Air Force Needs to Recapitalize, Replace Equipment

US Air Force, WASHINGTON: With the combination of aging and heavily used equipment, the Air Force needs recapitalization across the board, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne said. 
 
In past discussions about Air Force recapitalization, aircraft usually took center stage. Although aircraft still need to be recapitalized, there has been a shift. 
 
“The Air Force recapitalization program is not focused simply on aircraft,” Secretary Wynne said. “Where we know we have advanced technologies, we want to introduce them; where we know we have emerging missions, we want to satisfy them.” 
 
One emerging mission will be an increase in intelligence gathering using unmanned aerial vehicles and space assets. 
 
“We need more UAVs and we need (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) platforms in space because this is really where the decision making starts,” he said. 
 
All Air Force recapitalization efforts must be data driven. The secretary wants Airmen and acquisition entities enabled to take aggressive action and be accountable for those actions. 
 
“We need to have data to make our investment decisions,” he said. “I need to provide them the kind of information that they can make credible decisions on.” 
 
The F-22A Raptor, C-17 Globemaster III and C-130J Hercules have brought more reliability to the fight and probably a future decline in maintenance activities, Secretary Wynne said. 
 
“I'm finding out that the C-17 requires far fewer maintenance hours, and the F-22A is probably 40 percent more reliable,” he said. “So (these better reliability rates) are leading us to a re-evaluation of how we do operations throughout the process. 
 
“All this is about continuing to introduce innovation,” Secretary Wynne said. “It will change the Air Force character without a doubt. But that's what we do. We as Airmen like to push technology and change our mission over time.”