Tactical Aircraft Modernization: Issues for Congress

Abstract

This Issue Brief examines DOD's four largest tactical aircraft modernization programs. The background section provides a brief description of each program, and a discussion of how tactical aircraft fit into military air operations: the missions they typically perform and how they contrast to longer-range combat aircraft. The Analysis section examines a number of policy issues including affordability, capability required, force structure, service roles and missions, industrial base, and transformation. The paper concludes with a synopsis of recent congressional action on these programs. The Defense Department plans to buy the F-22 fighter for the Air Force, the F/A-18E/F fighter/attack plane for the Navy, and the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft for the Marines and Air Force special operations, as well as pursue a joint-service program to develop a multirole Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft in three variants, some of which might be operational around 2012.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 16, 2006
Accession Number
ADA454572

Entities

People

  • Christopher Bolkcom

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Aviation
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Tactical Aircraft
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Tilt Rotor Aircraft
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Naval Engineering and Maritime Security
  • Strategic Security Studies