker4554tranche? If not, what is the timeline for doing so?4555    General Allvin. The Air Force is currently refining future tanker4556requirements with the Joint Staff. The capacity to refuel the Joint4557Force continues to be met by the recapitalization of the legacy Tanker4558Fleet with KC-46A aircraft, and the Air Force remains committed to4559continuous tanker recapitalization. The Air Force anticipates having4560finalized requirements soon for continued recapitalization of the KC-4561135 fleet and an acquisition strategy is expected by 1QFY26.4562                                 ______45634564             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. WITTMAN4565    Mr. Wittman. The Administration has emphasized the principle of4566"exploit what we have, buy what we can, and only build what we must."4567How are you aligning DoD policies with this guidance, Presidential EOs,4568and Congressional guidance particularly as it concerns commercial4569space-based capabilities for RF, imagery, and radar? How do we ensure4570the easily shareable commercial, space-based RF, Radar, and EO data and4571analytics remain readily available for our COCOMs, warfighters, allies,4572and partners?4573    General Allvin. The "exploit, buy, build" philosophy is the essence4574of the U.S. Space Force's Commercial Space Strategy released last year4575as well as a key element of the Department of the Air Force's approach4576to space acquisition. The development of the Commercial Space Strategy4577was prescient in that it is well-aligned with proposed legislation like4578the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery4579(SPEED) Act and the Administration's executive orders (EOs). We are4580working with OSD to implement EOs that will streamline our acquisition4581procedures and give commercial providers greater opportunities to4582supply innovative capabilities quickly to the warfighter. By leveraging4583commercial space capabilities for radio frequency (RF), imagery, and4584radar, the Department of the Air Force can enhance its operational4585effectiveness, reduce costs, and foster innovation in the space sector.4586However, it is important to address the challenges and considerations4587associated with the use of commercial space capabilities to ensure that4588they are secure, resilient, and ready in time of war.4589    The Department of the Air Force is taking a comprehensive approach4590to ensure that commercial, space-based RF, radar, and EO data and4591analytics remain readily available for Combatant Commands (COCOMs),4592warfighters, allies, and partners. This approach encompasses data4593standards, secure infrastructure, collaborative platforms, and policy4594frameworks. By addressing the challenges and considerations associated4595with data sharing, the Department can maximize the value of commercial4596data and enhance its operational effectiveness. The success of this4597effort depends on ongoing collaboration between the Department,4598commercial providers, and other stakeholders.4599    The Joint Task Force- Space Defense Commercial Operations (JCO) is4600a great example of this type of collaboration. The JCO is helping to4601improve the government's ability to track and analyze objects in space,4602predict potential collisions, and detect threats while serving as a4603joint service, multi-national collaborative platform to advance our4604work on data standards, secure infrastructure, and operational4605policies. This integration strengthens overall Space Domain Awareness,4606which is vital for national security. The JCO's success hinges on its4607ability to effectively bridge the gap between the government and the4608commercial space sector.4609    Mr. Wittman. The Administration has emphasized the principle of4610"exploit what we have, buy what we can, and only build what we must."4611How are you aligning DoD policies with this guidance, Presidential EOs,4612and Congressional guidance particularly as it concerns commercial4613space-based capabilities for RF, imagery, and radar? How do we ensure4614the easily shareable commercial, space-based RF, Radar, and EO data and4615analytics remain readily available for our COCOMs, warfighters, allies,4616and partners?4617    Dr. Meink. The "exploit, buy, build" philosophy is the essence of4618the U.S. Space Force's Commercial Space Strategy, released last year,4619and is a key element of the Department of the Air Force's approach to4620space acquisition. The development of the Commercial Space Strategy was4621prescient in that it is well aligned with proposed legislation like the4622Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery (SPEED)4623Act and the Administration's executive orders (EOs). We are working4624with OSD to implement EOs that will streamline our acquisition4625procedures and give commercial providers greater opportunities to4626supply innovative capabilities quickly to the warfighter. By leveraging4627commercial space capabilities for radio frequency (RF), imagery, and4628radar, the Department of the Air Force can enhance its operational4629effectiveness, reduce costs, and foster innovation in the space sector.4630However, it is important to address the challenges and considerations4631associated with the use of commercial space capabilities to ensure that4632they are secure, resilient, and ready in time of war.4633    The Department of the Air Force is taking a comprehensive approach4634to ensure that commercial, space-based RF, radar, and EO data and4635analytics remain readily available for Combatant Commands (COCOMs),4636warfighters, allies, and partners. This approach encompasses data4637standards, secure infrastructure, collaborative platforms, and policy4638frameworks. By addressing the challenges and considerations associated4639with data sharing, the Department can maximize the value of commercial4640data and enhance its operational effectiveness. The success of this4641effort depends on ongoing collaboration between the Department,4642commercial providers, and other stakeholders.4643    The Joint Task Force- Space Defense Commercial Operations (JCO) is4644a great example of this type of collaboration. The JCO is helping to4645improve the government's ability to track and analyze objects in space,4646predict potential collisions, and detect threats while serving as a4647joint service, multi-national collaborative platform to advance our4648work on data standards, secure infrastructure, and operational4649policies. This integration strengthens overall Space Domain Awareness,4650which is vital for national security. The JCO's success hinges on its4651ability to effectively bridge the gap between the government and the4652commercial space sector.4653    Mr. Wittman. The Administration has emphasized the principle of4654"exploit what we have, buy what we can, and only build what we must."4655How are you aligning DoD policies with this guidance, Presidential EOs,4656and Congressional guidance particularly as it concerns commercial4657space-based capabilities for RF, imagery, and radar? How do we ensure4658the easily shareable commercial, space-based RF, Radar, and EO data and4659analytics remain readily available for our COCOMs, warfighters, allies,4660and partners?4661    General Saltzman. The "exploit, buy, build" philosophy is the4662essence of the U.S. Space Force's Commercial Space Strategy released4663last year as well as is a key element of the Department of the Air4664Force's approach to space acquisition. The development of the4665Commercial Space Strategy was prescient in that it is well-aligned with4666proposed legislation like the Streamlining Procurement for Effective4667Execution and Delivery (SPEED) Act and the Administration's executive4668orders (EOs). We are working with OSD to implement EOs that will4669streamline our acquisition procedures and give commercial providers4670greater opportunities to supply innovative capabilities quickly to the4671warfighter. By leveraging commercial space capabilities for radio4672frequency (RF), imagery, and radar, the Department of the Air Force can4673enhance its operational effectiveness, reduce costs, and foster4674innovation in the space sector. However, it is important to address the4675challenges and considerations associated with the use of commercial4676space capabilities to ensure that they are secure, resilient, and ready4677in time of war.4678    The Department of the Air Force is taking a comprehensive approach4679to ensure that commercial, space-based RF, radar, and EO data and4680analytics remain readily available for Combatant Commands (COCOMs),4681warfighters, allies, and partners. This approach encompasses data4682standards, secure infrastructure, collaborative platforms, and policy4683frameworks. By addressing the challenges and considerations associated4684with data sharing, the Department can maximize the value of commercial4685data and enhance its operational effectiveness. The success of this4686effort depends on ongoing collaboration between the Department,4687commercial providers, and other stakeholders.4688    The Joint Task Force- Space Defense Commercial Operations (JCO) is4689a great example of this type of collaboration. The JCO is helping to4690improve the government's ability to track and analyze objects in space,4691predict potential collisions, and detect threats while serving as a4692joint service, multi-national collaborative platform to advance our4693work on data standards, secure infrastructure, and operational4694policies. This integration strengthens overall Space Domain Awareness,4695which is vital for national security. The JCO's success hinges on its4696ability to effectively bridge the gap between the government and the4697commercial space sector.4698                                 ______46994700              RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. SCOTT4701    Mr. Scott. Has the intelligence and data provided by Ukraine on4702Russian technology, captured equipment, battlefield operational guides,4703weapon performance, and countermeasures against U.S. and Allied systems4704saved U.S. taxpayer dollars? Will it have saved the lives of U.S.4705service personnel in a war against an enemy peer nation?4706    General Allvin. The U.S. military and allied forces gain numerous4707strategic benefits from intelligence and data provided by Ukraine that4708enhance the capabilities of the joint force. These benefits include4709guiding the development of offensive and defensive systems, validating4710testing and evaluation processes, refining tactics, and training4711programs, and informing intelligence assessments of adversary threats.4712When combined with accurate intelligence about enemy capabilities and4713vulnerabilities, these insights contribute to more effective targeting4714and better battlefield decision-making. This integrated approach can4715accelerate the development of countermeasures and prevent redundant4716investments-ultimately resulting in cost savings and safeguarding4717taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, improved understanding of enemy systems4718and vulnerabilities can lead to more successful engagements, reducing4719risks to U.S. and allied personnel and decreasing casualties.4720Collectively, these outcomes strengthen operational effectiveness,4721protect defense investments, and enhance the force's lethality and4722survivability against peer adversaries.4723    We can provide a more detailed response at a higher classification4724level if desired.4725    Mr. Scott. How is the Air Force working with USNORTHCOM to4726investigate counter-UAS requirements and technologies with limited4727collateral effects for deployment in the homeland? What additional4728resources do you need from Congress provide to address this?4729    General Allvin. Commander United States Northern Command will4730continue in its role as Homeland Counter small Unmanned Aerial System4731Synchronizer to synchronize, integrate, and coordinate preparation and4732response efforts in the U.S. homeland. The Department of the Air Force4733(DAF) is deeply concerned by the proliferation of Unmanned Aerial4734Systems and the ability of adversaries to use them. The Air Force4735approach to this problem is to use whole of government references and4736modular, open-systems architectures to create scalable and tailorable4737solutions across the force. The Air Force is working on development of4738a Low Collateral Effects Interceptor for use in areas where civilian4739populace and infrastructure preclude the use of kinetic defeat4740solutions. The DAF is working closely with the OSD to prioritize these4741rapidly developing needs against all other requirements, and these4742requirements are fully informed by USNORTHCOM interests. Fully funding4743Replicator II efforts will help promulgate Counter Unmanned Aerial4744System capabilities to covered locations.4745    Mr. Scott. The war in Ukraine has shown the susceptibility to4746exquisite launchers to cheap drones targeting their radars and this4747threat has begun to materialized in the homeland through incursions at4748our military installations. I understand that Air Force and Space Force4749will play a large role in building out President Trump's Golden Dome4750architecture. I'm concerned about the survivability of its critical4751ground infrastructure against drone swarms. How are you thinking about4752the protection of critical missile defense infrastructure - such as4753interceptors, radars, and networking hubs - against drone threats as4754the Golden Dome architecture matures?4755    General Allvin. On January 27, 2025, President Donald J. Trump4756signed Executive Order 14186 directing the Secretary of Defense to4757plan, develop, and deploy a next-generation missile defense shield. To4758fulfill this mission, the DoD is developing the Golden Dome for America4759(GDA) which will provide technologically advanced capabilities to4760defend the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise4761missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-4762peer, and rogue adversaries. The DAF is awaiting further guidance from4763OSD and looks forward to supporting this important effort.4764    Mr. Scott. Is Putin going to stop in Ukraine?4765    General Allvin. I will defer this question to Gen. Alexus G.4766Grynkewich, Commander, EUCOM, who can provide you with the most current4767information.4768    Mr. Scott. How is the Air Force enhancing combat trauma care4769training for medics and pararescuemen to ensure they are prepared for4770austere and contested environments, such as those outlined in Great4771Power Competition scenarios?4772    General Allvin. The Air Force Medical Services (AFMS) has three4773primary focus areas for combat preparedness: (1) the Joint Trauma4774System (JTS), (2) Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) Course and (3)4775Mil-Civ Partnerships (MCPs) with Trauma Centers. The AFMS leverages4776curriculum developed by the JTS to obtain trauma skill proficiency for4777all Service members. The training is required every 36 months and 124778months prior to deployment. TCCC courses establish entry requirements4779into the USINDOPACOM theater and deployment locations. MCPs like Air4780Force Centers for Sustained Trauma and Readiness Skills (CSTARS)4781provide periodic and "prior-to-deployment" trauma training and skill4782sustainment. Efforts to expand existing MCPs or identify new4783opportunities for trauma training are ongoing; Mission Zero Act funding4784(Public Law 116-22) has been invaluable to making these programs work.4785The goal of training is to reduce the morbidity, mortality, and4786increase survivability for all trauma patients.4787    Mr. Scott. What investments or innovations in medical technology4788(e.g., portable ultrasound, telemedicine, or AI-assisted diagnostics)4789is the Air Force prioritizing to improve battlefield trauma care4790outcomes?4791    General Allvin. Through Military-Civilian Partnerships (MCPs) and4792industry partnership, Air Force projects include: (a) carrying our pre-4793clinical testing of to safely transfuse a patient's shed blood, (b)4794collaborating with state government to place Air Force Research Lab's4795Battlefield Assisted Trauma Distribution Kit emergency record on4796helicopters and collect prehospital vital signs, (c) collaborating with4797an industry partner for new ultrasound technology that can "see4798through" bone, (d) examining innovative therapies to mitigate ischemia-4799reperfusion injury and decrease tourniquet-related injuries, (e)4800developing improved mechanical ventilation-interoperable with a4801portable oxygen concentrator and rebreathing system-to deliver4802respiratory support that improves survival, conserves oxygen, and4803reduces medic workload in austere environments, and (f) developing4804autonomous care technologies to enable central monitoring of patients4805and autonomic dynamic control to improve patient outcomes and extend4806the providers during aeromedical evacuation.4807    Mr. Scott. How is the Air Force adapting its aeromedical evacuation4808capabilities to maintain rapid and effective casualty transport in4809high-threat, distributed operational environments?4810    General Allvin. The Air Force's Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) system4811remains an indispensable component of the Nation's mobility4812capabilities, directly supporting priorities outlined in the Interim4813National Defense Strategic Guidance. The demands of operating in a high4814threat, distributed operational environment places high value on the4815Air Force's ability to sustain rapid AE patient movement for the Joint4816Force within challenging and complex areas of responsibility. Training4817for our Aeromedical Evacuation Crewmembers has shifted over recent4818years with increased focus on Tactical Combat Casualty Care management,4819unregulated patient movement, and an emphasis on operating in a denied,4820degraded, intermittent and limited bandwidth environment. To accomplish4821this training, we use large, department-level and tactical scale4822exercises such as Mobility Guardian. Additionally, the Air Force has4823undertaken a restructuring of the Total Force Enroute Care Unit of4824Action. This initiative commenced with a thorough evaluation of4825existing force presentation models and the necessary modifications to4826establish a streamlined, efficient, and effective Capability Generation4827Team for our Joint and allied partners.4828    Mr. Scott. What steps are being taken to improve interoperability4829with other branches and allied forces in combat trauma care protocols,4830particularly for joint special operations or large-scale combat4831operations?4832    General Allvin. The DoD Joint Trauma System curriculum has been4833reviewed for implementation in the Ground Surgical Team training course4834at Camp Bullis. The joint Tactical Combat Casualty Care training is4835standard for all services and joint training occurs at multiple4836exercises such as Balikatan, REFORPAC, and Patriot Medic. All4837pararescuemen attend joint paramedic training at the Army's Special4838Operations - Advanced Tactical Paramedic course to enhance4839interoperability and standardization. The Air Force Medical Service is4840improving interoperability through joint training and this capability4841will be tested during Mobility Guardian and Ultimate Caduceus'4842exercises in summer 2025.4843    Mr. Scott. Given the potential for delayed evacuation in future4844conflicts, how is the Air Force expanding its prolonged field care4845training and resources for medical personnel deployed in forward4846locations?4847    General Allvin. The Air Force Medical Service is increasing4848prolonged field care emphasis in training programs with realistic4849simulations, revising training such as Aeromedical Evacuation and4850Patient Staging Course. Teams are equipped with advanced diagnostics4851and extended-duration supply kits.4852    Mr. Scott. How is the Air Force integrating psychological first aid4853and early mental health interventions into its combat trauma care4854framework to address acute stress reactions on the battlefield?4855    General Allvin. The AF is implementing iCOVER, a brief peer-based4856intervention designed to help Service members overcome acute stress4857reactions and return to full functioning in their operational duties as4858well as utilizing Behavioral Health Guidelines for mEdic Assessment and4859Response (BH GEAR) to train medics without prior mental health training4860to identify, manage, and triage common mental health conditions in4861austere environments.4862    Mr. Scott. What role is the Air Force playing in advancing combat4863trauma care research, such as hemorrhage control or traumatic brain4864injury treatments, through partnerships with institutions like the Air4865Force Research Laboratory?4866    General Allvin. The Air Force Medical Service, Air Force Research4867Laboratory, and the TriService Nursing Research Program (TSNRP) are4868advancing battlefield medical care through research on high-fidelity4869manikins that simulate austere environments and care under fire.4870TSNRP's funding of operational military nursing research and evidence-4871based practice is crucial for ensuring the medical readiness of4872America's forces, enabling them to support warfighters.4873    Mr. Scott. How are Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve medical4874units being incorporated into combat trauma care strategies to ensure4875seamless readiness and deployment capabilities?4876    General Allvin. The ARC (Air Reserve Component) is standardizing4877Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training while enhancing it with4878civilian medical expertise, reflecting the dual-role experience of many4879ARC members. When not serving in their civilian capacities, ARC medics4880are integrated into trauma centers to maintain clinical proficiency,4881bridging military and civilian trauma care. This dual exposure sharpens4882both medical and tactical decision-making, especially for contested4883environments requiring adaptable training and equipment designed with4884ARC input. To counter skill atrophy, ARC units-often in coordination4885with active duty-prioritize continuous training, simulation, and4886individual medical readiness. Notably, the Critical Care Air Transport4887Team (CCATT) sustainment center in Minneapolis provides critical, high-4888fidelity training for airborne trauma teams, ensuring they retain the4889capabilities necessary for safe and effective patient movement across4890operational settings.4891    Mr. Scott. What key lessons from recent operations or exercises are4892shaping Air Force combat trauma care doctrines, particularly in terms4893of pre-hospital care and casualty stabilization?4894    General Allvin. The AF continuously improves training and resources4895based on lessons learned, of late the mass casualty event during4896Operation Allies Refuge in 2021, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict,4897and exercises such as Mobility Guardian and Ultimate Caduceus have4898provided the following lessons: 1) Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC)4899at or close to the point of injury for rapid hemorrhage control prior4900to rapid evacuation is key to survival. 2) Medical supply/resource and4901whole blood product availability, rapid medical resupply, and rapid4902evacuation to a location with surgical capabilities for damage control4903surgery and stabilization are critical to survivability. 3) Those who4904succeed in caring for combat casualties are those who are highly4905trained and have a breadth of experience caring for complex polytrauma4906patients. 4) Russia-Ukraine conflict highlights how the nature of4907combat operations impacts injury patterns, with a shift from severe4908injuries in high-intensity phases to less severe but still surgically4909demanding injuries in lower-intensity, unmanned aerial vehicle-4910dominated phases.4911    Mr. Scott. What initiatives are in place to recruit and retain4912highly skilled medical personnel, such as critical care flight4913paramedics and surgeons, to meet the demands of future combat trauma4914care missions?4915    General Allvin. Recruitment initiatives focus on providing4916financial assistance through the Health Professions Scholarship4917Program, the Financial Assistance Program, and the Health Professions4918Loan Repayment Program. Retention is a multifaceted challenge as recent4919retention survey data show the top reasons for medical providers4920leaving include work/life balance, job stress, and job assignments. For4921trauma surgeons specifically, assignments with a robust clinical/4922surgical practice that maintain readiness surgical skills while4923supporting the Air Force mission increase the chance of retention. To4924meet the current and future requirements, AF efforts focus on4925fortifying the recruitment initiatives and mitigating retention4926challenges.4927    Mr. Scott. The Air Force has invested in enterprise data and AI4928capabilities to enhance data-driven readiness and decision making since49292020, relying on commercial technology firms to provide the software4930foundation through the implementation of Project Brown Heron and the4931Envision platform capabilities. Over 75,000 DAF users utilize the4932Envision platform for readiness workflows. What are the Department's4933plans to use existing commercial capabilities to provide and enhance4934the DAF's enterprise data and AI architecture and outcomes supporting4935Operations and Readiness?4936    Dr. Meink. Consistent with EO 14271, the Department will continue4937leveraging existing commercial capabilities to the maximum extent4938practicable, including the Envision platform, to enhance our enterprise4939data and AI architecture. The DAF Data Strategy is designed to maximize4940the value of these types of commercial capabilities by establishing4941guidance to ensure all DAF data is discoverable and VAULTIS (Visible,4942Accessible, Understandable, Linked, Trusted, Interoperable, and4943Secure). The DAF will continue using existing commercial capabilities4944to enhance enterprise data and AI architecture and outcomes in4945accordance with the DoD's adopt-buy-create approach.4946    Mr. Scott. In light of the Department's success in utilizing4947commercial, off the shelf AI solutions, what efforts are being made to4948sunset the Department's legacy or custom capabilities?4949    Dr. Meink. The Department is focused on scaling generative AI4950through an enterprise platform that integrates commercial off-the-shelf4951(COTS) tools using an agile acquisition framework and pathfinder model.4952The DAF is establishing an AI Center of Excellence (CoE), which will be4953used to identify legacy efforts, capability gaps, and AI adoption4954barriers across the Department. The AI CoE is envisioned to play a key4955role in streamlining the transition from pilot to operational use.4956These efforts ensure unneeded legacy systems are phased out in a way4957that supports modernization and mission continuity.4958    Mr. Scott. With respect to the Air Force Envision platform, what4959are the Department's plans for the production and deployment of4960capabilities?4961    Dr. Meink. The Envision platform has over 60,000 users across the4962DAF. It continues to provide foundational, mission-focused capability,4963enabling the production and deployment of data-driven capabilities. The4964DAF plans to implement a shared cost model for the Envision platform to4965increase platform scalability and promote efficient resource4966utilization. Implementation of the cost sharing model will be phased,4967beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2026 with the sharing of costs for vendor4968development work.4969    A Program Executive Office will be assigned to the Envision4970program, ensuring procured solutions are cost-effective and meet the4971strategic requirements of the DAF enterprise.4972    Mr. Scott. We have we seen a series of drone incursions at Langley4973Air Force Base, posing a threat to readiness and high-value assets at4974the base. Since then, incursions have been reported at Edwards Air4975Force Base, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Wright-Patterson Air Force4976Base, and more. How are you working with leadership in the Pentagon and4977across the inter-agency to ensure that base commanders can deploy non-4978kinetic counter-UAS in response to incursions with limited bureaucratic4979processes? What additional authorities could Congress provide to4980streamline this process? Do you believe you have the necessary4981authorities to mitigate drone threats to your installations, or does4982130i need to be expanded to address this challenge?4983    Dr. Meink. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is working closely4984with the OSD to prioritize these rapidly developing needs against all4985other requirements. Fully funding Replicator II efforts will help4986promulgate Counter Unmanned Aerial System capabilities to covered4987locations. All installation commanders retain the inherent right to4988self-defense in accordance with the Standing Rules for Use of Force.4989Furthermore, the DAF is working closely with OSD, in coordination with4990the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), to ensure our4991installations can deploy counter-small unmanned aerial systems (C-sUAS)4992capabilities when the safety and security of DOD property is4993threatened. We recognize the evolving nature of the threat requires4994agility, and we assess that updating 130i authorities to close critical4995gaps in DOD's ability to address threats posed by an unmanned aircraft4996system or unmanned aircraft will enable better protection of DoD4997assets.4998    Mr. Scott. The war in Ukraine has shown the susceptibility to4999exquisite launchers to cheap drones targeting their radars and this5000threat has begun to materialized in the homeland through incursions at5001our military installations. I understand that Air Force and Space Force5002will play a large role in building out President Trump's Golden Dome5003architecture. I'm concerned about the survivability of its critical5004ground infrastructure against drone swarms. How are you thinking about5005the protection of critical missile defense infrastructure - such as5006interceptors, radars, and networking hubs - against drone threats as5007the Golden Dome architecture matures?5008    Dr. Meink. On January 27, 2025, President Trump signed EO 141865009directing the Secretary of Defense to plan, develop, and deploy a next-5010generation missile defense shield. To fulfill this mission, the DoD is5011developing the Golden Dome for America, which will provide5012technologically advanced capabilities to defend the United States5013against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other5014next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-peer, and rogue5015adversaries. The DAF is awaiting further guidance from OSD and looks5016forward to supporting this important effort.5017    Mr. Scott. Has the intelligence and data provided by Ukraine on5018Russian technology, captured equipment, battlefield operational guides,5019weapon performance, and countermeasures against U.S. and Allied systems5020saved U.S. taxpayer dollars? Will it have saved the lives of U.S.5021service personnel in a war against an enemy peer nation?5022    General Saltzman. The U.S. military and allied forces gain numerous5023strategic benefits from intelligence and data provided by Ukraine that5024enhance the capabilities of the joint force. These benefits include5025guiding the development of offensive and defensive systems, validating5026testing and evaluation processes, refining tactics, and training5027programs, and informing intelligence assessments of adversary threats.5028When combined with accurate intelligence about enemy capabilities and5029vulnerabilities, these insights contribute to more effective targeting5030and better battlefield decision-making. This integrated approach can5031accelerate the development of countermeasures and prevent redundant5032investments-ultimately resulting in cost savings and safeguarding5033taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, improved understanding of enemy systems5034and vulnerabilities can lead to more successful engagements, reducing5035risks to U.S. and allied personnel and decreasing casualties.5036Collectively, these outcomes strengthen operational effectiveness,5037protect defense investments, and enhance the force's lethality and5038survivability against peer adversaries.5039    We can provide a more detailed response at a higher classification5040level if desired.5041    Mr. Scott. The war in Ukraine has shown the susceptibility to5042exquisite launchers to cheap drones targeting their radars and this5043threat has begun to materialized in the homeland through incursions at5044our military installations. I understand that Air Force and Space Force5045will play a large role in building out President Trump's Golden Dome5046architecture. I'm concerned about the survivability of its critical5047ground infrastructure against drone swarms. How are you thinking about5048the protection of critical missile defense infrastructure - such as5049interceptors, radars, and networking hubs - against drone threats as5050the Golden Dome architecture matures?5051    General Saltzman. On January 27, 2025, President Donald J. Trump5052signed Executive Order 14186 directing the Secretary of Defense to5053plan, develop, and deploy a next-generation missile defense shield. To5054fulfill this mission, the DoD is developing the Golden Dome for America5055(GDA) which will provide technologically advanced capabilities to5056defend the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise5057missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-5058peer, and rogue adversaries. The DAF is awaiting further guidance from5059OSD and looks forward to supporting this important effort.5060    Mr. Scott. Is Putin going to stop in Ukraine?5061    General Saltzman. I will defer this question to Gen. Alexus G.5062Grynkewich, Commander, EUCOM, who can provide you with the most current5063information.5064    Mr. Scott. How is the U.S. Space Force working with Estonia,5065Latvia, and Lithuania to ensure space resilience against hybrid5066threats, such as GPS jamming or cyberattacks, in the Baltic region?5067    General Saltzman. Currently, U.S. Space Forces Europe-Africa5068(USSPACEFOREUR-AF) is building its relationships with Estonia, Latvia,5069and Lithuania. The Component, in coordination with the Latvian Ministry5070of Defense, has approval to build a site that will serve as a5071deployment location with necessary security, power, and communication5072capabilities for Space Electromagnetic Warfare capabilities. The effort5073is part of a broader concept enabling the Component to support U.S.5074European Command (USEUCOM) operational priorities and mission by5075establishing operational-ready locations for USSF and sister-service5076space systems throughout the USEUCOM area of responsibility (AOR).5077Additionally, the Component creates yearly international engagement5078plans in support of USEUCOM objectives for future engagements with the5079Baltic States. As North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Alliance5080Members, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are supported by the NATO Space5081Operations Center (NSpOC) at Ramstein AB Germany. These nations have5082access to Global Positioning Satellite jamming data through the NATO5083developed Radar Electromagnetic and Communication Coverage Tool5084Position Navigation Timing (REACT PNT) analysis system operated by the5085NSpOC. REACT analysis can be directly requested by the nation or is5086available through the NATO Command Structure, specifically the5087operations centers of the NATO Joint Force Commands. Further the NSpOC5088is a node of the USSPACECOM Joint Commercial Operation (JCO), staffed5089with U.S. Space Force personnel and international JCO trained5090personnel. The NSpOC can provide the full range of commercial JCO5091services to the Alliance, on-demand. NSpOC also teaches the JCO 2005092course for Alliance members.5093    Mr. Scott. What role do the Baltic States play in NATO's space5094strategy, particularly in ensuring interoperability of space assets for5095collective defense?5096    General Saltzman. The Baltic States, like all NATO nations,5097maintain a Permanent Representative (Ambassador) to NATO and a Senior5098(OF-8, 3-Star equivalent) Military Representative on the NATO Military5099Committee. The Permanent Representative provides political guidance5100from the nation to the Alliance and the Military Representative5101provides military guidance. NATO is in the middle of the 5-year NATO5102Defense Planning Process (NDPP) and will commence writing the Political5103Guidance 2027 (PG27) later this year. PG27 will govern the next 5-year5104NDDP cycle which will have major implications on the direction of the5105NATO Space Domain. The Baltic States have an equal stake in this5106process. Further, the Baltic Military Representatives will prepare an5107Operational Requirements Statement (ORS) in response to the PG27. The5108ORS will recommend the resourcing and military force structure needed5109by the Alliance to conduct steady state and Article-5 space operations.5110    In preparation for PG27, Commander Combined Force Space Component5111Command, Air Marshal Sir Johnny Stringer (OF8 UK), is preparing his5112Commander's Estimate on the Space Domain to present to Supreme Allied5113Commander Europe as the basis for the next ORS.5114    Mr. Scott. Are there plans for joint Space Force exercises with the5115Baltic States to simulate space-enabled operations in a contested5116environment near Russia's border?5117    General Saltzman. While USSPACEFOREUR-AF has not yet directly5118collaborated with the Baltic States on simulated space-enabled5119operations in dedicated exercises, opportunities exist. Broader USEUCOM5120and NATO exercises offer avenues to integrate the Baltic States into5121operational type exercises. This integration can be achieved through5122two primary pathways: incorporating their space systems and5123capabilities into joint frameworks or deploying U.S. space assets5124within their sovereign territory for exercise operations. Key among5125these are NATO's Maritime Command's Baltic Operations, which5126specifically targets the Baltic Sea region, and STEADFAST DUAL,5127encompassing the entire AOR. Both exercises represent platforms for5128enhancing joint readiness and interoperability with the Baltic States,5129particularly in the increasingly contested space domain.5130    Mr. Scott. How can the Space Force support the Baltic States in5131accessing commercial space services, such as small satellite5132constellations, to enhance regional security and economic development?5133    General Saltzman. USSPACEFOREUR-AF, as the USSF Service Component5134in Europe, can work with USSF Field Commands (e.g. Space Systems5135Command) and with USSF Headquarters to facilitate support to Baltic5136States in accessing commercial space services. Namely, the opportunity5137to join the Joint Commercial Operations Cell (JCO) for commercial SDA5138and access to the Global Data Marketplace. Further, USSPACEFOREUR-AF5139can facilitate support of commercial data buys through the Global5140Mission System. Additionally, the NATO Combined Force Space Component5141Command (CFSpCC) is the Commercial Integrator (NATO common funds) for5142space data and effects. As the integrator, the CFSpCC plans and5143procures space data and effects into the Deterrence and Defense of the5144Euro-Atlantic (DDA) Family of Plans.5145    NATO is not only a Joint Commercial Operation (JCO) member through5146the CFSpCC and NATO Space Operations Center (NSpOC), but as of July51472025, we have an active Global Data Marketplace (GDM) account, which5148enable short duration Project Work Statements and rapid contracting of5149space services in support of the Alliance. All of this is delivered5150through the Unified Data Library of the JCO.5151    Baltic States have access to the GDM currently through NATO but5152could also directly apply for their own accounts.5153    Mr. Scott. What is the Space Force's approach to fostering5154trilateral cooperation among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in space5155education and workforce development to build a regional space5156ecosystem?5157    General Saltzman. All three Baltic States-Estonia, Latvia, and5158Lithuania-possess Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases, which provide5159direct access to space education support from the National Security5160Space Institute (NSSI). This support is delivered comprehensively5161through both in-residence programs and the deployment of NSSI's mobile5162training teams. A development in this regard is the proactive5163engagement from the Baltic Defense College (BDC), located in Estonia.5164As a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-accredited institution5165with a demonstrated history of fostering international collaboration5166(hosting students from 11 countries in past classes), the BDC has5167formally requested a Space 100 course for its FY26 curriculum. This5168engagement will allow the expansion of NSSI's mobile training footprint5169across the Baltic States, bolstering regional space expertise and5170interoperability.5171    Mr. Scott. How is the U.S. Space Force collaborating with Estonia5172to enhance space situational awareness, given Estonia's advanced5173cybersecurity capabilities and its strategic position near Russia?5174    General Saltzman. Through USSPACEFOREUR-AF, the U.S. Space Force is5175facilitating Baltic States' access to critical commercial space5176services, including participation in the Joint Commercial Operations5177Cell for Space Domain Awareness and access to the Global Data5178Marketplace. NATO, through its Combined Force Space Component Command,5179serves as a key commercial integrator, procuring space data and effects5180for Alliance deterrence and defense. NATO's active Global Data5181Marketplace account, operational by July 2025, further streamlines5182access to commercial space services for the Alliance, including the5183Baltic States, via the Unified Data Library. Baltic States also have5184the option to directly apply for their own Global Data Marketplace5185accounts.5186    On the educational front, all three Baltic States benefit from5187Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases, granting them direct access to5188space education support from the National Security Space Institute5189(NSSI) through both in-residence and mobile training programs. A5190significant development is the Baltic Defense College's (BDC) request5191for a Space 100 course for its FY26 curriculum. This engagement will5192expand NSSI's mobile training footprint across the region,5193significantly bolstering Baltic space expertise and interoperability.5194    Mr. Scott. What opportunities exist for Latvia to contribute to5195NATO's space operations, particularly through its emerging space5196technology sector and its participation in EU space programs?5197    General Saltzman. If Latvia is looking to rapidly invest, they can5198follow the Luxembourg model and provide Voluntary National5199Contributions through personnel and or financing to NATO Space.5200Luxembourg has funded the Allied Persistent Surveillance from Space5201(APSS) operation in support of Space Based Intelligence Surveillance5202Reconnaissance (ISR) at the Combined Force Space Component Command5203(CFSpCC). Latvia can participate directly as a contributing ISR nation5204to APSS. APSS achieves initial operational capability 1 Jan 2026,5205currently in pilot program.5206    Mr. Scott. How is the Space Force engaging with Lithuania to5207bolster space-enabled intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance5208(ISR) capabilities in response to regional threats?5209    General Saltzman. The USSF is developing a Joint Commercial5210Operation (JCO) to enable rapid sharing of Intelligence Surveillance5211Reconnaissance (ISR) imagery, Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and analysis5212with allies and partners, which will give access to relevant products5213as the Baltic States need them. Lithuania could place a person in the5214NATO Space Operations Center at Ramstein AB, where the JCO is also5215located.5216    Mr. Scott. What steps can be taken to support Lithuania's5217integration into NATO's space domain operations, given its strategic5218location and growing interest in space technologies?5219    General Saltzman. If Lithuania is looking to rapidly invest, they5220can follow the Luxembourg model and provide Voluntary National5221Contributions through personnel and or financing to NATO Space.5222Luxembourg has funded the Allied Persistent Surveillance from Space5223(APSS) operation in support of Space Based Intelligence Surveillance5224Reconnaissance (ISR) at the Combined Force Space Component Command.5225Lithuania can participate directly as a contributing ISR nation to5226APSS. APSS achieves initial operational capability 1 Jan 2026,5227currently in pilot program.5228                                 ______52295230             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. MOULTON5231    Mr. Moulton. General Allvin, are you comfortable risking the life5232of a pilot for a mission that can be accomplished by an unmanned5233system? How is this trade-off impacting Air Force strategy and5234operational planning?5235    General Allvin. The decision to employ manned aircraft in5236situations where unmanned systems could potentially be used is never5237taken lightly. It involves a careful and rigorous assessment of several5238factors.5239    While unmanned systems offer tremendous potential to reduce risk to5240aircrews, they are not yet capable of replacing manned aircraft in all5241situations. There are inherent limitations in current unmanned5242technologies regarding autonomy, adaptability, decision-making in5243complex and dynamic environments, and the ability to handle unforeseen5244circumstances and considering factors like: mission requirements,5245threat environment, technological capabilities, operational5246constraints, legal and ethical considerations, redundancy and5247resiliency, and maintaining positive command and control.5248    The evolving capabilities of unmanned systems are reshaping Air5249Force strategy and operational planning as we actively pursue a future5250force mix that optimizes the use of both manned and unmanned assets.5251This includes prioritizing investments in Research and Development,5252specifically in advanced unmanned technologies like improved autonomy,5253artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, and cyber resilience. We are5254also developing new future operating and operational concepts that5255explore innovative ways to integrate manned and unmanned systems to5256achieve synergistic effects, such as manned-unmanned teaming, where5257manned aircraft control and coordinate the actions of multiple unmanned5258systems. Furthermore, we are adapting training and education to prepare5259aircrews and support personnel to operate effectively in a mixed5260environment, modernizing existing platforms by equipping them with5261advanced sensors and communication systems to enhance collaboration5262with unmanned systems, and evolving the force design to adjust the size5263and composition of our manned and unmanned fleets to meet evolving5264threats and mission requirements. Our ultimate goal is to create a5265force that is more agile, more resilient, and more capable of deterring5266aggression and defending our Nation. We are working towards future5267operating concepts and strategies where unmanned systems can perform an5268increasing number of missions, thereby reducing the risk to our pilots,5269while maintaining the necessary capabilities to address the full5270spectrum of threats.5271    Mr. Moulton. General Allvin, you've emphasized the importance of5272modernizing our force and rethinking how we project airpower. As5273unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft become a reality, should the Air5274Force reassess the number of manned F-35s it truly needs?5275    General Allvin. At this stage of the Combat Collaborative Aircraft5276(CCA) program, we view them as force multipliers rather than5277replacements for the crewed aircraft they will partner with to achieve5278air superiority. We're looking at different ways to execute the same5279mission, going beyond `single platforms equal single capabilities.' We5280are embracing and leaning into human-machine teaming and understanding5281what autonomy can do for us. The Air Force currently has two CCA5282prototypes and recently activated a CCA Experimental Operations Unit5283for testing and refining human-machine teaming concepts. The insights5284gained from these efforts will be crucial in shaping the future of the5285program as well as informing the proper balance of manned to unmanned5286assets in our inventory.5287    Mr. Moulton. Given the cost constraints we face, we must recognize5288that our allies are often under even greater financial pressures. While5289they've followed our lead in procuring the F-35, the maintenance costs5290alone can be a significant burden. How can the Air Force assist in5291guiding them toward more cost-effective and affordable solutions moving5292forward?5293    General Allvin. The F-35 is the most advanced mass-produced5294aircraft in history, and it will provide the U.S. and allies and5295partners with the level of capability and interoperability required to5296defeat our priority threats. Maintenance and logistics challenges5297impact the USAF just as much as they impact our allies and partners.5298The Air Force actively supports F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO)-led5299maintenance and sustainment improvement initiatives, which are designed5300to target the key processes and logistic drivers that impact fleet5301mission capability rates. The USAF recommends allies and partners5302continue to articulate national sustainment challenges to the JPO to5303inform and enable enterprise-wide solutions.5304    Mr. Moulton. Over the past five years, we've seen dramatic5305advancements in commercial remote sensing: up to 400% more daily5306coverage at high resolution (30-50?cm), 15-30x faster revisit rates,5307and 40% better resolution. This capability is a clear advantage that5308the United States must take full advantage of. Given this how is the5309Space Force fully utilizing all available tools to make use of this5310incredible growth in data?5311    Dr. Meink. Under the Tactical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and5312Tracking (TacSRT) program, the U.S. Space Force (USSF) is leveraging5313commercially available data to deliver analytical products to the5314warfighter through the Global Data Marketplace. Future commercial data5315exploitation activities will be guided by the Memorandum of Agreement5316(MOA) signed by the USSF and the National Geospatial-Intelligence5317Agency (NGA) in May 2025.5318    Mr. Moulton. Over the past five years, we've seen dramatic5319advancements in commercial remote sensing: up to 400% more daily5320coverage at high resolution (30-50?cm), 15-30x faster revisit rates,5321and 40% better resolution. This capability is a clear advantage that5322the United States must take full advantage of. Traditional analytical5323tradecraft is clearly unable to keep up with this growth in data, can5324you share your roadmap for integrating commercial sensing and5325associated AI tools into the Space Force?5326    Dr. Meink. The USSF is leveraging commercially available data to5327deliver analytical products to the warfighter through the Global Data5328Marketplace. Future commercial data exploitation activities will be5329guided by the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the USSF and NGA5330in May 2025. The MOA requires the service to collaborate with NGA5331support teams to "ensure data purchases and derived product...conform5332to consistent, mutually agreed upon National System for Geospatial5333Intelligence standards." We expect many of these commercial5334capabilities to incorporate AI tools.5335    Mr. Moulton. Why hasn't the Space Force moved faster or more5336aggressively to integrate commercial remote sensing for tactical5337support to the warfighter?5338    Dr. Meink. The USSF will work with its stakeholders in the5339Intelligence Community to identify future opportunities for5340exploitation of commercial remote sensing data in support of warfighter5341requirements. To that end, in May 2025, the USSF and NGA signed a5342Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) delineating how the organizations will5343share duties for buying space-based intelligence from commercial5344providers. The MOA requires the service to collaborate with NGA support5345teams to "ensure data purchases and derived products. conform to5346consistent, mutually agreed upon National System for Geospatial5347Intelligence standards."5348    Mr. Moulton. Does the FY26 Space Force budget expand, or at least5349sustain, full funding for the Tactical Surveillance and Reconnaissance5350(TacSR) program, which is supposed to bridge this gap?5351    Dr. Meink. The President's Budget Request for FY 2026 does not5352request funds for the TacSRT program.5353    Mr. Moulton. Over the past five years, we've seen dramatic5354advancements in commercial remote sensing: up to 400% more daily5355coverage at high resolution (30-50?cm), 15-30x faster revisit rates,5356and 40% better resolution. This capability is a clear advantage that5357the United States must take full advantage of. Given this how is the5358Space Force fully utilizing all available tools to make use of this5359incredible growth in data?5360    General Saltzman. The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is leveraging5361commercially available data to deliver analytical products to the5362warfighter through the Global Data Marketplace. Future commercial data5363exploitation activities will be guided by the Memorandum of Agreement5364(MOA) signed by the USSF and the National Geospatial-Intelligence5365Agency (NGA) in May 2025.5366    Mr. Moulton. Over the past five years, we've seen dramatic5367advancements in commercial remote sensing: up to 400% more daily5368coverage at high resolution (30-50?cm), 15-30x faster revisit rates,5369and 40% better resolution. This capability is a clear advantage that5370the United States must take full advantage of. Traditional analytical5371tradecraft is clearly unable to keep up with this growth in data, can5372you share your roadmap for integrating commercial sensing and5373associated AI tools into the Space Force?5374    General Saltzman. The USSF is leveraging commercially available5375data to deliver analytical products to the warfighter through the5376Global Data Marketplace. Future commercial data exploitation activities5377will be guided by the MOA signed by the USSF and the NGA in May 2025.5378The MOA requires the service to collaborate with NGA support teams to5379"ensure data purchases and derived product...conform to consistent,5380mutually agreed upon National System for Geospatial Intelligence5381standards." We expect many of these commercial capabilities to5382incorporate AI tools.5383    Mr. Moulton. Why hasn't the Space Force moved faster or more5384aggressively to integrate commercial remote sensing for tactical5385support to the warfighter?5386    General Saltzman. Through our critical partnerships with NGA and5387National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the Space Force will improve5388delivery of products to the warfighter. We are continuing to ensure5389tax-payer dollars are invested responsibly in products that are timely5390and effective with confidence that the U.S. Government is avoiding5391duplication and only paying once.5392    Mr. Moulton. Does the FY26 Space Force budget expand, or at least5393sustain, full funding for the Tactical Surveillance and Reconnaissance5394(TacSR) program, which is supposed to bridge this gap?5395    General Saltzman. The President's Budget Request for FY 2026 does5396not request funds for the TacSRT program.5397                                 ______53985399            RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. CARBAJAL5400    Mr. Carbajal. The Space Force's Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS)5401Initiative, led by the Space Safari team, has benefited from consistent5402funding, enabling the development of critical capabilities, concepts of5403operations, and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) that support5404rapid 24-hour response timelines. This committee appreciates that these5405initiatves have demonstrated industry's ability to deliver of5406responsive space-based solutions that support our nation's space5407superiority objectives.-Notably, TacRS has proven its advancement of5408responsive space maneuvering, orbital warfare and the need for5409proliferated reconnaissance across multiple orbits to enhance space5410superiority and address urgent needs such as surveillance and recon of5411foreign-launched objects.5412    1. Can you elaborate on the USSF's commitment to the TacRS5413initiative, particularly how it plans to continue to support responsive5414space maneuvering and proliferated recon to achieve space superiority5415and meet CCMD requirements for orbital warfare and space surveillance?54162. Can you assure this committee that TacRS program element line will5417remain a sustained priority through the Future Years Defense Program to5418enable aggressive approach for rapidly integrating and deploying agile,5419end-to-end space-based capabilities tailored to urgent CCMD needs,5420without relying on large-scale spacecraft production?5421    Dr. Meink. In the April 2025 publication of Space Force Doctrine5422Document 1, (SFDD-1), the Space Force identified Responsive Launch as a5423mission set under our Space Access Core Function. Responsive Launch5424operations deliver and operate capabilities across all Space Force5425mission areas, currently focused on space control and space domain5426awareness. Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) prioritizes commercial,5427fixed-price contracts to take advantage of evolving commercial5428capabilities, technology advancements, and reduced production timelines5429to rapidly deliver minimum viable warfighter solutions. As part of the5430President's Budget Request, the TacRS portfolio is programmed to5431$168.282M for FY26.5432    There are several excellent examples of the Space Force's5433commitment to TacRS. Space Safari conducts the experimentation and5434analysis required to make TacRS a part of the future of the Space5435Force. VICTUS SOL will be the first operational TacRS mission. VICTUS5436SURGO is a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) Prepositioned Threat5437Response (PTR) mission that will image Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and5438geostationary orbit (GEO) space objects through dynamic maneuvering;5439VICTUS SALO is a low earth orbit (LEO) PTR mission that utilizes5440dynamic maneuvering to image LEO space objects.5441    Mr. Carbajal. The Space Force's Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS)5442Initiative, led by the Space Safari team, has benefited from consistent5443funding, enabling the development of critical capabilities, concepts of5444operations, and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) that support5445rapid 24-hour response timelines. This committee appreciates that these5446initiatves have demonstrated industry's ability to deliver of5447responsive space-based solutions that support our nation's space5448superiority objectives.-Notably, TacRS has proven its advancement of5449responsive space maneuvering, orbital warfare and the need for5450proliferated reconnaissance across multiple orbits to enhance space5451superiority and address urgent needs such as surveillance and recon of5452foreign-launched objects.5453    1. Can you elaborate on the USSF's commitment to the TacRS5454initiative, particularly how it plans to continue to support responsive5455space maneuvering and proliferated recon to achieve space superiority5456and meet CCMD requirements for orbital warfare and space surveillance?54572. Can you assure this committee that TacRS program element line will5458remain a sustained priority through the Future Years Defense Program to5459enable aggressive approach for rapidly integrating and deploying agile,5460end-to-end space-based capabilities tailored to urgent CCMD needs,5461without relying on large-scale spacecraft production?5462    General Saltzman. In the April 2025 publication of Space Force5463Doctrine Document 1, the Space Force identified Responsive Launch as a5464mission set under our Space Access Core Function. Responsive Launch5465operations deliver and operate capabilities across all Space Force5466mission areas, currently focused on space control and space domain5467awareness. Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) prioritizes commercial,5468fixed-price contracts to take advantage of evolving commercial5469capabilities, technology advancements, and reduced production timelines5470to rapidly deliver minimum viable warfighter solutions. As part of the5471President's Budget Request, the TacRS portfolio is programmed to5472$168.282M for FY26.5473    There are several excellent examples of the Space Force's5474commitment to TacRS. Space Safari conducts the experimentation and5475analysis required to make TacRS a part of the future of the Space5476Force. VICTUS SOL will be the first operational TacRS mission. VICTUS5477SURGO is a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) Prepositioned Threat5478Response (PTR) mission that will image Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) and5479geostationary orbit (GEO) space objects through dynamic maneuvering;5480VICTUS SALO is a low earth orbit (LEO) PTR mission that uses dynamic5481maneuvering to image LEO space objects.5482                                 ______54835484              RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. BACON5485    Mr. Bacon. On 20 November 2024, USSF and Space Launch Delta 455486(SLD-45) released a request for information (RFI) regarding the future5487lease of Space Launch Complex-37 (SLC-37). The availability of a heavy-5488launch site such as SLC-37 is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, the5489necessity for resilient and redundant assured access to space continues5490to grow in importance. Regarding the future use of SLC-37: 1. Has an5491allocation decision been made for a commercial launch service provider5492(CLSP) to lease SLC-37? 2. If yes, was a competitive and transparent5493award process used? 3. If no, will a standard request for proposal5494(RFP) follow?5495    General Saltzman. SLC-37's size and the separation from neighboring5496operations make it the only Cape Canaveral Space Force Station launch5497pad suitable for a super-heavy rocket. The Department of the Air Force5498(DAF) conducted significant market research, including an RFI for5499launch providers to submit plans on how they would develop a super-5500heavy launch program at SLC-37. After a formal review of all the market5501research, including multiple responses to the RFI, the Space Force5502determined SpaceX was the only launch provider that could meet the5503requirements for the super-heavy launch program. The Space Force will5504decide no later than this fall whether to lease SLC-37 to SpaceX, after5505completion of the Environmental Impact Statements and the issuance of a5506record of decisions. Any decision to lease will comply with the5507requirements of 10 U.S.C.  2667.5508    Mr. Bacon. On 20 November 2024, USSF and Space Launch Delta 455509(SLD-45) released a request for information (RFI) regarding the future5510lease of Space Launch Complex-37 (SLC-37). The availability of a heavy-5511launch site such as SLC-37 is exceedingly rare. Furthermore, the5512necessity for resilient and redundant assured access to space continues5513to grow in importance. Regarding the future use of SLC-37: 1. Has an5514allocation decision been made for a commercial launch service provider5515(CLSP) to lease SLC-37? 2. If yes, was a competitive and transparent5516award process used? 3. If no, will a standard request for proposal5517(RFP) follow?5518    Dr. Meink. SLC-37's size and the separation from neighboring5519operations make it the only Cape Canaveral Space Force Station launch5520pad suitable for a super-heavy rocket. The Department of the Air Force5521(DAF) conducted significant market research, including an RFI for5522launch providers to submit plans on how they would develop a super-5523heavy launch program at SLC-37. After a formal review of all the market5524research, including multiple responses to the RFI, the Space Force5525determined SpaceX was the only launch provider that could meet the5526requirements for the super-heavy launch program. The Space Force will5527decide no later than this fall whether to lease SLC-37 to SpaceX, after5528completion of the Environmental Impact Statements and the issuance of a5529record of decisions. Any decision to lease will comply with the5530requirements of 10 U.S.C.  2667.5531                                 ______55325533             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. BERGMAN5534    Mr. Bergman. Given the persistent and severe PFAS contamination at5535Wurtsmith AFB, and the ongoing frustration in the community over the5536pace and transparency of cleanup efforts, what specific actions will5537the Air Force take in the next 12 months to accelerate permanent5538remediation? Additionally, what is the timeline to implement the5539agreed-upon interim actions at Wurtsmith?5540    Dr. Meink. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is continuing to5541address PFAS under the federal cleanup law, CERCLA. DAF is in the5542Remedial Investigation Phase. In addition to the CERCLA process, DAF5543has taken and planned multiple interim remedial actions (IRAs) to5544accelerate PFAS mitigation measures.5545    The status and timeline of the overall CERCLA efforts: -Remedial5546Investigation: Underway, Estimated Completion Date (ECD): 3rd quarter5547of fiscal year 2027 (3QFY2027) --Preliminary Characterization Summary5548Report: Underway, ECD: 4QFY2025 --Remedial Investigation Data gap: On5549schedule to award 4QFY2025, ECD: 3QFY2027 -Feasibility Study: Planned,55501QFY2028 -Proposed Plan(s): Planned, 3QFY2028 -Record(s) of Decision:5551Planned, 1QFY2029 -Remedial Actions: Planned, 1QFY20305552    While CERCLA phases progress, DAF has planned the following planned5553actions within the next 12 months: -DRMO & Landfill 30/31 IRA focused5554on reducing groundwater discharge to Lake Van Etten --Continue Pre-5555design investigation and design; IRA estimated operational 2Q2027 -5556Three-Pipes Source Area IRA focused on treating the source area to5557reduce groundwater discharge to the Au Sable River --Estimated 4QFY20255558begin Pre-design investigation and design; IRA estimated operational55592Q2029 --Complete negotiation of the agreement with City of Oscoda to5560fund execution of a project focused on stormwater pipe joint sealing to5561minimize PFAS impacted groundwater from entering the pipe and5562discharging to Au Sable River. Estimated award 4QFY2025; ECD 2QFY2026.5563-Wastewater Treatment Plant IRA focused on reducing groundwater5564discharge to the Au Sable River --Estimated 4QFY2025 begin pre-design5565investigation and design, IRA estimated operational 2Q20295566    The IRAs at Wurtsmith remain consistent as reported to the5567Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) in May 2025, and will be executed5568subject to available appropriations.5569    The DAF will communicate progress and updates on timelines to the5570RAB.5571    Mr. Bergman. How is the Air Force implementing the Defense Business5572Board recommendations to the Secretary of Defense concerning industry5573supply chain best practices? Please specifically address the Board's5574recommendations regarding use of commercial tools and the need for5575continuous monitoring of your vendors independently from prime-5576contractor voluntary self-reporting.5577    Dr. Meink. The Air Force is supporting the Secretary of Defense's5578implementation of Defense Business Board (DBB) recommendations through5579the Supply Chain Risk Management Integration Center (SCRM-IC). The5580SCRM-IC is centralizing DoD leadership, establishing data standards,5581and promoting department-wide collaboration. Specifically, regarding5582commercial tools, the SCRM-IC sponsored General Services5583Administration's Supply Chain Risk Illumination Professional Tools and5584Services (SCRIPTS) blanket purchase agreements (BPAs), which provide5585subscription-based commercial tools and analytic support for risk5586assessment.5587    Mr. Bergman. The Committee understands that many of the supply5588chain risk management efforts throughout the Air Force rely both on5589paper-based and manpower intensive processes, do not provide near real-5590time monitoring as suggested by the Board, and are often stand-alone5591programs and contracts that are not integrated Air Force wide, or even5592major Command wide. What is your plan to address this situation?5593    Dr. Meink. The Air Force is addressing the need to move beyond5594paper-based, manpower-intensive, and unintegrated supply chain risk5595management (SCRM) efforts by establishing SCRM focal points within Air5596Force Materiel Command and Space Systems Command. These focal points5597are developing capabilities to illuminate and continuously monitor5598supply chain risks and standardize processes. As these capabilities5599mature, the Air Force will consolidate stand-alone programs and5600contracts and integrate efforts across major commands.5601    Mr. Bergman. Now that GSA has put in place almost $1.0 billion of5602best-of-breed supply chain illumination tools and products available at5603fixed subscription rates for all federal agencies, what is your plan to5604have Air Force organizations use them?5605    Dr. Meink. Following the award of the GSA Supply Chain Risk5606Illumination Professional Tools and Services (SCRIPTS) Blanket Purchase5607Agreement (BPA) on March 28, 2025, several Air Force and Space Force5608acquisition program offices have already engaged with the General5609Services Administration team. The Air Force will continue to actively5610promote SCRIPTS and ensure widespread awareness to maximize its5611adoption across organizations.5612    Mr. Bergman. Please provide for the record the supply chain risk5613management programs in place today for each major organization in the5614Air Force Material Command and how they will be integrated in the5615future such that the government only pays for supply chain illumination5616data annually but then shares it more broadly with the Air Force, in a5617manner consistent with industry best practices recommended by the5618Board.5619    Dr. Meink. The Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) supply chain risk5620management (SCRM) Focal Point utilizes a centralized data approach.5621AFMC annually procures supply illumination data and integrates it with5622government data sources to create supply chain risk assessments for use5623across all major organizations within the command. This system provides5624Air Force-wide data sharing, eliminating redundancy, reducing costs,5625improving data visibility, and enhancing proactive risk management.5626    Mr. Bergman. Given the critical national security need to qualify5627electronics for missions beyond Low-Earth Orbit, what steps is the5628Space Force taking to address this challenge?5629    General Saltzman. The Space Force prioritizes qualifying5630electronics for missions beyond low earth orbit, due to harsh radiation5631and extreme temperatures. Our strategy includes enhanced radiation5632hardening through R&D and advanced testing, while strategically5633leveraging commercial innovation and commercial off the shelf5634components with shielding and redundancy. We are also refining on-orbit5635validation capabilities through dedicated experiments and hosted5636payloads.5637                                 ______56385639            RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MS. SHERRILL5640    Ms. Sherrill. As a veteran and advocate for women in national5641security, I remain concerned about retaining and promoting talented5642women in the Air Force. How does the FY26 budget support leadership5643development, career progression, and retention of women in the Air5644Force-particularly in operational and technical roles? What data is the5645Air Force tracking to ensure women are advancing equitably in combat5646and command positions?5647    General Allvin. The Air Force retains and promotes Airmen to5648promote lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and5649readiness. This framework ensures that all Airmen, regardless of sex,5650can contribute their maximum potential to the mission.5651    We collect and analyze data on recruitment, retention, and5652promotion to ensure Airmen advance based on merit and performance, not5653preference or discrimination. All career fields are open to individuals5654who meet established qualifications and standards. The Air Force5655maintains rigorous criteria for every position, ensuring selection and5656advancement are based on operational necessity and individual5657capability.5658    Ms. Sherrill. Following the Department of Defense's decision to5659disband DACOWITS, a committee that has provided over 70 years of5660bipartisan, expert advice on issues affecting women in uniform - What5661specific mechanisms has the Air Force put in place to ensure that the5662unique perspectives, needs, and challenges of women service members are5663still being identified, analyzed, and incorporated into into policy?5664    General Allvin. The Department of the Air Force is committed to5665addressing the needs and challenges of all members. This includes5666integrating issues into broader, merit-based, governance structures,5667conducting periodic policy reviews with subject matter experts, and5668using direct feedback channels such as surveys and town halls to inform5669senior leader decision-making and policies that support the ability of5670Airmen and Guardians to serve effectively in all operational5671environments, directly contributing to force readiness.5672    Ms. Sherrill. Please provide how many DACOWITS and Women's5673Initiative Teams recommendations specific to the Air Force have been5674implemented in the last 5 years, and what impact those recommendations5675had on readiness, retention, and recruitment. Are there any plans to5676establish a new internal or external advisory board that can provide5677the same level of transparency, rigor, and accountability that the Air5678Force Women's Initiative Teams once offered? If not, why not?5679    General Allvin. The direct impact of these Defense Advisory5680Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) and the Women's5681Initiative Team recommendations on readiness, retention and recruitment5682is still under study. There are currently no plans to establish a new5683internal or external advisory board specifically focused on immutable5684characteristics. We will focus on promoting lethality and meritocracy5685for all Airmen and Guardians.5686    Ms. Sherrill. What lessons has the Department of the Air Force5687learned from the ongoing war in Ukraine regarding the survivability and5688utility of manned aircraft operating in contested or denied airspace5689characterized by integrated and layered air defense systems?5690    General Allvin. The critical lesson learned from the Ukraine war is5691that achieving air superiority still matters to ensure joint force5692success. Taking these lessons learned and the evolving character of5693war, we seek to procure and operate with asymmetric capabilities to5694ensure the Joint Force is able to execute future operations.5695    Ms. Sherrill. How is the Air Force adapting its current fighter,5696bomber, and ISR concepts of operations in response to the demonstrated5697challenges of operating in environments with advanced air defense5698systems?5699    General Allvin. In support of the Joint Force and in accordance5700with the new Joint Warfighting Concept, the United States Air Force5701will be contributing to all seven joint-functions inside increasingly5702long-range adversary air defense systems-to be clear: avoidance will5703not be a feasible option for Joint Force success. To manage both risk5704to mission and risk to force, the Air Force is increasing integration5705across the service and throughout the Joint Force while furthering5706effects across all domains to enhance survivability and create5707permissive windows of opportunity at a chosen time and place in support5708of Joint Force objectives. To aid in our concept development, we have5709positive real-world examples from Ukraine and the Middle East that5710demonstrate the continued viability, as well as the necessity, of5711suppressing or destroying enemy air defense systems at an acceptable5712level of risk and cost.5713    Ms. Sherrill. As a veteran and advocate for women in national5714security, I remain concerned about retaining and promoting talented5715women in the Air Force. How does the FY26 budget support leadership5716development, career progression, and retention of women in the Air5717Force-particularly in operational and technical roles? What data is the5718Air Force tracking to ensure women are advancing equitably in combat5719and command positions?5720    Dr. Meink. The Air Force retains and promotes Airmen to promote5721lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness. This5722framework ensures that all Airmen, regardless of sex, can contribute5723their maximum potential to the mission.5724    We collect and analyze data on recruitment, retention, and5725promotion to ensure Airmen advance based on merit and performance, not5726preference or discrimination. All career fields are open to individuals5727who meet established qualifications and standards. The Air Force5728maintains rigorous criteria for every position, ensuring selection and5729advancement are based on operational necessity and individual5730capability.5731    Ms. Sherrill. Following the Department of Defense's decision to5732disband DACOWITS, a committee that has provided over 70 years of5733bipartisan, expert advice on issues affecting women in uniform - What5734specific mechanisms has the Air Force put in place to ensure that the5735unique perspectives, needs, and challenges of women service members are5736still being identified, analyzed, and incorporated into into policy?5737    Dr. Meink. The Department of the Air Force is committed to5738addressing the needs and challenges of all members. This includes5739integrating issues into broader, merit-based, governance structures,5740conducting periodic policy reviews with subject matter experts, and5741using direct feedback channels such as surveys and town halls to inform5742senior leader decision-making and policies that support the ability of5743Airmen and Guardians to serve effectively in all operational5744environments, directly contributing to force readiness.5745    Ms. Sherrill. Please provide how many DACOWITS and Women's5746Initiative Teams recommendations specific to the Air Force have been5747implemented in the last 5 years, and what impact those recommendations5748had on readiness, retention, and recruitment. Are there any plans to5749establish a new internal or external advisory board that can provide5750the same level of transparency, rigor, and accountability that the Air5751Force Women's Initiative Teams once offered? If not, why not?5752    Dr. Meink. The direct impact of these Defense Advisory Committee on5753Women in the Services (DACOWITS) and the Women's Initiative Team5754recommendations on readiness, retention and recruitment is still under5755study. There are currently no plans to establish a new internal or5756external advisory board specifically focused on immutable5757characteristics. We will focus on promoting lethality and meritocracy5758for all Airmen and Guardians.5759    Ms. Sherrill. As a veteran and advocate for women in national5760security, I remain concerned about retaining and promoting talented5761women in the Space Force. How does the FY26 budget support leadership5762development, career progression, and retention of women in the Space5763Force-particularly in operational and technical roles? What data is the5764Space Force tracking to ensure women are advancing equitably in combat5765and command positions?5766    General Saltzman. The Space Force is in compliance with Executive5767Order 14185, "Restoring America's Fighting Force," which bans5768preferential treatment for any individual or group within the Armed5769Forces on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, color, or creed. The Space5770Force prioritizes readiness and lethality, by ensuring fair and equal5771leadership development opportunities, career progression and retention5772opportunities for all Guardians across the Space Force, regardless of5773sex. Thus, the resulting merit-based system of career advancement and5774progression best serves all Space Force Guardians, including female5775Guardians.5776                                 ______57775778             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. JACKSON5779    Mr. Jackson. Given the recent breakthroughs by DeepSeek and other5780Chinese AI teams, it is imperative that the Department of Defense take5781great care to protect its systems and AI capabilities from Chinese5782influence. What LLMs have ever been used by the Air Force on NIPRGPT?5783Have any foreign LLMs or LLMs with ties to foreign contributors been5784used?5785    Dr. Meink. NIPRGPT has only used commercial or open-source LLMs5786developed by U.S. companies or close U.S. allies. No Chinese or5787adversarial LLMs have ever been used. All current models in use are5788from Google, Meta, Anthropic, and OpenAI (via Microsoft). One past5789model, Mixtral 8x22B, was developed by Mistral AI (France) and hosted5790internally with no external connectivity.5791    NIPRGPT previously used jina-embeddings-v2-base-en, a sentence5792transformer model-not a generative model-for backend text vectorization5793in a RAG pipeline. Developed by JinaAI, a Germany-based company with5794U.S. operations, the model was trained on public English-language data5795(C4) and did not transmit any user data externally. It has since been5796removed and replaced with an alternative embedding model following a5797full code and model inventory.5798    The Air Force takes AI security very seriously and is committed to5799protecting its systems and data from foreign influence. We carefully5800vet all LLMs used in NIPRGPT to ensure they meet our security5801requirements and do not pose an unacceptable risk. We have established5802strict guidelines for the use of LLMs, including restrictions on the5803use of foreign LLMs or LLMs with ties to foreign contributors. More5804information is available at higher classifications.5805    Mr. Jackson. What assessments has the Air Force performed on5806NIPRGPT to measure its vulnerability to cyberattack? Are any standard5807operating procedures for DOD systems not being followed?5808    Dr. Meink. NIPRGPT has undergone multiple security audits,5809including an Authorization and Assessment review, an independent cyber5810assessment, and a red team test by the NSA-certified 177th Information5811Aggressor Squadron, a Department of the Air Force team that tests cyber5812defense capabilities by attempting to hack into sensitive information5813systems. NIPRGPT has an Authority to Operate at Impact Level 5. All5814assessments found NIPRGPT's cybersecurity posture to meet or exceed DoD5815standards. No standard procedures are being bypassed.5816    The program also conducted voluntary audits beyond DoD requirements5817to ensure best practices. Additionally, we conduct regular5818vulnerability assessments on NIPRGPT to identify and mitigate potential5819cyber threats. These assessments include penetration testing, code5820reviews, and security audits. We adhere to all applicable DoD standard5821operating procedures for system security. We are continuously working5822to improve the security posture of NIPRGPT and other AI systems.5823    Mr. Jackson. Have any other Services within the Department of5824Defense banned the use of NIPRGPT by its employees and servicemen? If5825so, why?5826    Dr. Meink. The Department of the Army blocked NIPRGPT as well as5827their own CamoGPT to consolidate to a single GenAI platform for5828operational and office environments. Each Service sets its own access5829policies. NIPRGPT currently has users from across the DAF and DoD with5830over 483,000 registered users. The platform has been adopted at scale5831due to its demonstrated value in accelerating tasks like document5832drafting, research, and code generation. Users report that tasks which5833previously took days are now completed in hours, and that NIPRGPT is5834filling critical knowledge and staffing gaps. The DAF has actively5835shared all cybersecurity audit results and the NIPRGPT Authority to5836Operate package with other Services to support transparency and5837adoption. Collaboration across the DoD continues to expand as other5838services set their own access policies.5839    Mr. Jackson. Has the Air Force evaluated commercial off the shelf5840products that are able to perform the same or similar capabilities as5841NIPRGPT? If so, which products were evaluated and what were the5842criteria of those evaluations?5843    Dr. Meink. Yes. Through active market research under an ongoing DAF5844pathfinder, NIPRGPT itself uses COTS components including Google5845Gemini, Meta LLaMA, Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, and other COTS and open-5846source software models. Additionally, NIPRGPT is currently hosted on a5847commercial cloud environment approved and provisioned by Defense5848Information Systems Agency for government use. Evaluations include5849cost-per-user (licenses as well as compute and store), security5850posture, integration feasibility, and user utility based on mission5851needs and user feedback. An acquisition evaluation is forthcoming to5852establish a sustainable enterprise GenAI capability. This will create a5853responsible and efficient framework for deploying GenAI across the5854department - balancing scale, flexibility, and risk management - while5855enabling components and mission owners to securely integrate GenAI into5856operational workflows.5857    Mr. Jackson. How much money has been spent developing NIPRGPT, and5858what has been the source of funding? What color of money? How many5859FTEs/airmen involved? How much does the Air Force plan to spend on5860NIPRGPT in FY25 and FY26?5861    Dr. Meink. In FY24, approximately $14.6M was spent on NIPRGPT.5862Funding came from multiple customers, including SAF/CN, OSD CDAO, AFRL,5863USCYBERCOM, AFLCMC, and others. $7.85M from O&M (3400) $6.7M from RDT&E5864(3600)5865    In FY25, the projected spend is $3.7M, entirely from RDT&E sources.5866In FY26, there is no funding currently allocated. This effort is5867supported by a small team of civilian and military personnel providing5868COTS tools with in-house system integration, aligning with the DoD memo5869on EO 14222 by leveraging internal resources when available to deliver5870capability efficiently while minimizing reliance on integrators and5871consultants.5872    Mr. Jackson. What steps is the Air Force taking to comply with the5873Executive Order mandating the use of commercial products instead of5874using custom built software, especially if comparable commercial5875products exist?5876    Dr. Meink. In line with recent Executive Orders, the DAF's5877longstanding direction has been to use commercial products wherever5878possible. COTS solutions are heavily integrated into Cloud One,5879Platform One, DAF Cloudworks and other DAF enterprise cloud and5880DevSecOps service offerings. These Enterprise Services provide5881government-led integration of commercial software into standardized5882service offerings. This enables the DAF to empower mission owners by5883providing maximum flexibility to adapt commercial technologies to5884mission requirements while complying with cybersecurity mandates and5885regulations. As more USAF and USSF customers leverage common Enterprise5886Services to integrate commercial technology, the DAF will accelerate5887migration from custom-developed government off the shelf to5888continuously updated systems based on modern software practices which5889assures that these systems have the flexibility to rapidly adopt5890changing technology and mission requirements.5891                                 ______58925893           RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MS. STRICKLAND5894    Ms. Strickland. The E-3 AWACS has been in service since 1977 and5895desperately needs to be replaced. The system that is available today is5896the E-7 Wedgetail. I understand from public reporting that some believe5897that space-based assets can do the job, but the reality is that space-5898based capabilities aren't ready. With only 18 legacy AWACS remaining -5899and mission-capable rates in steep decline - how concerned are you5900about a gap in airborne warning and control coverage if E-7 procurement5901is delayed?5902    General Allvin. The Department believes we need a layered, multi-5903domain capability to ensure robust, resilient and global Air Moving5904Target Indication (AMTI) and Battle Management System. The Department5905cancelled the E-7 Wedgetail program based on programmatic delays,5906rising costs and alternate solutions. Space-based solutions for5907airborne early warning could be a better alternative and the Department5908of Defense is heavily investing in these alternatives. It is currently5909uncertain whether and when Space Based-AMTI will enable the full range5910of necessary information needed to prosecute a future conflict. The5911Department is procuring four additional E-2Ds in FY26 and keeping5912options open for potential future investments.5913                                 ______59145915              RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. RYAN5916    Mr. Ryan. General Allvin, on Tuesday, you called Ukraine's drone5917attacks on Russia a wake-up moment. My constituents had a wake-up5918moment of their own 6 months ago - Stewart ANGB in my district faced a5919SERIES of controlled airspace drone incursions in December 2024 -5920including some that flew within 25 feet of C-17s. The installation and5921guardsmen were limited by a lack of capability and questions about the5922authorities granted to base commanders for this threat. Some of my5923other colleagues on this panel have faced similar situations in their5924districts, and yet there has been no acknowledgement or plan from the5925Department. How is the Air Force working to secure US airspace,5926installations, and assets and address these issues?5927    General Allvin. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is deeply5928concerned by the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and the5929ability of adversaries to use them. The Air Force approach to this5930problem is to use government reference architecture and modular, open-5931systems design to create scalable and tailorable solutions across a5932variety of operating locations. The DAF is working closely with OSD to5933prioritize these rapidly developing needs against all other5934requirements levied upon the Air Force. Fully funding Replicator II5935efforts will field Counter-UAS capabilities to additional covered5936locations. Additionally, DAF is working to enhance training,5937organizational structures, and processes to mitigate UAS threats using5938both passive and active measures. Installation commanders retain the5939inherent right to self-defense in accordance with the Standing Rules5940for Use of Force.5941    We recognize the evolving nature of the threat requires agility,5942and we assess that updating 130i authorities to close critical gaps in5943DOD's ability to address threats posed by an unmanned aircraft system5944or unmanned aircraft will enable better protection of DoD assets. Title594510 USC section 130i provides for the protection of certain facilities5946and assets from unmanned aircraft. The "certain facilities" described5947in the title are commonly referred to as "covered facilities". The5948section describes the DoD missions that would constitute a "covered5949facility or asset", applies to locations in the United States5950(including territories and possessions), but does not explicitly5951specify all facilities within the United States that are under the5952jurisdiction, custody, or control of DOD. Proposed changes to 130i5953authorities would provide a critical clarification by deeming DOD5954property and grounds to be a "covered" entity. Additionally, the5955proposed changes would streamline the essential interagency5956coordination processes primarily between DoD and DoT, which enable5957timely actions to mitigate threats at covered facilities and reduce5958risk to mission and collateral damage/interference when an intrusion5959occurs.5960                                 ______59615962             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MS. KIGGANS5963    Ms. Kiggans. Secretary Meink and General Saltzman, resiliency in5964our launch enterprise is critically important as our country faces a5965myriad array of threats in a dangerous world. Further, it is not lost5966on me that that the Eastern and Western ranges, though critically5967important, historically have been sites of single point failure for5968equatorial and polar insertion. However, the states of Virginia and5969Alaska have built multi-user orbital spaceports that now actively5970support national security missions for small and medium class launch5971and payloads. What is the Space Force doing to invest in these sites so5972that they can continue to grow and support the Space Force's assured5973access to space mission and when should we expect to see the5974President's Budget Request reflect these investments?5975    Dr. Meink. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) and the5976Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (PCSA) are strategic national assets5977and have supported national security space missions for decades.5978Through its Spaceport Enhancements Program, the U.S. Space Force has5979invested $110.5M million in MARS and PCSA since Fiscal Year 2018 with5980support from Congress. The Spaceport Enhancements Program invests in5981U.S.-based, state-owned spaceport capabilities and enhancements focused5982on increasing the military utility of these installations in support of5983future Department of Defense launch services.5984    Ms. Kiggans. Secretary Meink and General Saltzman, resiliency in5985our launch enterprise is critically important as our country faces a5986myriad array of threats in a dangerous world. Further, it is not lost5987on me that that the Eastern and Western ranges, though critically5988important, historically have been sites of single point failure for5989equatorial and polar insertion. However, the states of Virginia and5990Alaska have built multi-user orbital spaceports that now actively5991support national security missions for small and medium class launch5992and payloads. What is the Space Force doing to invest in these sites so5993that they can continue to grow and support the Space Force's assured5994access to space mission and when should we expect to see the5995President's Budget Request reflect these investments?5996    General Saltzman. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) and5997the Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (PCSA) are strategic national5998assets and have supported national security space missions for decades.5999Through its Spaceport Enhancements Program, the U.S. Space Force has6000invested $110.5M million in MARS and PCSA since Fiscal Year 2018 with6001support from Congress. The Spaceport Enhancements Program invests in6002U.S.-based, state-owned spaceport capabilities and enhancements focused6003on increasing the military utility of these installations in support of6004future Department of Defense launch services.6005                                 ______60066007             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MS. TOKUDA6008    Ms. Tokuda. During the last administration, Secretary Kendall6009initiated a sweeping reorganization entitled "Reoptimization for Great6010Power Competition," which Secretary Hegseth has put on pause pending6011further review. That pause was initiated back in February and remains6012in place. Do you have any concerns with continued delays and the lack6013of clarity on reoptimization?6014    General Allvin. I fully support Secretary Meink as he thoroughly6015reviews the Air Force's re-optimization efforts. My priority is to6016assist with this comprehensive review, ultimately ensuring the Air6017Force's efforts are aligned with the DoD strategic vision and6018priorities.6019    Ms. Tokuda. In 2004, the Air Force completed a full Environmental6020Impact Statement (EIS) for the closure of Johnston Atoll following6021decades of nuclear testing and chemical weapons storage. That exit6022process took years and involved extensive interagency and stakeholder6023coordination. Now, as the Air Force moves to reactivate the site for6024the Rocket Cargo Vanguard Program, we're seeing far less rigor. An6025Environmental Assessment promised for public comment in April is now6026delayed until the fall. If a full EIS was necessary just to close the6027site, why isn't one being done now to reopen it-especially given the6028ecological sensitivity, the long-term risks, and the growing public6029concern around Johnston? And given SpaceX's role in this project, is6030the Air Force factoring in the company's environmental track record-6031particularly incidents like those at Boca Chica-when evaluating the6032environmental risks in this assessment?6033    Dr. Meink. As of June 2025, the Department of the Air Force (DAF)6034is holding the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed Rocket6035Cargo landing demonstration on Johnston Atoll in abeyance, during which6036time the Air Force Research Laboratory will explore if there are6037available options for conducting the demonstration at a location other6038than Johnston Atoll. The DAF will continue to ensure full compliance6039with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other applicable6040laws on this activity regardless of where it occurs. When the DAF makes6041a decision on the way ahead for the demonstration, a decision about the6042appropriate level of environmental analysis will be made.6043    Ms. Tokuda. The Air Force and NOAA have a vital partnership through6044Hurricane Hunter flights, which collect lifesaving data to support6045storm forecasting, evacuation planning, and disaster response. But a6046recent GAO report found that both agencies are struggling to meet6047growing demand due to aircraft maintenance issues, staffing shortages,6048and poor coordination. That strain is now compounded by the6049administration's decision to slash NOAA's budget and layoff two of its6050eight flight directors and an engineer, reducing mission capacity by6051over 25 percent. Do these reductions concern you? And what steps is the6052Air Force taking to respond to the GAO's findings and ensure both the6053continued accuracy of our storm forecasts and the strength off your6054partnership with NOAA-especially as storm risks rise and NOAA faces the6055threat of further staffing and funding cuts.6056    Dr. Meink. The Department of the Air Force values its partnership6057with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the6058critical role our weather reconnaissance missions play in enhancing6059storm forecasting, supporting the National Hurricane Center's (NHC)6060ability to produce accurate, timely predictions, and strengthening6061emergency preparedness. The Air Force Reserve Command's (AFRC) 53rd6062Weather Reconnaissance Squadron (53 WRS) "Hurricane Hunters" supports6063this mission through storm-penetrating flights into extreme weather6064events to collect atmospheric data that feeds real-time decision-6065making. This data is essential to NHC models used to determine storm6066track, intensity, and timing, enabling public officials to make6067informed decisions on evacuations and emergency response. This6068complements NOAA's capabilities, which support both operational6069forecasting and research, used by the Department of Defense to6070safeguard forces and assets at home and abroad. This reflects the close6071coordination essential to national storm response efforts.6072    The recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlights6073a few challenges related to Hurricane Hunter operations, including6074increased mission demand, aircraft maintenance, and staffing pressures6075across both NOAA and AFRC. The 53 WRS will continue to meet mission6076demands by adjusting maintenance schedules around peak storm periods,6077managing aircrew availability to support forecast-driven taskings. AFRC6078is also taking steps to improve coordination with NOAA to ensure clear6079communication and strategic and operational alignment, consistent with6080the GAO's recommendations. While I am not in a position to comment on6081decisions made regarding NOAA's internal staffing or budget, the Air6082Force remains committed to supporting this important mission and6083maintaining the close operational partnership with NOAA that supports6084national preparedness and homeland defense efforts.6085    Ms. Tokuda. During the last administration, Secretary Kendall6086initiated a sweeping reorganization entitled "Reoptimization for Great6087Power Competition," which Secretary Hegseth has put on pause pending6088further review. That pause was initiated back in February and remains6089in place. Do you have an update on where these reviews stand and when6090we can expect a clear decision on the Department's path forward on the6091reoptimization effort?6092    Dr. Meink. I am reviewing the Reoptimization for Great Power6093Competition initiative and I anticipate providing a recommendation to6094the Secretary of Defense soon.6095    Ms. Tokuda. During the last administration, Secretary Kendall6096initiated a sweeping reorganization entitled "Reoptimization for Great6097Power Competition," which Secretary Hegseth has put on pause pending6098further review. That pause was initiated back in February and remains6099in place. Do you have any concerns with continued delays and the lack6100of clarity on reoptimization?6101    General Saltzman. The USSF has three activities paused pending the6102completion of reviews. First, the activation of Space Futures Command6103is paused. Second, further activations of service components are6104paused. Third, the USSF has paused the declaration of full operational6105capability for the Officer Training Course. The USSF continues to6106consult with Secretary Meink on these efforts.6107                                 ______61086109             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. MOYLAN6110    Mr. Moylan. What investments are being made to grow and sustain a6111Space Force presence in Guam, and what role does the Indo-Pacific6112theater play in Guardian talent development and operational training?6113    General Saltzman. USSF has $13M in FY25 funding to replace a6114narrowband antenna on Guam that was lost during Typhoon Mawar.6115Additionally, there are several investments through classified6116acquisition programs that we can provide in a closed setting. The Space6117Force is focused on training and force development activities that6118prepare our Guardians for the Indo-Pacific theater. Exercises such as6119the Valiant Shield, Resolute Space, and Bamboo Eagle and our own6120service training like Flashpoint and the crew Space Force Generation6121construct provide intense threat-based training and force development6122opportunities designed to give our young Guardians the experience6123needed for a potential fight in space in the Indo-Pacific region.6124                                 ______61256126              RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. DAVIS6127    Mr. Davis. To solve both a potential capability gap as bases like6128Selfridge transition to new platforms while bringing on -229 F-15Es at6129Seymour Johnson Air Force Base from RAF Lakenheath, would the Air Force6130consider transferring the excess -220 aircraft at Seymour once the -6131229s come to Seymour to Guard or Reserve units that are losing their6132fighter missions? Doing so not only solves the problems of two reserve6133component squadrons losing their aircraft but also keeps two highly6134capable squadrons in the total force.6135    General Allvin. The F-15E Block-10 aircraft the Air Force plans to6136divest are the oldest, least capable portion of the F-15E Fleet. Most6137of these aircraft are beyond their usable service life and their6138aircraft availability rate of 49% is among the lowest in the DAF6139fighter enterprise. The approximate $3.2B needed to modernize these6140aircraft is better used to procure new advanced capabilities such as6141the F-35A, the F-15EX, and the F-47.6142    Mr. Davis. To address the alarmingly low 55 percent mission-capable6143rate for F-15Es, would the Air Force support Congress adjusting the6144mission readiness formula to reduce the Ready Aircrew Program so we can6145prioritize repairs and depot maintenance?6146    General Allvin. The Air Force advocates for stable, consistent, and6147enduring resourcing, as included in the President's Budget, for both6148the Flying Hour (FHP) and Weapon System Sustainment (WSS) programs to6149address the F-15E mission-capable rate issue. The Ready Aircrew Program6150(RAP) and WSS are both critical and interconnected levers for6151generating and preserving readiness. Reducing one to bolster the other6152is a suboptimal approach that will not translate to increased long-term6153readiness across the enterprise.6154    Mr. Davis. Can you confirm for me that all F-15Es have, or are6155receiving, APG-82 active electronically scanned array radars and that6156these are the most advanced radars currently in operation, along with6157other avionics upgrades, including the APG-82, that total approximately6158$13 million per aircraft?6159    General Allvin. Out of the 217 F-15E aircraft, 211 have been6160modified with the APG-82 radar. The installation plan was aligned to6161the Air Force's Future Force Structure and is complete with the 2116162aircraft. The APG-82 is one of the most advanced Active Electronically6163Scanned Array (AESA) radars ever installed in a fighter aircraft and6164the most advanced radar ever installed in an F-15.6165    Mr. Davis. Where on the funding curve is there the greatest return6166on investment from prioritizing spare parts over flying hours, and how6167can Congress optimize the maintenance formula?6168    General Allvin. Congress can optimize Weapon System Sustainment6169(WSS) by providing stable, consistent, and enduring resourcing included6170in the President's Budget. Long-term funding stability, especially for6171spare parts, clearly signals our requirements to the Defense Industrial6172Base (DIB), offering greater opportunity to achieve those requirements.6173This can enable long-term return on investment within the sustainment6174portfolio.6175    Mr. Davis. What is the plan to adapt Seymour Johnson's training6176mission for an F-15EX schoolhouse, and do you agree that an effective6177schoolhouse is only maximally effective with F-15EXs physically present6178on base, since otherwise airmen would not get exposure to the new6179EPAWWS system and other capabilities unique to the upgraded aircraft?6180    General Allvin. The F-15 formal training unit (FTU) utilizes a6181common syllabus for the F-15C, F-15E, and F-15EX. The combined fleet6182size does not currently support the F-15EX at the schoolhouse, which6183would slow the fielding of combat capability to operational squadrons.6184There is a differences trainer that teaches the new capabilities of the6185F-15EX, which is completed partly at the schoolhouse and partly at the6186operational unit. The syllabus identifies several sorties to fly solo6187(pilot only) for pilots that have been identified as going to F-15EX.6188Additionally, the USAF plans to place F-15EX simulators at Seymour6189Johnson to teach F-15EX unique capabilities and avionics. EPAWSS is6190being fielded to the F-15E, and students graduating to both F-15E/EX6191will receive EPAWSS training in mission qualification training at their6192first operational unit.6193    Mr. Davis. To solve both a potential capability gap as bases like6194Selfridge transition to new platforms while bringing on -229 F-15Es at6195Seymour Johnson Air Force Base from RAF Lakenheath, would the Air Force6196consider transferring the excess -220 aircraft at Seymour once the -6197229s come to Seymour to Guard or Reserve units that are losing their6198fighter missions? Doing so not only solves the problems of two reserve6199component squadrons losing their aircraft but also keeps two highly6200capable squadrons in the total force.6201    Dr. Meink. The F-15E Block-10 aircraft the Air Force plans to6202divest are the oldest, least capable portion of the F-15E Fleet. Most6203of these aircraft are beyond their usable service life and their6204aircraft availability rate of 49% is among the lowest in the DAF6205fighter enterprise. The approximate $3.2B needed to modernize these6206aircraft is better used to procure new advanced capabilities like the6207F-35A, the F-15EX, and the F-47.6208    Mr. Davis. To address the alarmingly low 55 percent mission-capable6209rate for F-15Es, would the Air Force support Congress adjusting the6210mission readiness formula to reduce the Ready Aircrew Program so we can6211prioritize repairs and depot maintenance?6212    Dr. Meink. The Air Force advocates for stable, consistent, and6213enduring resourcing for both the Flying Hour (FHP) and Weapon System6214Sustainment (WSS) programs, as included in the President's Budget, to6215address the F-15E mission-capable rate issue. The Ready Aircrew Program6216(RAP) and WSS are both critical and interconnected levers for6217generating and preserving readiness. Reducing one to bolster the other6218is a suboptimal approach that will not translate to increased long-term6219readiness across the enterprise.6220    Mr. Davis. Can you confirm for me that all F-15Es have, or are6221receiving, APG-82 active electronically scanned array radars and that6222these are the most advanced radars currently in operation, along with6223other avionics upgrades, including the APG-82, that total approximately6224$13 million per aircraft?6225    Dr. Meink. Out of the 217 F-15E aircraft, 211 have been modified6226with the APG-82 radar. The installation plan was aligned to the Air6227Force's Future Force Structure and is complete with the 211 aircraft.6228The APG-82 is one of the most advanced active electronically scanned6229array (AESA) radars ever installed in a fighter aircraft and the most6230advanced radar ever installed in an F-15.6231    Mr. Davis. Where on the funding curve is there the greatest return6232on investment from prioritizing spare parts over flying hours, and how6233can Congress optimize the maintenance formula?6234    Dr. Meink. Congress can optimize Weapon System Sustainment (WSS) by6235providing stable, consistent, and enduring resourcing as requested,6236balanced with the required readiness activities generated by the Flying6237Hour Program (FHP). Long-term funding stability, especially for spare6238parts, clearly signals our requirements to the Defense Industrial Base,6239offering greater opportunity to achieve those requirements. This can6240enable long-term return on investment within the sustainment portfolio.6241    Mr. Davis. What is the plan to adapt Seymour Johnson's training6242mission for an F-15EX schoolhouse, and do you agree that an effective6243schoolhouse is only maximally effective with F-15EXs physically present6244on base, since otherwise airmen would not get exposure to the new6245EPAWWS system and other capabilities unique to the upgraded aircraft?6246    Dr. Meink. The F-15 formal training unit (FTU) utilizes a common6247syllabus for the F-15C, F-15E, and F-15EX. The combined fleet size does6248not currently support F-15EX aircraft to be located at the schoolhouse,6249which would slow the fielding of combat capability to operational6250squadrons. There is a differences trainer that teaches the new6251capabilities of the F-15EX, which is completed partly at the6252schoolhouse and partly at the operational unit. The syllabus identifies6253several sorties to fly solo (pilot only) for pilots that have been6254identified as going to F-15EX. Additionally, the USAF plans to place F-625515EX simulators at Seymour Johnson to teach F-15EX unique capabilities6256and avionics. EPAWSS is being fielded to the F-15E, and students6257graduating to both F-15E/EX will receive EPAWSS training in mission6258qualification training at their first operational unit.6259                                 ______62606261             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. GOODEN6262    Mr. Gooden. The 149th Fighter Wing in Texas is comprised of pre-6263block F16s, which are due to be retired no later than 2028. Currently,6264there are no aircraft forecasted for fielding to replace them, causing6265a strategic capability gap and potential loss of experienced personnel6266upwards of 7 years. What security risks are created through the failure6267to program replacement fighters in the reserve component before6268divestiture?6269    General Allvin. The DAF has no plans to retire the formal training6270unit F-16s at the 149 FW in 2028. The aircraft are a critical part of6271the F-16 formal training enterprise.6272    As outlined in the 2025 Sustainment and Recapitalization of the Air6273National Fighter Fleet Congressional Report delivered to Congress in6274March 2025, the 149 FW/182 FS is planned for recapitalization with F-166275Block 40 aircraft in FY31. The Block 40 F-16 is expected to remain in6276service into the 2040s.6277    Mr. Gooden. Considering that National Guard fighter wings currently6278conduct 94% of homeland defense and are 21% of the total Air Force6279fighter capability, they are only 6% of the Air Force budget, and RAND6280reports there is an almost 50% reduction in costs to maintain fighters6281in the national guard. This pre-mature divesture without a plan in6282place is a risk to our national security posture countering China and6283the American homeland. In the previous NDAA, we required the Air Force6284to develop a plan for fighter recapitalization while also authorizing6285substantial resources for the Air Force. Despite this, the Air Force6286has not created a plan to prevent this serious capability gap and6287backfill these units. Why are we divesting fighter units from the Air6288National Guard that provide cost savings to taxpayers, conduct homeland6289defense missions, and provide an avenue to help retain fighter pilots6290who no longer wish to serve in the active component? What are the6291forecasted costs associated with training entire new wings to replace6292these fighter squadrons, and will they be placed back in the National6293Guard to help decrease costs?6294    General Allvin. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) balances6295Active Duty and Air National Guard (ANG) fighter requirements through6296inputs from each service component, MAJCOM, and CCMD.6297    Aircraft sustainment along with new fighter procurement must be6298balanced throughout the budget process. The DAF prioritized recapping6299the ANG pre-block F-16 fleet with either upgraded F-16 B40 or B506300aircraft or the F-35.6301    Mr. Gooden. The 149th Fighter Wing in Texas is comprised of pre-6302block F16s, which are due to be retired no later than 2028. Currently,6303there are no aircraft forecasted for fielding to replace them, causing6304a strategic capability gap and potential loss of experienced personnel6305upwards of 7 years. What security risks are created through the failure6306to program replacement fighters in the reserve component before6307divestiture?6308    Dr. Meink. The DAF has no plans to retire the formal training unit6309F-16s at the 149 FW in 2028. The aircraft are a critical part of the F-631016 formal training enterprise.6311    As outlined in the 2025 Sustainment and Recapitalization of the Air6312National Fighter Fleet Congressional Report delivered to Congress in6313March 2025, the 149 FW/182 FS is planned for recapitalization with F-166314Block 40 aircraft in FY31. The Block 40 F-16 is expected to remain in6315service into the 2040s.6316    Mr. Gooden. Considering that National Guard fighter wings currently6317conduct 94% of homeland defense and are 21% of the total Air Force6318fighter capability, they are only 6% of the Air Force budget, and RAND6319reports there is an almost 50% reduction in costs to maintain fighters6320in the national guard. This pre-mature divesture without a plan in6321place is a risk to our national security posture countering China and6322the American homeland. In the previous NDAA, we required the Air Force6323to develop a plan for fighter recapitalization while also authorizing6324substantial resources for the Air Force. Despite this, the Air Force6325has not created a plan to prevent this serious capability gap and6326backfill these units. Why are we divesting fighter units from the Air6327National Guard that provide cost savings to taxpayers, conduct homeland6328defense missions, and provide an avenue to help retain fighter pilots6329who no longer wish to serve in the active component? What are the6330forecasted costs associated with training entire new wings to replace6331these fighter squadrons, and will they be placed back in the National6332Guard to help decrease costs?6333    Dr. Meink. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) has no plans to6334retire the formal training unit F-16s at the 149 FW in 2028. The6335aircraft are a critical part of the F-16 formal training enterprise.6336    HAF/A8 balances Active Duty and Air National Guard (ANG) fighter6337requirements through inputs from each service component, MAJCOM, and6338CCMD.6339    Aircraft sustainment along with new fighter procurement must be6340balanced throughout the budget process. The DAF prioritized recapping6341the ANG pre-block F-16 fleet with either upgraded F-16 B40 or B506342aircraft or the F-35.6343    Mr. Gooden. In response to the F-47 award, Lockheed Martin's6344proposal has been to create a new F-35 model that could compete for6345this award. Is the AF considering the viability of this proposal?6346    General Saltzman. On March 21, 2025, after a robust evaluation of6347proposals, the DAF awarded an Engineering and Manufacturing Development6348(EMD) contract, with competitively priced options for Low-Rate Initial6349Production (LRIP), to Boeing for the F-47 program. Additional EMD and6350LRIP proposals for F-47 are not being considered. The DAF is now6351focused on executing the EMD phase, and then the production phase, of6352the F-47 program. Additionally, the Air Force, DoD, and Lockheed Martin6353are focused on developing and delivering the next iteration of F-356354capabilities -- Block 4.6355                                 ______63566357           RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MS. GOODLANDER6358    Ms. Goodlander. Secretary Meink, New Hampshire is home to the Pease6359Air National Guard Base. The 157th Air Refueling Wing at Pease is6360currently the only Air National Guard Unit equipped with twelve KC-46A6361Pegasus Tankers, and is strategically located to support multiple6362combatant commands.6363    What is your position on supporting military construction ramp6364restoration projects at air bases like Pease to support the United6365States Transportation Command's current and future needs?6366    Dr. Meink. DAF resources projects to repair and rehabilitate6367airfield ramp infrastructure necessary to support the Nation's current6368and future requirements. Air bases like Pease Air National Guard Base6369are critically important to the flexibility required to execute6370logistical operations of combatant commands. Programming of military6371construction requirements to support air bases is managed through an6372annual, detailed prioritization process matched against Departmental6373guidance. In the case of Pease ANGB, there is currently airfield ramp6374capacity that is excess to the requirement for the 12 ANG KC-466375aircraft.6376    Ms. Goodlander. General Saltzman, over the past few years, there6377have been concerning reports about potential risks to the resiliency of6378our defense infrastructure and military installations, including those6379associated with extreme weather, encroachment from shell company6380developers, and adversary attacks on the energy grid, for example.6381    My home state of New Hampshire hosts the New Boston Space Force6382Station in Hillsborough County. This station provides critical, around-6383the-clock satellite command and control capabilities for the United6384States and its allies. It also supports the nation's GPS system,6385serving millions of Americans every day.6386    What is the Space Force doing to ensure our infrastructure6387installations like the New Boston Space Force Station are protected6388from potential vulnerabilities?6389    General Saltzman. The Space Force's ability to conduct critical 24/63907 operations from our home stations relies on resilient installation6391systems and infrastructure. We maintain resilient energy and water6392through a comprehensive approach to security, multi-source system6393redundancy, and risk management to ensure our systems remain6394operationally capable across the entire spectrum of conflict. Guardians6395train to ensure mission continuity by identifying utility disruptions,6396ensuring their systems seamlessly transfer to backup power, and6397implementing procedures to return to main power as appropriate. We also6398have Field mission-continuity exercises at the command-level-similar to6399Department of the Air Force-level Energy Resilience Readiness Exercise6400(ERREs)-and we intend to exercise utility disruptions to ensure6401operators identify their shortfalls, are prepared to survive first6402contact, and grow confidence in their weapon system infrastructure6403(WSI).6404                                 ______64056406             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MS. ELFRETH6407    Ms. Elfreth. My understanding is that a Site Survey conducted in6408June 2023 assessed that facilities at the 175th Wing, Martin State6409Airport, Maryland are completely suitable to receive C-130J aircraft.6410Why has the Air Force made the decision to close a flying unit given6411the current shortage of pilots and maintainers across the Air Force and6412not capitalize on existing personnel and infrastructure ready to accept6413a C-130J mission?6414    General Allvin. All of the C-130J aircraft programmed for the Air6415National Guard (ANG) already have basing assignments. In FY14, the6416175th Wing was offered the option to recapitalize with a C-130 mission.6417The offer was declined and instead the unit maintained the A-10 mission6418until the 2025 transition to a Cyberspace Wing.6419    Warfield ANG Base is ideally situated to transition to a Cyberspace6420Operations Wing due to the inherent capabilities in the current cyber6421mission and its proximity to the National Capital Region. Warfield's6422access to a highly qualified and technical workforce, combined with the6423unique cyber expertise already resident at the 175th Wing, allows the6424Air Force to leverage this operational advantage vital to our homeland6425defense.6426    Ms. Elfreth. My understanding is that a Site Survey conducted in6427June 2023 assessed that facilities at the 175th Wing, Martin State6428Airport, Maryland are completely suitable to receive C-130J aircraft.6429Why has the Air Force made the decision to close a flying unit given6430the current shortage of pilots and maintainers across the Air Force and6431not capitalize on existing personnel and infrastructure ready to accept6432a C-130J mission?6433    Dr. Meink. All of the C-130J aircraft programmed for the Air6434National Guard (ANG) already have basing assignments. In FY14, the6435175th Wing was offered the option to recapitalize with a C-130 mission.6436The offer was declined and instead the unit maintained the A-10 mission6437until the 2025 transition to a Cyberspace Wing.6438    Warfield ANG Base is ideally situated to transition to a Cyberspace6439Operations Wing due to the inherent capabilities in the current cyber6440mission and its proximity to the National Capital Region. Warfield's6441access to a highly qualified and technical workforce, combined with the6442unique cyber expertise already resident at the 175th Wing, allows the6443Air Force to leverage this operational advantage vital to our homeland6444defense.6445                                 ______64466447             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. MCGUIRE6448    Mr. McGuire. Secretary Meink, the Air Force continues to prioritize6449modernization across its missile enterprise, including next-generation6450missile propulsion, advanced tactical and air defense systems, space6451launch, and nuclear modernization, all of which depend on solid rocket6452motors. Concerns have been voiced about the domestic supply chain and6453increasing domestic demand signals for these critical Air Force needs.6454    How is the Air Force working to ensure a stable and competitive6455domestic supply of solid rocket motors to meet program requirements, to6456include addressing current industrial base constraints and production6457bottlenecks?6458    Has the Air Force considered supporting a campus-style solid rocket6459motor production model that would leverage proven private-sector6460expertise, co-located manufacturing, and commercial capital to rapidly6461scale capacity?6462    Dr. Meink. The Air Force is partnering with industry, academia, and6463DoD stakeholders to ensure a robust, resilient, responsive, and6464competitive domestic solid rocket motors (SRM) industrial base that can6465meet the current and future needs of the Nation's defense. We are6466investing in expanding and modernizing domestic SRM production6467facilities to include infrastructure upgrades at our existing6468government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) facilities and investments6469in advanced manufacturing technologies. The Air Force is committed to6470working with DoD and SRM industry partners to review existing6471acquisition processes and explore all opportunities to expand the6472number of qualified sources for key SRM components and systems.6473    Mr. McGuire. General Saltzman, President Trump's Golden Dome6474executive order calls for the "development and deployment of non-6475kinetic capabilities to augment the kinetic defeat of advanced cruise6476missiles." Some of these capabilities include lasers and particle-beam6477weapons, technologies that require a large amount of power to operate.6478    I'd expect the Space Force to fully explore deploying these6479capabilities into the interceptor architecture. Since I've entered6480Congress, I've been a big proponent of deploying advanced nuclear6481reactor technology like small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro nuclear6482reactors (MNRs) on orbit. Nuclear energy has 1,000 times the power6483density of solar and will power not just lasers, but our communications6484and data collections as well.6485    General Saltzman, is the Space Force looking into the adoption of6486nuclear technology into our next-gen space architecture?6487    General Saltzman. On January 27, 2025, President Trump signed6488Executive Order 14186, directing the Secretary of Defense to plan,6489develop, and deploy a next-generation missile defense shield. To6490fulfill this mission, the DoD is developing the Golden Dome for6491America, which will provide technologically advanced capabilities to6492defend the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise6493missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near-6494peer, and rogue adversaries. The DAF is awaiting further guidance from6495OSD and looks forward to supporting this important effort.6496                                 ______64976498             RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MR. HAMADEH6499    Mr. Hamadeh. Luke Air Force Base Importance As I previously6500mentioned in my questioning, we received notice that Luke Air Force6501Base was being downgraded in command from 1 Star General to Colonel. As6502you are well aware, Luke Air Force Base trains 75% of all F-35 pilots6503and is the world's largest fighter wing. While it is more common for6504colonels to command training, Luke's 1 Star General command is of6505utmost importance for its structure, image, and location in the Western6506United States.6507    Question 1: May this considered downgrade of Luke AFB be due to its6508mission realignment to training F-35 pilots?6509    General Allvin. Thank you for your continued interest in Luke Air6510Force Base (AFB) and the 56th Fighter Wing. We deeply appreciate your6511advocacy and commitment to our Airmen.6512    Currently, the Air Force is adhering to the Secretary of Defense's6513directive to temporarily pause all planning related to any potential6514wing restructuring. Luke AFB and the mission of the 56th Fighter Wing6515are extremely valuable to the Air Force, and we believe our foreign6516partners share this sentiment. While the rank of the individual leading6517the base is important, we also believe the true value lies in the6518quality of our instructor pilots and ensuring our students are trained6519by the best pilots in the world. We are committed to maintaining this6520exceptional quality at Luke AFB and will ensure any decision made in6521the future will not lower our standards.6522    We will certainly keep you updated as this process advances and6523decisions are finalized.6524    Mr. Hamadeh. As I previously mentioned in my questioning, we6525received notice that Luke Air Force Base was being downgraded in6526command from 1 Star General to Colonel. As you are well aware, Luke Air6527Force Base trains 75% of all F-35 pilots and is the world's largest6528fighter wing. While it is more common for colonels to command training,6529Luke's 1 Star General command is of utmost importance for its6530structure, image, and location in the Western United States.6531    Question 2: Could you provide a report of the monetary effects,6532spending-wise, that this possible downgrade would create?6533    General Allvin. The Air Force is adhering to the Secretary of6534Defense's directive to temporarily pause all planning related to any6535potential wing restructuring. We are also complying with the Secretary6536of Defense's ongoing review of General Officer positions throughout the6537Department of Defense.6538    We are not tracking any spending implications or monetary effects,6539and we will keep you updated as this process advances and decisions are6540finalized. Your continued support is invaluable, and we look forward to6541engaging with you further once the review is complete.6542    Mr. Hamadeh. Luke Air Force Base Security While many of my6543colleagues in Congress have raised concerns about the new threat of6544drone technology, many have neglected to comment on China's influence6545and land purchases near key United States military bases. Majority6546Leader Janae Shamp of the Arizona State Senate has raised awareness of6547China's attempts to purchase land near Glendale, Arizona near Luke Air6548Force Base. Only three days ago, our Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs6549vetoed legislation that would bar Chinese companies from making land6550purchases so close to Arizona's vital military bases.6551    Question 1: In light of this action by Governor Katie Hobbs, can6552you provide what plans the Air Force has to secure its bases from6553Chinese espionage, given the People's Republic of China's apparent6554ability to purchase land nearby?6555    General Allvin. In April 2024, the joint memo "Elevating Foreign6556Investment Risk Concerns Near DAF Installations and Assets" was co-6557signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy,6558Installations, and Environment (SAF/IE) and the Assistant Secretary of6559the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SAF/AQ). The6560memo was distributed to commanders of all Major Commands, Field6561Commands, and Department of the Air Force (DAF) installations. The memo6562directed all DAF stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the tools6563and mechanisms available to elevate foreign investment concerns to the6564appropriate DAF chain of command.6565    Because DAF does not oversee private land transactions,6566installation leaders must foster an open and inclusive relationship6567with community stakeholders to identify and elevate foreign investment6568concerns as early as possible. Installation Commanders should work with6569local leaders and the local Air Force Office of Special Investigations6570to assess if there is a threat to their mission and develop a6571mitigation plan, if required.6572    Depending on the risk posed by foreign investment or ownership,6573there are different paths to address and mitigate risk. One of the6574paths that may be available is a review by the Committee on Foreign6575Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Installations should also be6576aware that the CFIUS process limits what can be shared regarding active6577investigations. Public disclosure of information filed with CFIUS is6578prohibited.6579    Mr. Hamadeh. While many of my colleagues in Congress have raised6580concerns about the new threat of drone technology, many have neglected6581to comment on China's influence and land purchases near key United6582States military bases. Majority Leader Janae Shamp of the Arizona State6583Senate has raised awareness of China's attempts to purchase land near6584Glendale, Arizona near Luke Air Force Base. Only three days ago, our6585Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation that would bar Chinese6586companies from making land purchases so close to Arizona's vital6587military bases.6588    Question 2: What are the National Security risks of allowing China6589to purchase land near our military installations, including, but not6590limited to, those which train fighter pilots like Luke Air Force Base?6591    General Allvin. The Department of the Air Force's (DAF) Foreign6592Investment Assessment Playbook references guidance from the National6593Counterintelligence and Security Center states, "In partnering with any6594foreign entity, U.S. state and local leaders should exercise vigilance,6595conduct due diligence, and ensure transparency, integrity, and6596accountability are built into the partnership to guard against6597potential foreign government exploitation." Foreign proximity to6598certain installations may provide opportunity to observe or collect6599information on Tactics & Training Procedures, and other activities such6600as schedules, personnel, equipment, or any changes to DAF6601installations.6602    Mr. Hamadeh. While many of my colleagues in Congress have raised6603concerns about the new threat of drone technology, many have neglected6604to comment on China's influence and land purchases near key United6605States military bases. Majority Leader Janae Shamp of the Arizona State6606Senate has raised awareness of China's attempts to purchase land near6607Glendale, Arizona near Luke Air Force Base. Only three days ago, our6608Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation that would bar Chinese6609companies from making land purchases so close to Arizona's vital6610military bases.6611    Question 3: Will you follow up with the extraneous materials and6612briefings that were committed to during the hearing, such as a briefing6613for the Arizona delegation?6614    General Allvin. Yes, the Department of the Air Force commits to6615following up with a briefing for the Arizona delegation.6616    Mr. Hamadeh. Luke Air Force Base Importance As I previously6617mentioned in my questioning, we received notice that Luke Air Force6618Base was being downgraded in command from 1 Star General to Colonel. As6619you are well aware, Luke Air Force Base trains 75% of all F-35 pilots6620and is the world's largest fighter wing. While it is more common for6621colonels to command training, Luke's 1 Star General command is of6622utmost importance for its structure, image, and location in the Western6623United States.6624    Question 1: May this considered downgrade of Luke AFB be due to its6625mission realignment to training F-35 pilots?6626    Dr. Meink. Currently, the Air Force is adhering to the Secretary of6627Defense's directive to temporarily pause all planning related to any6628potential wing restructuring. Luke Air Force Base (AFB) and the mission6629of the 56th Fighter Wing are extremely valuable to the Air Force, and6630we believe our foreign partners share this sentiment. While the rank of6631the individual leading the base is important, we also believe the true6632value lies in the quality of our instructor pilots and ensuring our6633students are trained by the best pilots in the world. We are committed6634to maintaining this exceptional quality at Luke AFB and will ensure any6635decision made in the future will not lower our standards.6636    Mr. Hamadeh. As I previously mentioned in my questioning, we6637received notice that Luke Air Force Base was being downgraded in6638command from 1 Star General to Colonel. As you are well aware, Luke Air6639Force Base trains 75% of all F-35 pilots and is the world's largest6640fighter wing. While it is more common for colonels to command training,6641Luke's 1 Star General command is of utmost importance for its6642structure, image, and location in the Western United States.6643    Question 2: Could you provide a report of the monetary effects,6644spending-wise, that this possible downgrade would create?6645    Dr. Meink. The Air Force is adhering to the Secretary of Defense's6646directive to temporarily pause all planning related to any potential6647wing restructuring. We are also complying with the Secretary of6648Defense's ongoing review of General Officer positions throughout the6649Department of Defense.6650    We are not tracking any spending implications or monetary effects,6651and we will keep you updated as this process advances and decisions are6652finalized. Your continued support is invaluable, and we look forward to6653engaging with you further once the review is complete.6654    Mr. Hamadeh. Luke Air Force Base Security While many of my6655colleagues in Congress have raised concerns about the new threat of6656drone technology, many have neglected to comment on China's influence6657and land purchases near key United States military bases. Majority6658Leader Janae Shamp of the Arizona State Senate has raised awareness of6659China's attempts to purchase land near Glendale, Arizona near Luke Air6660Force Base. Only three days ago, our Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs6661vetoed legislation that would bar Chinese companies from making land6662purchases so close to Arizona's vital military bases.6663    Question 1: In light of this action by Governor Katie Hobbs, can6664you provide what plans the Air Force has to secure its bases from6665Chinese espionage, given the People's Republic of China's apparent6666ability to purchase land nearby?6667    Dr. Meink. In April of 2024 the joint memo "Elevating Foreign6668Investment Risk Concerns Near DAF Installations and Assets" was co-6669signed by the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy,6670Installations, and Environment (SAF/IE) and the Assistant Secretary of6671the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SAF/AQ). The6672memo was distributed to commanders of all Major Commands, Field6673Commands, and DAF installations. The memo directed all DAF stakeholders6674to familiarize themselves with the tools and mechanisms available to6675elevate foreign investment concerns to the appropriate DAF chain of6676command.6677    Because the DAF does not oversee private land transactions,6678installation leaders must foster an open and inclusive relationship6679with community stakeholders to identify and elevate foreign investment6680concerns as early as possible. Installation Commanders should work with6681local leaders and the local Air Force Office of Special Investigations6682to assess if there is a threat to their mission and develop a6683mitigation plan, if required.6684    Depending on the risk posed by foreign investment or ownership,6685there are different paths to address and mitigate risk. One of the6686paths that may be available is review by the Committee on Foreign6687Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Installations should also be6688aware that the CFIUS process limits what can be shared regarding active6689investigations. Public disclosure of information filed with CFIUS is6690prohibited.6691    Mr. Hamadeh. While many of my colleagues in Congress have raised6692concerns about the new threat of drone technology, many have neglected6693to comment on China's influence and land purchases near key United6694States military bases. Majority Leader Janae Shamp of the Arizona State6695Senate has raised awareness of China's attempts to purchase land near6696Glendale, Arizona near Luke Air Force Base. Only three days ago, our6697Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation that would bar Chinese6698companies from making land purchases so close to Arizona's vital6699military bases.6700    Question 2: What are the National Security risks of allowing China6701to purchase land near our military installations, including, but not6702limited to, those which train fighter pilots like Luke Air Force Base?6703    Dr. Meink. The Department of the Air Force's (DAF) Foreign6704Investment Assessment Playbook references guidance from the National6705Counterintelligence and Security Center states, "In partnering with any6706foreign entity, U.S. state and local leaders should exercise vigilance,6707conduct due diligence, and ensure transparency, integrity, and6708accountability are built into the partnership to guard against6709potential foreign government exploitation." Foreign proximity to6710certain installations may provide opportunity to observe or collect6711information on Tactics & Training Procedures, and other activities such6712as schedules, personnel, equipment, or any changes to DAF6713installations.6714    Mr. Hamadeh. While many of my colleagues in Congress have raised6715concerns about the new threat of drone technology, many have neglected6716to comment on China's influence and land purchases near key United6717States military bases. Majority Leader Janae Shamp of the Arizona State6718Senate has raised awareness of China's attempts to purchase land near6719Glendale, Arizona near Luke Air Force Base. Only three days ago, our6720Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation that would bar Chinese6721companies from making land purchases so close to Arizona's vital6722military bases.6723    Question 3: Will you follow up with the extraneous materials and6724briefings that were committed to during the hearing, such as a briefing6725for the Arizona delegation?6726    Dr. Meink. Yes, the Department of the Air Force commits to6727following up with a briefing for the Arizona delegation.6728    Mr. Hamadeh. Luke Air Force Base Importance As I previously6729mentioned in my questioning, we received notice that Luke Air Force6730Base was being downgraded in command from 1 Star General to Colonel. As6731you are well aware, Luke Air Force Base trains 75% of all F-35 pilots6732and is the world's largest fighter wing. While it is more common for6733colonels to command training, Luke's 1 Star General command is of6734utmost importance for its structure, image, and location in the Western6735United States.6736    Question 1: May this considered downgrade of Luke AFB be due to its6737mission realignment to training F-35 pilots?6738    General Saltzman. I will defer to SecAF and CSAF to respond to this6739question.6740    SecAF answered this in question 111. CSAF answered this in question6741106.6742    Mr. Hamadeh. As I previously mentioned in my questioning, we6743received notice that Luke Air Force Base was being downgraded in6744command from 1 Star General to Colonel. As you are well aware, Luke Air6745Force Base trains 75% of all F-35 pilots and is the world's largest6746fighter wing. While it is more common for colonels to command training,6747Luke's 1 Star General command is of utmost importance for its6748structure, image, and location in the Western United States.6749    Question 2: Could you provide a report of the monetary effects,6750spending-wise, that this possible downgrade would create?6751    General Saltzman. I will defer to SecAF and CSAF to respond to this6752question.6753    SecAF answered this in question 112. CSAF answered this in question6754107.6755    Mr. Hamadeh. Luke Air Force Base Security While many of my6756colleagues in Congress have raised concerns about the new threat of6757drone technology, many have neglected to comment on China's influence6758and land purchases near key United States military bases. Majority6759Leader Janae Shamp of the Arizona State Senate has raised awareness of6760China's attempts to purchase land near Glendale, Arizona near Luke Air6761Force Base. Only three days ago, our Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs6762vetoed legislation that would bar Chinese companies from making land6763purchases so close to Arizona's vital military bases.6764    Question 1: In light of this action by Governor Katie Hobbs, can6765you provide what plans the Air Force has to secure its bases from6766Chinese espionage, given the People's Republic of China's apparent6767ability to purchase land nearby?6768    General Saltzman. I will defer to SecAF to answer this question:6769    Sec Meink Response:6770    In April of 2024 the joint memo "Elevating Foreign Investment Risk6771Concerns Near DAF Installations and Assets" was co-signed by the6772Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and6773Environment (SAF/IE) and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for6774Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SAF/AQ). The memo was6775distributed to commanders of all Major Commands, Field Commands, and6776Department of the Air Force (DAF) installations. The memo directed all6777DAF stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the tools and6778mechanisms available to elevate foreign investment concerns to the6779appropriate DAF chain of command.6780    Because the DAF does not oversee private land transactions,6781installation leaders must foster an open and inclusive relationship6782with community stakeholders to identify and elevate foreign investment6783concerns as early as possible. Installation Commanders should work with6784local leaders and the local Air Force Office of Special Investigations6785to assess if there is a threat to their mission and develop a6786mitigation plan, if required.6787    Depending on the risk posed by foreign investment or ownership,6788there are different paths to address and mitigate risk. One of the6789paths that may be available is a review by the Committee on Foreign6790Investment in the United States (CFIUS). Installations should also be6791aware that the CFIUS process limits what can be shared regarding active6792investigations. Public disclosure of information filed with CFIUS is6793prohibited.6794    Mr. Hamadeh. While many of my colleagues in Congress have raised6795concerns about the new threat of drone technology, many have neglected6796to comment on China's influence and land purchases near key United6797States military bases. Majority Leader Janae Shamp of the Arizona State6798Senate has raised awareness of China's attempts to purchase land near6799Glendale, Arizona near Luke Air Force Base. Only three days ago, our6800Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation that would bar Chinese6801companies from making land purchases so close to Arizona's vital6802military bases.6803    Question 2: What are the National Security risks of allowing China6804to purchase land near our military installations, including, but not6805limited to, those which train fighter pilots like Luke Air Force Base?6806    General Saltzman. I will defer to SecAF to answer this question:6807    Secretary Meink response:6808    The Department of the Air Force's (DAF) Foreign Investment6809Assessment Playbook references guidance from the National6810Counterintelligence and Security Center that states, "In partnering6811with any foreign entity, U.S. state and local leaders should exercise6812vigilance, conduct due diligence, and ensure transparency, integrity,6813and accountability are built into the partnership to guard against6814potential foreign government exploitation." Foreign proximity to6815certain installations may provide the opportunity to observe or collect6816information on Tactics & Training Procedures and other activities such6817as schedules, personnel, equipment, or any changes to DAF6818installations.6819    Mr. Hamadeh. While many of my colleagues in Congress have raised6820concerns about the new threat of drone technology, many have neglected6821to comment on China's influence and land purchases near key United6822States military bases. Majority Leader Janae Shamp of the Arizona State6823Senate has raised awareness of China's attempts to purchase land near6824Glendale, Arizona near Luke Air Force Base. Only three days ago, our6825Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation that would bar Chinese6826companies from making land purchases so close to Arizona's vital6827military bases.6828    Question 3: Will you follow up with the extraneous materials and6829briefings that were committed to during the hearing, such as a briefing6830for the Arizona delegation?6831    General Saltzman. Yes, the DAF commits to following up with a6832briefing for the Arizona delegation.68336834                                  [all]