DefenceTalkThis report seeks to inform the debate over the extent of U.S. military presence overseas by providing a rigorous estimate of the costs associated with maintaining U.S. Air Force installations and units overseas rather than in the United States. The authors describe the various types of expenditures required to maintain bases and military units overseas […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cost-analysis-of-the-us-air-force-overseas-posture-49092/

DefenceTalkIndia’s biggest defence project in the making, the critical joint development of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) with Russia, has flown into some rough weather. Defence ministry sources said the inking of the final design and R&D contract for the stealth fighter has been hit by a huge delay, with Russia also jacking up costs […]https://www.defencetalk.com/5th-generation-fighter-plan-hits-hurdle-as-russia-hikes-cost-48458/

DefenceTalkIndications are that the F-35 joint strike fighter program — the most expensive aviation program in Defense Department history — is on track, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics told a Senate panel here June 19. Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee this morning, Frank Kendall said the F-35 will […]https://www.defencetalk.com/joint-strike-fighter-on-track-costs-coming-down-kendall-says-48171/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force announced today it expects to declare F-35A Lightning II initial operation capability in December 2016. The announcement was included in a joint report detailing service-specific IOC requirements and dates for each of the F-35 variants that was delivered to Congress today. “The Air Force has spent the last six months looking at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-establishes-f-35-ioc-target-47997/

DefenceTalkAffordability remains the priority for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter, the Pentagon’s program executive officer for the Defense Department’s most expensive procurement told Congress yesterday. Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan told the Senate Armed Services Committee’s airland subcommittee that the program has made progress, but he acknowledged it is enormously complicated […]https://www.defencetalk.com/affordability-remains-priority-for-joint-strike-fighter-program-47608/

DefenceTalkThe Iraq and Afghanistan wars will cost the United States between $4-6 trillion in the long term, constraining the government’s budget for decades to come, a study said. Harvard University scholar Linda Bilmes concluded that the United States will face increasing costs to care for an estimated 2.5 million veterans, and to pay down debt […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iraq-afghan-wars-to-cost-us-up-to-6-trillion-study-47307/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force has increased planned life-cycle flying hours and aircrews assigned to the new KC-46A refueling tanker to make optimal use of the commercially-proven aircraft’s fuel efficiency, cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. Compared to the Eisenhower-era KC-135 Stratotanker, the KC-46 is projected to have improved fuel efficiency, a greater fuel capacity, and much more […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-increases-projected-kc-46-flying-hours-crew-ratio-46670/