1 October 2008
There is a current
and growing aircraft shortfall in Naval Aviation. The
shortfall is real and if not corrected, puts carrier
aviation and the Nation at risk. We must help where we
can.
A shortage of at
least 125 Hornets is forecast for the near future. It will
be only worse if an ongoing program to extend nominal F/A-18
flight hours from the initial design life of 6,000 hours to
10,000 flight hours doesn’t work. It may be even worse than
that if the most optimistic delivery dates and quantities
for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aren’t achieved.
If this shortfall
is not corrected, the Nation will only have enough
strike-fighters to equip seven of its ten carrier air wings,
questioning the need to build and maintain carriers in
future years.
Already this
shortage is reflected in one Carrier Air Wing operating
without any strike fighter squadrons assigned, and two
Marine Corps Hornet Squadrons being placed in a cadre
status, awaiting the delivery of F-35s. Moreover, there are
no viable options to speed up or increase the delivery of
the F-35, or to take any other actions to extend quickly and
inexpensively the life of the older Hornets.
The dilemma facing
Navy leaders is well-defined and clear. The only viable
solution is for the Navy to purchase additional Block II
F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The capability to produce these
new, capable and proven combat performers is there and the
money can be found; it’s a misunderstood analysis in the
bureaucracy that’s the problem. Unfortunately, certain
minds are made up and at this point it will take more than
Navy analysis and pleas to make it happen. It will take the
sum total of the voices of concerned citizens from around
the country in support of the Navy to make the situation
known to bureaucrats, the Administration, legislators of
both parties and candidates too.
I encourage each of
you to offer your support – both publicly and privately –
for acquisition of these necessary aircraft. Our Naval
Aviation warfighters need our full support to achieve a
solution to this crisis and will greatly appreciate your
individual and collective efforts. In the end, it’s the
Nation that will benefit.
Robert F. Dunn
Acting Chairman and President
