PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – To fight China, Air Force must grow, even at ‘expense’ of other services not as well suited to the challenge, according to Air Force Chief of Staff.
David Allvin took the unusual step of directly contrasting the capabilities of his service against those of the other military branches, as part of his argument that the Air Force is better equipped to lead in a conflict in the Indo-Pacific.
He also said an eight percent reallocation of the DoD’s budget is an opportunity to “break out of the inertia” that has dominated military budgeting in the past, with the clear implication that the Air Force could grab a greater share of spending as a result.
Asked specifically if the threat environment means the Air Force needs to be prioritized, even if that must come at the expense of other services, Allvin replied, “That would be my case.”
The goal “is not for the Air Force to grow at the expense of others necessarily,” Allvin said. But “That may be the outcome.”
A senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute said, “I think what we’re seeing with Allvin’s public comments and some of the comments from the other services as well, is that the knives are out.”
FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories ending the week from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.
Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEFING – the PDB:
NATIONAL SECURITY
Far more powerful B61-13 guided nuclear bomb joins U.S. stockpile a year ahead of schedule. It will hold hardened targets, such as underground command and control facilities, and ones spread across physically larger areas, at risk.
How to ensure Trump’s Golden Dome effort succeeds. The only U.S. airspace now defended from cruise missile threats is a small portion of Washington, DC, and the entire country is increasingly vulnerable to conventional missile threats from China and Russia.
Nation needs a ‘security clearance ready reserve.’ Who gets to hold a security clearance? And more importantly, what happens to that eligibility when someone steps out of federal service?
HOMELAND SECURITY
POLITICS
A bipartisan chorus of House Armed Services Committee members expressed profound unease about the Trump administration’s management of the military’s cyber operations. (RELATED: Federal Case Against Congresswoman Revealed By Trump Ally)
US POWER OVERSEAS
U.S. and UAE ink agreement formalizing a “comprehensive U.S.-UAE Major Defense Partnership.”
U.S. criticism of IMF and World Bank: ‘New approach is a win for Africa.’ Trump’s stance may shake global finance, but his Bretton Woods conditions could aid Africa, says Cameroonian analyst.
RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR
President Trump tries to spur sputtering Ukraine-Russia peace talks with flurry of calls. Russia and Ukraine “will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War,” Trump said. (RELATED: Trump Says Peace Talks Are Ready To Begin)
Russia has followed Ukraine’s lead in adapting the propeller-driven Yak-52 training aircraft as an ad-hoc drone-killer. The Yak-52B2 includes a sensor turret to help detect long-range one-way attack drones and has a shotgun mounted under the wing for shooting them down.
IRAN THREAT/MIDEAST
INDIA-PAKISTAN CONFLICT
Conflict with India helped boost the Pakistan military’s domestic image.
SPACE THREAT
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
UK and European Union agree to post-Brexit reset deal. The new deal sets out post-Brexit relations on areas including fishing rights, trade, energy and defense.
EU, UK agree defense partnership as prelude to tighter cooperation.
Ten dead in ‘brutal’ attacks by Isis-linked militants on Mozambique wildlife reserve. One of Africa’s largest protected areas has been shaken by a series of attacks by Islamic State-linked terrorists, which have left at least 10 people dead.
US MILITARY
First look at General Atomics’ YFQ-42A ‘fighter drone’ prototype. The YFQ-42A, as well as Anduril’s YFQ-44A, are being developed under the first phase, or Increment 1, of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program.
END of PDB
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
READ NEXT: [WATCH] FBI’s Latest Target Isn’t Who You’d Expect…
I am sure that each of the services has a similar write up on why they are needed as part of our nation’s defense. Unless the only approach to war is a scorched earth policy the Air Force cannot do it all. Each of the services has a role to play and until the scenario is known no one knows exactly what each will bring to the table. I don’t think any one of our services can necessarily do it all.
Dear SpaceFarce,
Kilo Watt Laser tests against slow drone targets do not impress me.
…WHERE is the Space, Sea, and Land based integrated radar guided network of dozens? hundreds? of MegaWatt Laser tests against “””Mass Launched””” Mach 5 Hypersonic and/or Hyperguide Mach 10++ missiles??
…I only ask because Russia and Communist China DEPLOYED theirs 2 years ago.
…Scenario #1Even if the US system I describe was deployed 6 years ago when it was needed, how does that protect the USA against “””smuggled””” WMD’s (Biological, Chemical, Nuclear) likely already inside the USA during the last 16 years by the treasonous Obama and Biden administrations?
…Scenario #2How does that protect the USA against Russian Tsunami Torpedoes off the East and Left coasts?
…Scenario #3How does that protect the USA against GULFTAINER?theamericanreport. org/category/home/gulftainer/
Shame that most Americans are NOT aware that during WWII, the United States Air Forces bombed the snot out of most of German occupied Europe, but it took the man on the ground, with a rifle to defeat the German Forces! The same happened in Asia against the Japanese and if it were not for the employment of the two Atomic bombs over Japan, it would have been a fight sacrificing about 100,000 more American dead to take that Island nation. The previous massive bombings of Japan did not effect the resolve of the Japanese Armed Forces! Doubtful if nuclear weapons will be used again in war since whomever uses them first will be ensuring that not only their enemy, but Planet Earth would most likely be doomed! Today, considering that only a very SMALL percentage of Air Force Personnel are employed in flight or flight operations, the Air Force is a perfect example of wasted resources of hundreds of thousands for just a few…..which have not won a “War from the Sky” in recorded History! I remember President George Bush’s “Shock & Awe” over Iraq from the sky, but it took the fighting men on the ground to win that war!
Then CUT waste in other services & DoD overall to FUND
Change procurement procedures
Change policies
DO More