WEBVTT

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apologize for the confusion .

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We were understanding that there would

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be a different boat schedule and we're

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gonna make the best of this because

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obviously you've made your time

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available and we do our best to get

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some votes in or excuse me , testimony

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will go to votes and we'll come back

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and uh , Make sure that we do what is

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right for the American people and

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certainly for military . So with that ,

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like to welcome everyone to tactical

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air and land forces subcommittee

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hearing on military services , fiscal

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year 22 budget requests for rotary wing

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aviation programs . We've lifted most

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of the covid restrictions here in the

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house , but this is still a hybrid

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hearing and that is so true that we

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have a few members that are potential

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to pay them remotely , although they

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are not on right now , we expect them .

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But if nobody's here to have to read it ,

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okay , We'll cover itself . Okay ? We

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have someone on there . So I have to

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read the mandatory language like to

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welcome the members who are joining us

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today , joined here in remotely .

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Members who are participating remotely

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must be visible on screen for the

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purposes . Identity , identity

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verification , establishing and

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maintaining Corum participating in the

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proceedings and voting remote attended

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members must continue to use software ,

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platform , video function the entire

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time while in attendance unless they

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experience connectivity issues or other

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technical problems that render them

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unable to participate on camera . If a

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member experience technical

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difficulties , they should contact

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committee staff for assistance . Video

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members participating will be broadcast

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in the room and be a television and

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internet feeds . Members participating

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remotely must seek recognition verbally

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and they are asked to mute their

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microphones when they are not speaking

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remote members may leave and rejoin the

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proceedings . However , if remote

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members that part the hearing for a

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short while , for reasons other than

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joining a different proceeding , they

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should leave the video function on . If

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members will be absent for a

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significant period or depart to join

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different proceedings , they should

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exit the software program entirely and

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then rejoin it when they return ,

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members may use the software platforms ,

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chat feature to communicate with staff

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regarding only technical or logistical

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support issues . I've designated a

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committee staff member to if necessary ,

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mute , unrecognized members microphones

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to cancel any inadvertent background

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noise that may disrupt the proceedings

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and with that , I will now get my

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opening statement . Welcome back . Yeah ,

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we obviously have a larger

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distinguished panel of witnesses here

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today and I thank them for being on

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time even though not all of us were and

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making the time to have this discussion

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on what is incredibly important . The

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services , rotary wing aviation

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programs and the process . Certainly

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the challenges we need to be aware

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before we mark up The 22 National

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Defense Authorization Act rotary wing

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aircraft serves diverse and unique

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purposes across the military branches .

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And each service is currently in

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different stages of modernization of a

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helicopter fleets . Successful

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modernization is a statement of rotary

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wing aircraft will lay a solid

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foundation for the futures of the joint

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force . The Army is embarking on

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ambitious lead future vertical lift for

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VL , excuse me , excuse me , F . V . L .

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In that developing and fielding to new

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major rotary platforms at the same time ,

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future attack reconnaissance aircraft

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far up or future long range assault

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aircraft , Flora with future years

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defense programs information this

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year's . Excuse me , With it not in

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here , it's difficult to assess what

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the F . D . L . Funding

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profile is going to be . However ,

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subcommittees understanding that the

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funding plan for the Flora

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Was never revised in the out years

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after decision was made to accelerate

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the program by four years . Given the

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concurrent acquisition of these

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programs , the army should explain how

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these programs will be appropriately

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resourced and what actions are being

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taken to manage risks within the future

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vertical lift . As in last year's

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budget , the army did not include

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procurement funding for the CH 47 F

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block to chinook . Only the new special

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operations forces air crafted are

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funded . The Chinook program is

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conducting additional testing on the

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advanced rotor blade now and should

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have sufficient data collected and

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analyzed for a production decision by

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the end of fiscal year 21 . Certainly

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we're interested in discussing the way

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ahead for the chinook block to with the

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Department of the Navy . The Navy is

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completed acquisition of its fleet

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workhorse the MH 60 and is beginning to

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plan the Service Lights extension

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program to keep these aircraft relevant

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into the next decade . While the Marine

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Corps is in the testing phase of two

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new , the CH 53 K heavy lift helicopter

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in the Bh 92 either replacement of the

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presidential helicopter program . After

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15 years of development , the CH 53 K

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program is still discovering new uh and

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operational difficulties that need to

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be corrected . I understand some of

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those are already corrected but granted .

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Uh , this is the purpose for the

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acquisition system program to bring out

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these problems before fielding the

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systems . But obviously the 53K

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programs should be much further along

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at this point and major problem

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discoveries . Uh , something that we

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hope not to expect any more of expect

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Marine courts to explain how they

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anticipate controlling risk and the

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cost of this program . Uh the air

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forces on their transitioning to

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a new combat rescue helicopter , the HH

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60 whiskey and a replacement helicopter

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for the nuclear security missions . The

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MH 1 39 Grey Wolf . I expect the Air

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Force witnesses to provide updates on

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how these programs are progressing and

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justify the requests or in this case

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Grey Wolf , the lack of one for fiscal

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year 22 . Finally , I'm interested in

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what each is services are doing to

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increase survivability for the rotary

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wing fleet and if and how they're

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working together to leverage research

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and investment in aircraft , survive

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survivability equipment and for the

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common benefit . Our helicopter pilots

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and crews deserve the best self

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protection and safety systems available

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With that . I want to take a moment to

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recognize our ranking member of

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technical Air land . This is heart ,

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sir . Thank you . Mr . Chairman And I

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also want to thank our witnesses for

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being here with us today and I look

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forward to receiving an update on the

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status of each service is unique ,

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rotary wing aviation programs and their

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plans for both the sustainment and

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modernization of their respective

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helicopter fleet capabilities . Our

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main , deeply concerned that the

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president's Fy 22 budget request does

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not adequately resource our national

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security and further places military

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leadership in an untenable position of

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having to make impossible choices

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between near term operational readiness ,

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sustainment of enduring capabilities

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and long term modernization priorities .

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Today's hearing will provide an

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opportunity for us to gain a better

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insight of how each services rotary

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wing aviation fleets have been impacted

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by this budget and whether any major

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changes to sustaining programs or

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future equipment and modernizing

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strategies will result with shrinking

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budgets and shifting focus . It is

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critical that this subcommittee

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understands how each service views

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rotary wing aircraft fitting into their

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future modernization plans and what

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added capabilities will be required in

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multi domain operations against appear

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or near pier challenge in the indo

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pacific region , I expect our witnesses

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to discuss what major sustainment

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readiness and management issues each

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service is facing as you adapt your

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rotary wing aviation portfolio to this

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new operational focus and what are you

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doing now to address these issues ? I'm

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pleased to see that the army is

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continuing to prioritize the

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development of a future vertical lift

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capability . As one of its top six

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modernization priorities , The army is

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clearly leading the way on vertical

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future vertical lift , developing both

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the future attack and reconnaissance

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aircraft and the future long range

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assault aircraft . At the same time , I

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look forward to the discussion on both

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the development status and future

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potential of this major modernization

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effort . I also hope to hear how the

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Navy and Marine Corps are working with

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the Army and planning to capitalize on

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Army efforts and development in their

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own future vertical lift programs ,

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sustainment and modernization of

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existing rotary wing platforms is also

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critical as we look forward toward the

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future of rotary wing aviation . We

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must not overlook the rotary wing

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aircraft currently playing a

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significant role in the missions and

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operations of our military services and

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our National Guard . Today . Some of

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these units have been waiting for

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necessary aircraft upgrades and

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replacements for quite some time near

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to my heart . We have the Army's 11

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35th assault helicopter battalion at

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Whiteman Air Force Base who is

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anxiously awaiting the arrival of its U .

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H 60 cm Blackhawks to replace its aging

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you H 60 L fleet in 2023 .

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And lastly , I expect each service to

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briefly discuss their current aircraft .

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Survivability equipment projects and

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developments , helicopters fly low and

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relatively slowly , rendering them

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especially vulnerable to enemy weapons .

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I want to reemphasize the chairman's

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statement that our helicopter pilots ,

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crews and passengers deserve the best

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self protection and safety systems

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available . This seems to be an area

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where jointness would be without debate ,

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leveraging research and investment

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projects and aircraft survivability and

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safety for the common benefit of all

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our war fighters . I thank the chairman

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for organizing this important and

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timely hearing before we mark up our

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fiscal Year 22 National Defense

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Authorization Act and I yelled back

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thank you appreciate it . Um and let's

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turn to our witnesses . Um Today

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joining us is Mr Doug Bush , acting

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assistant secretary of the Army for

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acquisitions , logistics and technology ,

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who we've had the honor of two coddles

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uh that have been very informative .

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Good to have you here . Lieutenant

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General Peterson , Deputy Chief of

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Staff of the Army for programs . Mr

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Stephanie is acting Assistant Secretary

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of Navy for research , development and

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acquisition . Lieutenant General Wise ,

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Deputy accommodation for aviation for

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the Marine Corps , Rear Admiral Andrew

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lower cell that I get that right , mm

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hmm . Uh Director of Air Warfare ,

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uh Division for naval operations . Miss

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Darlene Costello , Acting assistant

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Secretary of the Air Force or

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acquisition , Technology and Logistics .

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Major General moore . Director of

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Programs . Office of the Deputy Chief

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of Staff of the Air Force for plans and

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programmes . We've asked for our

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opening statement of one per service

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and with that Mr Bush , please proceed

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with your statement . Thank you .

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Mr Chairman , Chairman or cross ranking

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member , Hartzler and distinguished

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members of the House Armed Services

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Committee subcommittee on Tactical Air

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and Land Forces . Good afternoon .

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Thank you for the invitation to appear

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before you to discuss the Army's rotary

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wing aviation portfolio and the

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resources requested in the president's

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budget for fiscal year 2022 . I'm

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pleased to be joined today by my

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teammate , Lieutenant General Eric

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Peterson , deputy Chief of Staff G

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eight , as well as our Navy , Marine

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Corps and Air Force counterparts . We

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appreciate your making are written

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statement . Part of the record for

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today's hearing . MR . Chairman . Our

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shared mission in the army is to ensure

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the army continues to achieve overmatch

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against all potential adversaries

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ensuring that our army can fulfill its

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mandate to successfully deter and , if

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necessary , fight and win our nation's

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wars as part of the Joint Force . Next ,

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I'd like to briefly take a moment to

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address the subcommittee specific

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requests outlined in the invitation .

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First , the committee asked for an

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overview of Army aviation ,

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modernization and equipping strategies

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for Fy 22 that identified major plan

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changes in the strategy from Fy 21

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Overall , I think the F- 22 budget

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request for the army reflects

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continuity and the armies continued

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commitment to its high priority

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modernization programs . Well , members

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will find adjustments were made to some

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programs . I believe that the FY22

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budget request of 34.1 billion overall

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for army research , development and

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acquisition , Which includes 2.8

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billion for aviation procurement and

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1.8 billion for aviation research and

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development reflects careful choices

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and supports continued progress on the

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army's top modernization priorities .

13:51.388 --> 13:53.388
Second , the committee asked for an

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explanation of major new modernization

13:55.554 --> 13:57.721
initiatives in Fy 22 . In response , I

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would ask the committee members to

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review our joint witness statement that

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summarizes our ongoing efforts to

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modify to modernize our current fleets

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as well as the progress we're making to

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develop future platforms , such as the

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ones mentioned by the chairman , Farrah

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Flora and also future unmanned aircraft

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systems . Third , the committee asked

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for an identification and description

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and justification of unfunded

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priorities . Major equipment shortfalls

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and unacceptable risk with regard to

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unfunded priorities . I would refer

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members to the Army Chief of Staff's

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unfunded party list . In addition , I

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am not aware of any major equipment

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shortfalls or unacceptable risks in my

14:35.277 --> 14:37.221
area of responsibility . 4th , the

14:37.221 --> 14:39.277
committee asked for an assessment of

14:39.277 --> 14:38.980
loitering industrial base in its

14:38.980 --> 14:41.091
ability to support army modernization

14:41.091 --> 14:43.147
and sustainment . While no budget is

14:43.147 --> 14:44.980
without risk , I'm confident the

14:44.980 --> 14:47.091
request before you represents what we

14:47.091 --> 14:49.258
consider acceptable risk to the rotary

14:49.258 --> 14:51.480
wing industrial base . With the help of

14:51.480 --> 14:53.702
Congress , the army has used multi year

14:53.702 --> 14:55.702
procurement contracts as a means to

14:55.702 --> 14:57.813
both achieve significant cost savings

14:57.813 --> 14:59.980
and ensure industrial base stability .

14:59.980 --> 15:02.202
I would ask for the committee's support

15:02.202 --> 15:04.258
of the Army's Fy 22 requests for new

15:04.258 --> 15:06.313
multi year procurement authority for

15:06.313 --> 15:08.480
both the Apache and Blackhawk aircraft

15:09.240 --> 15:11.073
fit . The committee requested an

15:11.073 --> 15:12.962
overview of the Army's aircraft .

15:12.962 --> 15:14.907
Survivability systems . Aircraft .

15:14.907 --> 15:17.018
Survivability is of course a critical

15:17.018 --> 15:19.240
element of the Army's modernization and

15:19.240 --> 15:21.296
readiness efforts to equip the force

15:21.296 --> 15:23.407
and maintain dominance . The aircraft

15:23.407 --> 15:25.462
survival portfolio provides advanced

15:25.462 --> 15:27.573
laser defeat capabilities such as the

15:27.573 --> 15:29.796
common infrared countermeasure system ,

15:29.796 --> 15:31.907
which would be an enduring system for

15:31.907 --> 15:33.684
other systems . I would request

15:33.684 --> 15:35.962
discussing that in a different setting .

15:35.962 --> 15:37.907
Lastly , the committee asked us to

15:37.907 --> 15:39.962
provide any other budget details and

15:39.962 --> 15:42.184
programs you believe merit attention to

15:42.184 --> 15:41.560
include notable acquisition reform

15:41.560 --> 15:44.090
efforts . I think this budget request

15:44.090 --> 15:45.979
reflects a careful balance , as I

15:45.979 --> 15:47.757
mentioned , between funding for

15:47.757 --> 15:49.923
enduring and future modernization with

15:49.923 --> 15:52.146
respect to authorities were grateful to

15:52.146 --> 15:53.868
you and your colleagues on the

15:53.868 --> 15:55.979
Committee for Reform initiatives that

15:55.979 --> 15:58.090
have been instrumental in our efforts

15:58.090 --> 15:57.830
to streamline and gain efficiencies in

15:57.830 --> 16:00.420
the acquisition process . This includes

16:00.420 --> 16:02.364
our use of middle tier acquisition

16:02.364 --> 16:04.309
authority for rapid prototyping to

16:04.309 --> 16:06.142
accelerate efforts linked to our

16:06.142 --> 16:08.780
modernization priorities . We have also

16:08.780 --> 16:11.270
used other transaction authority where

16:11.270 --> 16:13.437
O . T . A . S . To help streamline the

16:13.437 --> 16:15.437
acquisition , research activities ,

16:15.437 --> 16:17.270
prototype projects and follow on

16:17.270 --> 16:19.381
production . In both of these areas .

16:19.381 --> 16:21.437
You have my commitment that the army

16:21.437 --> 16:21.120
will use these authorities

16:21.120 --> 16:23.390
conservatively and only were needed to

16:23.390 --> 16:25.723
accomplish our modernization objectives .

16:25.723 --> 16:27.834
You also have my commitment to ensure

16:27.834 --> 16:29.834
appropriate internal Army oversight

16:29.834 --> 16:31.890
measures are in place to monitor the

16:31.890 --> 16:34.112
use of these authorities . Let me close

16:34.112 --> 16:34.020
by saying that realization of our

16:34.020 --> 16:35.798
modernization efforts is highly

16:35.798 --> 16:37.909
dependent on what is in the Army's Fy

16:37.909 --> 16:40.530
22 budget request , the investments in

16:40.530 --> 16:42.697
this budget , request , complement and

16:42.697 --> 16:44.641
reinforce the Army's modernization

16:44.641 --> 16:46.752
efforts . You have so far steadfastly

16:46.752 --> 16:48.808
supported . The key is predictable ,

16:48.808 --> 16:51.030
adequate , timely and sustained funding

16:51.030 --> 16:52.863
to ensure the United States Army

16:52.863 --> 16:55.086
remains the best equipped to enforce in

16:55.086 --> 16:57.308
the world . I sincerely appreciate your

16:57.308 --> 16:56.560
time today and look forward to your

16:56.560 --> 16:59.940
questions . Thank you . Thank you . Mr

16:59.940 --> 17:03.270
Stephanie , mm . Thank you .

17:03.640 --> 17:05.807
Chairman or cross . Thank you . Member

17:05.807 --> 17:07.973
hustler , Distinguished members of the

17:07.973 --> 17:09.918
subcommittee on behalf of myself .

17:09.918 --> 17:11.862
Lieutenant General Mark Wise , the

17:11.862 --> 17:13.910
deputy commandant for Aviation and

17:13.910 --> 17:17.720
we're Admiral Andrew Louise L Director

17:17.730 --> 17:19.674
of Air Warfare . Thank you for the

17:19.674 --> 17:21.841
opportunity to appear before you today

17:21.841 --> 17:23.841
to address the Department of Navy's

17:23.841 --> 17:26.174
2022 budget request for rotary aviation .

17:26.640 --> 17:28.940
We are pleased to testify alongside our

17:28.940 --> 17:30.996
Department of Army and Department of

17:30.996 --> 17:33.560
Air Force colleagues . Navy and Marine

17:33.560 --> 17:35.393
Corps Forces operate forward and

17:35.393 --> 17:37.282
conduct a broad range of military

17:37.282 --> 17:39.560
missions in support of the Joint Force .

17:39.560 --> 17:43.350
The Department rotary rotary craft

17:43.350 --> 17:45.740
capability is a key enable enabler of

17:45.740 --> 17:48.050
our naval mobility When coupled with

17:48.060 --> 17:50.070
air capable ships . These aircraft

17:50.070 --> 17:53.370
provides speed range and flexibility to

17:53.370 --> 17:56.040
give our nation unmatched global reach

17:56.050 --> 17:58.600
and expeditionary agility . Their

17:58.600 --> 18:02.000
versatility is unmatched rotorcraft ,

18:02.010 --> 18:03.788
transport , marines , sailors ,

18:03.788 --> 18:05.899
equipment and supplies from ships and

18:05.899 --> 18:08.010
land bases , two amphibious assault .

18:08.010 --> 18:10.550
And for operations ashore , Rotorcraft

18:10.550 --> 18:13.040
pilots make up more than 50% of our

18:13.040 --> 18:15.910
naval aviators support a broad range

18:15.910 --> 18:18.180
emissions from anti submarine warfare

18:18.190 --> 18:20.700
to human humanitarian assistance and

18:20.700 --> 18:23.390
disaster relief . Our road a craft are

18:23.390 --> 18:25.223
ready to fight tonight and going

18:25.223 --> 18:26.946
forward . They will remain the

18:26.946 --> 18:29.112
workhorses of the future Naval force .

18:29.640 --> 18:31.807
Over the past year we took delivery of

18:31.807 --> 18:35.210
33 new rotary aircraft and we procured

18:35.220 --> 18:38.070
56 more aircraft during the year . We

18:38.070 --> 18:39.903
also completed just recently the

18:39.903 --> 18:42.250
initial operational testing of the VH

18:42.250 --> 18:45.720
92 Alpha presidential helicopter . To

18:45.720 --> 18:47.609
continue this progress toward the

18:47.609 --> 18:49.331
commandant's force design 2030

18:49.331 --> 18:51.387
initiative , as well as the Chief of

18:51.387 --> 18:53.609
Naval Operations Vision for distributed

18:53.609 --> 18:56.420
maritime operations . The Fy 22 budget

18:56.420 --> 18:58.642
requests funds for the procurement of 7

18:58.642 --> 19:02.250
53 new man rotorcraft , well

19:02.250 --> 19:04.730
supporting the initial production of 53

19:04.730 --> 19:07.110
kg king stallion helicopters . It also

19:07.110 --> 19:09.270
prioritizes recapitalization of the

19:09.270 --> 19:11.260
helicopter training fleet through

19:11.260 --> 19:13.970
continued procurement of the T H 73

19:13.970 --> 19:16.570
alpha training aircraft . The

19:16.570 --> 19:18.348
department is scheduled to take

19:18.348 --> 19:20.514
delivery of our very first th 73 alpha

19:20.514 --> 19:23.390
later this week And a total of 52 of

19:23.390 --> 19:25.612
those aircraft are planned for delivery

19:25.612 --> 19:28.880
by the end of 2021 . The Fy 22 budget

19:28.880 --> 19:30.491
also continues investment in

19:30.491 --> 19:32.491
modernization and service like life

19:32.491 --> 19:35.630
extensions for MH 60 and H one fleets

19:35.640 --> 19:37.751
that are foundational to the Navy and

19:37.751 --> 19:39.696
Marine Corps helicopter helicopter

19:39.696 --> 19:42.200
concept of operations , modernization

19:42.200 --> 19:44.033
programs for these platforms are

19:44.033 --> 19:46.880
focused on survivability and sensor

19:46.880 --> 19:49.000
networks and communication that will

19:49.000 --> 19:51.222
keep the platforms technically relevant

19:51.222 --> 19:53.056
as we look to develop the future

19:53.056 --> 19:55.550
vertical lift systems that will replace

19:55.550 --> 19:58.770
them overall , this budget represents

19:58.770 --> 20:00.937
the deliberate informed development of

20:00.937 --> 20:03.400
a modernized integrated and all Domain

20:03.400 --> 20:06.610
Naval Force for the future fight . It

20:06.610 --> 20:08.832
requires us to think differently , move

20:08.832 --> 20:10.888
faster and prioritize each dollar to

20:10.888 --> 20:13.990
meet an uncertain environment as we

20:13.990 --> 20:16.212
focus on building this all domain naval

20:16.212 --> 20:18.157
force to address are facing threat

20:18.157 --> 20:20.434
presented by our strategic competitors .

20:20.434 --> 20:22.157
We thank the Congress and this

20:22.157 --> 20:23.960
subcommittee for your continued

20:23.970 --> 20:26.710
continued leadership and support . And

20:26.710 --> 20:28.710
with that , we look forward to your

20:28.710 --> 20:30.877
questions . Thank you . Thank you Miss

20:30.877 --> 20:31.950
Stella , please .

20:37.840 --> 20:39.396
Which is your microphone or

20:53.140 --> 20:55.300
not ? Right , can you hear me now ?

20:55.520 --> 20:57.687
Great , Thank you . Sorry about that .

20:57.940 --> 21:00.051
Uh Chairman Norcross , ranking Member

21:00.051 --> 21:02.162
Hartzler and distinguished members of

21:02.162 --> 21:04.218
the subcommittee on behalf of myself

21:04.218 --> 21:06.329
and Major General More . We thank you

21:06.329 --> 21:08.329
for having us here today to provide

21:08.329 --> 21:10.496
testimony on the Department of the Air

21:10.496 --> 21:12.440
Force's fiscal Year 22 rotary Wing

21:12.440 --> 21:14.718
aviation budget request . Additionally ,

21:14.718 --> 21:16.940
thank you for your continued leadership

21:16.940 --> 21:18.940
and dedication to the United States

21:18.940 --> 21:21.107
military and the Department of the Air

21:21.107 --> 21:23.920
Force is 689,000 . Total force airmen

21:23.930 --> 21:26.097
and guardians serving around the world

21:26.097 --> 21:29.930
today . Our nation faces a complex

21:29.930 --> 21:31.874
set of current and future security

21:31.874 --> 21:34.430
challenges that require us to think

21:34.440 --> 21:37.200
different and act different and with

21:37.200 --> 21:40.050
urgency . Our Chief of Staff of the Air

21:40.050 --> 21:42.800
Force General CQ Brown has articulated

21:42.800 --> 21:45.470
what is at stake . He has stated that

21:45.470 --> 21:47.581
unless we make significant changes to

21:47.581 --> 21:49.870
the Air Force's program Force , we will

21:49.870 --> 21:52.190
not meet the pacing threat of china in

21:52.190 --> 21:55.570
2030 and unless something changes , we

21:55.570 --> 21:57.737
will not be able to accomplish the Air

21:57.737 --> 21:59.737
Force's core missions in the future

21:59.737 --> 22:02.690
operating environment . If we are to

22:02.690 --> 22:04.579
modernize to address the emerging

22:04.579 --> 22:06.420
threat , we must efficiently use

22:06.420 --> 22:08.940
resources tied to our outdated and

22:08.940 --> 22:11.330
underperforming platforms and weapons

22:11.330 --> 22:13.219
systems , which are decreasing in

22:13.219 --> 22:15.386
relevance today and will be irrelevant

22:15.386 --> 22:17.250
in the future . We must strike a

22:17.250 --> 22:19.610
balance between risk in the near term

22:19.630 --> 22:22.230
and risk in the future . The Department

22:22.230 --> 22:24.230
of the Air Force rotorcraft are key

22:24.230 --> 22:26.174
components of the national defense

22:26.174 --> 22:28.397
strategies . Lethal force modernization

22:28.397 --> 22:30.880
effort are rotorcraft are integral

22:30.890 --> 22:32.790
across a range of operations ,

22:32.800 --> 22:35.022
including modern and reliable personnel

22:35.022 --> 22:37.820
recovery , special operations , nuclear

22:37.820 --> 22:40.450
security and continuity of government .

22:40.940 --> 22:42.607
Thanks to the support of this

22:42.607 --> 22:44.829
subcommittee , we've made great strides

22:44.829 --> 22:46.884
in our efforts to improve rotorcraft

22:46.884 --> 22:48.640
readiness and set the tone for

22:48.640 --> 22:51.020
modernization . But there remains work

22:51.020 --> 22:54.040
to be done . The fiscal year of 2022

22:54.040 --> 22:55.984
budget continues investment in the

22:55.984 --> 22:58.151
Department of the Air Force . Critical

22:58.151 --> 23:00.380
Rotorcraft modernization programs . As

23:00.380 --> 23:02.602
you're aware of , the Department of the

23:02.602 --> 23:04.658
Air Force is the only service with a

23:04.658 --> 23:06.880
dedicated force organized , trained and

23:06.880 --> 23:08.713
equipped to execute theater wide

23:08.713 --> 23:10.936
personnel recovery . To accomplish this

23:10.936 --> 23:12.936
vital mission , we must continue to

23:12.936 --> 23:15.047
sustain support and upgrade the aging

23:15.047 --> 23:17.530
HH 60 G fleet until we can fully

23:17.530 --> 23:20.300
recapitalize with the HH 60 W . Jolly

23:20.300 --> 23:24.060
Green too . The HH 60 G retirements

23:24.060 --> 23:26.004
began this year with the continued

23:26.004 --> 23:28.060
retirement timeline that aligns with

23:28.060 --> 23:31.730
completion of fielding 105 HH 60 W

23:31.730 --> 23:35.290
rotorcraft . In fy 27 the first

23:35.290 --> 23:37.290
operational unit has already been

23:37.290 --> 23:41.290
received . The first production HH 60W

23:41.290 --> 23:43.820
was delivered on June eight of this

23:43.820 --> 23:46.760
year . The FY 22 Presidents Budget

23:46.760 --> 23:50.500
Request Ads 14 HH 60

23:50.500 --> 23:53.420
W aircraft to the 51 that are already

23:53.420 --> 23:56.950
funded . Yeah , The Image 1

23:56.950 --> 23:59.520
39 aid program is an element of the Air

23:59.520 --> 24:01.298
Force Nuclear Enterprise Reform

24:01.298 --> 24:02.920
Initiative and also supports

24:02.930 --> 24:05.152
operational airlift within the national

24:05.152 --> 24:08.100
capital region . The MH 1 39 a offers

24:08.100 --> 24:10.100
significant capability increases in

24:10.100 --> 24:12.440
areas of speed , range , endurance ,

24:12.440 --> 24:14.770
payload and survivability . This

24:14.770 --> 24:16.437
program will deliver up to 80

24:16.437 --> 24:18.381
replacement helicopters , training

24:18.381 --> 24:20.103
devices and associated support

24:20.103 --> 24:22.214
equipment to replace the legacy You H

24:22.214 --> 24:24.500
one ends while technical issues have

24:24.500 --> 24:27.030
delayed the FAA certification . We are

24:27.030 --> 24:29.252
confident Boeing can make the necessary

24:29.252 --> 24:31.252
changes to minimize schedule delays

24:31.252 --> 24:33.810
going forward to meet the challenges of

24:33.810 --> 24:35.977
a highly contested environment . We're

24:35.977 --> 24:38.143
also developing the next generation of

24:38.143 --> 24:40.310
vertical takeoff and landing platforms

24:40.440 --> 24:42.950
Through a half works ability prime

24:42.950 --> 24:46.500
we've put more than $100 million 20

24:46.510 --> 24:48.732
electric vertical takeoff and landing .

24:48.732 --> 24:50.621
Industry partners to move towards

24:50.621 --> 24:52.843
fielding this transformative commercial

24:52.843 --> 24:55.330
technology for distributed logistics

24:55.330 --> 24:57.690
and personnel transport . Early

24:57.690 --> 24:59.634
investment in this technology will

24:59.634 --> 25:01.746
allow us to influence system design ,

25:01.746 --> 25:03.857
foster industry growth and accelerate

25:03.857 --> 25:05.690
fielding . We thank you for your

25:05.690 --> 25:07.912
leadership and support and are eager to

25:07.912 --> 25:10.023
work with this subcommittee to secure

25:10.023 --> 25:12.134
our nation's vital interest . We look

25:12.134 --> 25:14.880
forward to your questions . Thank you

25:14.880 --> 25:16.991
for your testimony . Each of you very

25:16.991 --> 25:20.110
much appreciate it . Um , mhm We're

25:20.110 --> 25:22.221
going to work through again the votes

25:22.221 --> 25:24.640
here and we're going to take whatever

25:24.640 --> 25:27.690
time is necessary . We value what you

25:27.690 --> 25:30.200
do each and every day and your time and

25:30.200 --> 25:32.367
certainly our towel staff food through

25:32.367 --> 25:34.256
such a wonderful job . Keeping us

25:34.256 --> 25:37.810
informed are focused on this and please

25:37.810 --> 25:40.960
do not take the little disruption of

25:40.960 --> 25:43.071
anyway , diminishing what you do each

25:43.071 --> 25:45.071
and every day . And with that , I'd

25:45.071 --> 25:48.270
like to start out with questions of

25:48.840 --> 25:51.270
myself , Miss Hearts and then we'll go

25:51.740 --> 25:55.660
to both the remote and here in the bush .

25:56.140 --> 25:58.900
Ah we've had conversation literally

25:58.900 --> 26:02.170
over years concerning the chinook and

26:02.640 --> 26:05.390
again this year , uh , some of the

26:05.390 --> 26:07.960
deferments that were going on versus

26:07.970 --> 26:10.950
the original vision of the block to

26:11.340 --> 26:15.220
upgrades . Uh , We had the previous

26:15.220 --> 26:19.070
discussion about the heavy lift for

26:19.070 --> 26:21.960
the army and when that decision was to

26:21.960 --> 26:25.440
be made , uh let's make sure that we

26:25.440 --> 26:28.060
cleared up on the record . The decision

26:28.070 --> 26:32.020
for what you're going to do Is in year

26:32.030 --> 26:35.420
23 because this is we had the

26:35.420 --> 26:38.150
conversation and had much discussion .

26:38.150 --> 26:40.317
I just make sure we're clear on this .

26:40.940 --> 26:43.590
Yeah , Sir . My yes . My understanding

26:43.590 --> 26:45.646
of the army's previous decision that

26:45.646 --> 26:47.868
still holds is that that was a calendar

26:47.868 --> 26:49.850
year 2023 decision , counter year

26:49.860 --> 26:52.500
versus budget year . And forgive us for

26:52.510 --> 26:54.270
throwing that off .

26:55.640 --> 26:58.450
Obviously developing two new programs

26:58.450 --> 27:01.550
at one time is challenging at best .

27:02.140 --> 27:04.307
We're trying to minimize that and what

27:04.307 --> 27:07.060
you've done preparing for it is truly

27:07.060 --> 27:10.960
noteworthy . Uh However the

27:10.960 --> 27:13.127
time frame going on is you potentially

27:13.127 --> 27:16.930
could have three going on . Um Which

27:16.930 --> 27:20.630
could present some challenges uh when

27:20.630 --> 27:24.480
you expect to get the The

27:24.480 --> 27:28.180
funding for 21 . The authorization you

27:28.180 --> 27:30.291
expect to be put those under contract

27:30.291 --> 27:33.230
by the end of this fiscal year or this

27:33.230 --> 27:37.230
counter year this fiscal year ,

27:37.230 --> 27:40.300
sir . Okay . It makes a difference . If

27:40.300 --> 27:42.244
you're listening to this , it gets

27:42.244 --> 27:44.578
confusing but it's incredibly important .

27:44.578 --> 27:46.744
We start looking at that . Thank you .

27:46.744 --> 27:48.967
Really appreciate that . What I'm going

27:48.967 --> 27:50.967
to do is try to get everybody in at

27:50.967 --> 27:50.720
least for one and we're gonna go

27:50.720 --> 27:54.650
multiple rounds this way we can

27:54.650 --> 27:56.428
have some more continuity . Mrs

27:56.428 --> 27:58.650
Hartzler ? Yes . Thank you . Lieutenant

27:58.650 --> 28:00.706
General Peterson , I'm interested in

28:00.706 --> 28:02.539
the status of the U . H . 60 M .

28:02.539 --> 28:04.450
Upgrade program . As you know ,

28:04.450 --> 28:06.617
Whiteman Air Force Space currently has

28:06.617 --> 28:09.060
you age 60 els and have been promised

28:09.060 --> 28:11.930
the delivery of you age 60 KMs and Fy

28:11.930 --> 28:15.170
2023 to replace this aging fleet . So

28:15.170 --> 28:17.420
can you assure me that the decrease in

28:17.420 --> 28:20.360
procurement of you age 60 In the

28:20.360 --> 28:23.830
FY 2022 budget will not impact this

28:23.830 --> 28:25.719
feeling . Strategy and timeline .

28:27.540 --> 28:28.340
Oh

28:33.840 --> 28:34.840
yes ,

28:41.040 --> 28:43.860
struggling with the systems here . Um ,

28:44.440 --> 28:46.440
frank , remember thank you for that

28:46.440 --> 28:48.750
question . And uh , the first of the

28:48.750 --> 28:52.460
one 35th as well as the third of the to

28:52.460 --> 28:56.460
38th with the H H 60 medevac variants

28:56.470 --> 28:59.670
are still on track for their Fy 23

28:59.670 --> 29:03.270
24 . Uh , fielding phased fielding's

29:03.640 --> 29:06.350
um consistent with our continued

29:06.350 --> 29:08.461
investment in the MIC model program .

29:08.840 --> 29:10.896
Two very distinguished units . I had

29:10.896 --> 29:13.007
the pleasure of uh , actually serving

29:13.007 --> 29:15.118
with and helping mobilize portions of

29:15.118 --> 29:17.260
those my previous assignments . So we

29:17.260 --> 29:19.538
are not relenting from our commitments ,

29:19.538 --> 29:21.593
particularly with our National Guard

29:21.593 --> 29:24.480
units uh to stay on track with our

29:24.480 --> 29:27.120
modernization efforts . And our chief

29:27.120 --> 29:29.550
has been very emphatic about that . So

29:29.640 --> 29:32.130
we are we're maintaining that momentum

29:32.130 --> 29:34.290
and focus . That's great news . Thank

29:34.290 --> 29:35.670
you very much .

29:39.340 --> 29:42.550
You recognized . Thank you so much . Mr

29:43.040 --> 29:45.150
Chairman and thank you everyone for

29:45.160 --> 29:47.327
participating today . I have a general

29:47.327 --> 29:49.830
question to start with and I guess it

29:49.830 --> 29:52.700
would be directed to general wise , you

29:52.700 --> 29:54.922
know , in previous committee hearings ,

29:54.922 --> 29:57.200
especially with fixed wing and the

29:57.200 --> 29:59.600
different components . We've heard of

29:59.600 --> 30:02.440
the concerns of a decrease in the

30:02.440 --> 30:06.080
number of um I

30:06.080 --> 30:09.170
guess pilots that are graduating from

30:09.170 --> 30:11.226
our pilot programs and a shortage of

30:11.226 --> 30:13.680
pilots to fly are fixed wing aircraft

30:13.680 --> 30:17.530
and the projected um recruitment and

30:17.530 --> 30:20.450
successful graduation of pilots to fly

30:20.450 --> 30:23.010
those aircraft . Looking at the overall

30:23.020 --> 30:26.660
um , you know , rotary wing request in

30:26.660 --> 30:29.570
this budget . Is there any concerns

30:29.570 --> 30:33.350
about producing enough rotary

30:33.350 --> 30:35.620
pilots coming out of our training um ,

30:35.630 --> 30:39.410
locations to fly these new rotary

30:39.410 --> 30:42.770
aircraft that we want to procure ? Yeah ,

30:43.340 --> 30:45.620
sir , thank you for the question . Uh

30:45.630 --> 30:47.741
the short answer to your question for

30:47.741 --> 30:49.963
rotary wing pilots is we're actually in

30:49.963 --> 30:52.186
pretty good shape with regard to rotary

30:52.186 --> 30:54.780
wing . I would say that our current

30:54.780 --> 30:56.800
manning is within the squadron's

30:56.810 --> 30:58.754
arranges for all of our type model

30:58.754 --> 31:02.750
series from 96% man , uh to 86% at

31:02.750 --> 31:04.917
the low end and we consider healthy at

31:04.917 --> 31:07.310
85 . So we're . were healthy in all

31:07.310 --> 31:10.140
regards , but that's , as you indicate ,

31:10.150 --> 31:12.440
not something you want to rest on . So

31:12.440 --> 31:15.030
we spend a lot of time with our

31:15.040 --> 31:17.650
training folks , Sinatra that works

31:17.650 --> 31:21.380
with Admiral louis l uh and we uh

31:21.390 --> 31:24.870
watch our production rates to ensure

31:24.870 --> 31:26.926
that we're meeting our goals to make

31:26.926 --> 31:29.148
sure that we don't drop any lower or we

31:29.148 --> 31:31.314
see leading indicators of their coming

31:31.314 --> 31:33.481
and right now we're still producing at

31:33.481 --> 31:35.648
a rate that we should stay healthy for

31:35.648 --> 31:37.703
the foreseeable future on the rotary

31:37.703 --> 31:39.870
wing side . Great , thank you . Well ,

31:39.870 --> 31:41.981
let me shift . I represent Hawaii and

31:41.981 --> 31:45.500
um of course in GOP . Com and

31:45.510 --> 31:47.730
looking at and this is a could be a

31:47.730 --> 31:49.897
question for anyone on the committee .

31:49.897 --> 31:52.060
But looking at Admiral Aquilino and

31:52.060 --> 31:54.171
previous , Admiral Davidson is in the

31:54.171 --> 31:56.227
pacific deterrence initiative . Um ,

31:56.227 --> 31:58.720
and the , you know , um , you know ,

31:58.730 --> 32:01.760
rapidly building chinese military and

32:01.760 --> 32:03.871
what they're doing out in the Western

32:03.871 --> 32:07.050
pacific um , how do we see this budget

32:07.050 --> 32:09.900
request for the modernization and the

32:09.900 --> 32:12.910
future investment of um vertical lift

32:12.910 --> 32:15.640
capability new and the replacement of

32:15.640 --> 32:19.020
our aging rotary fleet to play into the

32:19.020 --> 32:21.131
pacific deterrence initiative and how

32:21.131 --> 32:24.570
we would fight uh a war um in the

32:24.570 --> 32:27.850
Western pacific um that is largely

32:28.340 --> 32:31.350
um , you know , geographically

32:31.350 --> 32:34.130
challenged with uh you know , vast

32:34.140 --> 32:36.880
oceans and areas that we need to travel .

32:36.880 --> 32:38.980
How do you , how do you foresee that

32:38.980 --> 32:41.091
playing out in these investments that

32:41.091 --> 32:43.258
we're making with rotary wing aircraft

32:43.258 --> 32:45.536
that could have a refueling capability ,

32:45.536 --> 32:47.702
could have the capability for multiple

32:47.702 --> 32:49.702
crews so that they can extend their

32:49.702 --> 32:51.813
ranges and their distances . And some

32:51.813 --> 32:53.869
of those challenges as we take those

32:53.869 --> 32:56.202
rotary aircraft into the um um you know ,

32:56.202 --> 32:58.202
areas of vulnerability based on the

32:58.202 --> 33:00.369
defensive systems and the weapons that

33:00.369 --> 33:04.350
china has be happy to take a

33:04.350 --> 33:06.517
crack at that . Yes , sir . Go ahead .

33:06.940 --> 33:10.150
Yeah , Thank you very much for that

33:10.150 --> 33:12.206
question and the insights associated

33:12.206 --> 33:14.620
with that from , from the Army's

33:14.620 --> 33:17.890
perspective , Flora and Farrah . Our

33:17.890 --> 33:21.240
FTL signature initiatives are tailor

33:21.240 --> 33:24.610
made for the extended ranges and the

33:24.610 --> 33:26.630
dynamics and the threat of that

33:26.670 --> 33:29.300
emergent fight . Both Flora and Flora

33:29.300 --> 33:31.790
are absolutely vital to our

33:31.790 --> 33:34.300
modernization efforts . Farah is

33:34.300 --> 33:36.356
fulfilling the number one gap in the

33:36.356 --> 33:38.230
Army aviation capability with a

33:38.230 --> 33:40.710
dedicated purpose built armed

33:40.710 --> 33:43.250
reconnaissance aircraft . The key

33:43.250 --> 33:46.550
points to be uh made with Flora and

33:46.550 --> 33:50.460
Flora is they both extend our reach

33:50.650 --> 33:53.270
with absolutely unprecedented speed ,

33:53.640 --> 33:56.540
range , endurance and equally as

33:56.540 --> 33:59.470
important . The effects of long range

33:59.470 --> 34:01.780
precision munitions and other air

34:01.780 --> 34:04.000
launched effects . And these

34:04.000 --> 34:06.190
capabilities , combined with a

34:06.190 --> 34:09.740
networked kill chain . A joint kill

34:09.740 --> 34:11.930
chain will allow us to reject

34:11.940 --> 34:14.960
capability from unprecedented standoff

34:15.640 --> 34:18.770
and deliver stand in effects .

34:19.640 --> 34:21.862
Those will present multiple dilemmas to

34:21.862 --> 34:23.973
our foes and they're going to provide

34:23.973 --> 34:26.140
exceptional options to our joint force

34:26.140 --> 34:29.730
commanders . The high fidelity modeling

34:29.730 --> 34:31.786
that we have done and could share in

34:31.786 --> 34:33.780
another forum with you clearly and

34:33.780 --> 34:35.891
empirically demonstrates the value of

34:35.891 --> 34:38.300
these capabilities against near pier

34:38.300 --> 34:41.040
threats and in the specific areas that

34:41.040 --> 34:43.151
you referenced . So thank you . Thank

34:43.151 --> 34:47.100
you . General market share . Mhm . We

34:47.100 --> 34:49.620
have six minutes and 50 seconds . You

34:49.620 --> 34:51.676
want to go for it ? You want to come

34:51.676 --> 34:53.690
back ? I'll go ahead and ask one

34:53.690 --> 34:55.912
question . Okay then we recognize you .

34:55.912 --> 34:57.850
Right , Okay .

34:59.640 --> 35:02.650
Well uh General Peterson , I actually

35:02.650 --> 35:04.650
was just about to ask you that same

35:04.650 --> 35:06.650
question . So thank you . But I did

35:06.650 --> 35:08.761
want to pass along General Homes from

35:08.761 --> 35:10.928
Tennessee , sent me a note to send his

35:10.928 --> 35:13.261
regards , a good friend of both of ours .

35:13.261 --> 35:15.550
So uh I moved to miss Costello and

35:15.560 --> 35:19.460
Major General More . Um it

35:19.460 --> 35:21.627
has been very interesting to watch the

35:21.627 --> 35:23.682
work that the Air Force is done with

35:23.682 --> 35:25.682
the Agility Prime program . Can you

35:25.682 --> 35:25.490
give the committee a brief description

35:25.490 --> 35:27.800
of what Agility Prime is as well as

35:27.800 --> 35:29.967
some of the results that have produced

35:29.967 --> 35:31.967
have been produced by the program .

35:37.440 --> 35:41.110
Can you hear me ? Agility Prime is a

35:41.120 --> 35:44.400
way that we use our S and T . Money .

35:44.400 --> 35:46.178
Are small business money to get

35:46.178 --> 35:48.300
industry that's out there investing

35:48.300 --> 35:51.060
their own money on new technologies and

35:51.060 --> 35:53.650
especially in this case with the um

35:53.660 --> 35:57.250
electric lift capabilities that they

35:57.250 --> 35:59.472
might be investing in for other reasons

35:59.472 --> 36:01.583
and seeing where that can benefit our

36:01.583 --> 36:03.940
military . So if they found a way for

36:03.950 --> 36:07.090
electric battery life to last longer ,

36:07.130 --> 36:09.352
that would be beneficial for us if they

36:09.352 --> 36:11.408
found a better way to sustain um and

36:11.408 --> 36:13.370
support and have lower cost for

36:13.370 --> 36:15.426
sustainment , That's something we're

36:15.426 --> 36:17.203
looking at . So there have been

36:17.203 --> 36:19.370
multiple companies that we've invested

36:19.370 --> 36:21.426
given money to allow them to use our

36:21.426 --> 36:23.648
ranges and go off and demonstrate their

36:23.648 --> 36:25.259
capability , work on getting

36:25.259 --> 36:28.600
certifications for airworthiness and

36:28.610 --> 36:31.440
with the expectation that there will be

36:31.440 --> 36:34.240
uses for that capability in the future .

36:34.630 --> 36:36.852
Um and we're working with our operators

36:36.852 --> 36:39.520
to see where there are good matches if

36:39.520 --> 36:41.940
you will for that . And it's proven to

36:41.940 --> 36:44.680
be very interesting and and industry is

36:44.690 --> 36:47.890
quite interested in participating in

36:47.890 --> 36:50.500
that because they would like to be able

36:50.500 --> 36:52.556
to help the Department of Defense in

36:52.556 --> 36:54.556
the future . And they do see that .

36:54.556 --> 36:56.667
Okay . I'd like to just put in a plug

36:56.667 --> 36:58.556
for University of Tennessee Space

36:58.556 --> 37:00.667
Institute . I know they're working on

37:00.667 --> 37:02.778
some of the problems with the battery

37:02.778 --> 37:02.770
and power source issues , so we're glad

37:02.770 --> 37:05.320
to help out . Um if you want to stop

37:05.320 --> 37:07.487
there . Yeah , but we're going to have

37:07.487 --> 37:09.487
to recess . We're going to take two

37:09.487 --> 37:11.487
votes . Uh just to bring it to your

37:11.487 --> 37:13.431
attention . We were just told that

37:13.431 --> 37:15.209
former Defense Secretary Donald

37:15.209 --> 37:17.042
Rumsfeld passed away . Certainly

37:17.042 --> 37:18.876
somebody who gave very much this

37:18.876 --> 37:20.931
country with that . We'll recess and

37:20.931 --> 37:24.230
we'll be back in short while

37:31.230 --> 37:33.630
we'll call this committee hearing back

37:33.630 --> 37:37.060
to order . Uh We understand Mr Hartford

37:37.070 --> 37:40.350
is on webex . Can you hear me steve

37:41.820 --> 37:45.390
steve going once , going

37:45.390 --> 37:48.050
twice and you'll get back to us ?

37:48.830 --> 37:52.140
Obviously people are in between votes

37:52.430 --> 37:54.152
and we appreciate against your

37:54.152 --> 37:57.250
indulgence . Uh So that's uh

37:58.530 --> 38:00.750
back to me . Thank you . Uh

38:02.420 --> 38:05.460
number of things uh that have gone on

38:05.460 --> 38:08.460
and I want to go to you Mr Bush and

38:08.460 --> 38:11.450
talk about the multiyear request . And

38:13.720 --> 38:16.370
why is this important ? Obviously

38:16.370 --> 38:19.980
timing complexity but generally cost is

38:19.980 --> 38:22.910
a big factor . Mhm . Why is this

38:22.910 --> 38:26.210
important this programs that you

38:26.220 --> 38:28.470
indicated that we go for a multi year

38:28.470 --> 38:32.060
on that ? So thanks Mr Chairman . Um

38:32.060 --> 38:34.393
So one reason of course is cost savings .

38:34.393 --> 38:36.800
So the army um current estimate that

38:36.810 --> 38:38.532
delivered to the committee for

38:38.532 --> 38:40.754
Blackhawk and Apache combined as half a

38:40.754 --> 38:43.150
billion dollars . That could be

38:44.520 --> 38:46.740
over the five years of the , sorry ,

38:46.740 --> 38:48.907
sir ? Over the five years of the multi

38:48.907 --> 38:51.310
years . Um So that's one reason . And

38:51.310 --> 38:54.180
we would uh yes and possibly hopefully

38:54.180 --> 38:56.236
be able to keep that and invested in

38:56.236 --> 38:58.347
other aviation . Um The second reason

38:58.347 --> 39:00.180
is industrial base stability and

39:00.180 --> 39:03.040
predictability . Um It is a which is

39:03.040 --> 39:04.873
where you get the cost savings ,

39:04.873 --> 39:07.040
they're able to do long term contracts

39:07.040 --> 39:09.262
for things and get discount prices . Um

39:09.262 --> 39:11.207
It also ensures the Army has those

39:11.207 --> 39:14.370
those uh production lines um running

39:14.380 --> 39:16.269
and then we have a known to known

39:16.269 --> 39:18.213
production lines . It'll be firm .

39:18.820 --> 39:20.931
Thank you . Actually . It leads right

39:20.931 --> 39:22.820
into my second question about our

39:22.820 --> 39:26.070
industrial base . Uh We're always going

39:26.070 --> 39:28.960
through changes evaluating new

39:28.960 --> 39:32.560
technologies coming before us . But at

39:32.560 --> 39:34.540
the end of the day having the

39:34.540 --> 39:36.890
industrial base within the control of

39:36.890 --> 39:39.130
the United States and that has an

39:39.130 --> 39:41.640
asterisk next to it because , you know ,

39:41.640 --> 39:43.862
this is incredibly important . We found

39:43.862 --> 39:45.840
out about the supply chain and

39:45.850 --> 39:48.110
vulnerabilities , but I want to talk to

39:48.110 --> 39:50.110
you about the industrial partners ,

39:50.110 --> 39:52.110
particularly on our future vertical

39:52.110 --> 39:54.460
lift . Um there are some major

39:54.460 --> 39:56.571
contractors , obviously they're doing

39:56.571 --> 39:59.230
very well , but when we shift away from

39:59.230 --> 40:01.500
some of the , I don't like using the

40:01.500 --> 40:04.750
term legacy , but platforms have been

40:04.750 --> 40:07.430
used for a while . Sometimes we get

40:07.430 --> 40:10.740
down to one supplier for critical part .

40:11.510 --> 40:13.870
Um we don't do this alone , we do it

40:13.870 --> 40:16.860
with our industrial partners . When we

40:16.860 --> 40:19.320
look at the future vertical left to

40:19.320 --> 40:21.376
program that you're reducing risks ,

40:21.376 --> 40:23.890
we've had some great demonstrators talk

40:23.890 --> 40:26.057
to me about the industrial base if you

40:26.057 --> 40:28.790
would general and how important that is ,

40:28.800 --> 40:31.940
particularly when we look at

40:31.950 --> 40:34.580
developing that next generation of

40:34.580 --> 40:37.240
workforce who hears the same narrative

40:37.240 --> 40:39.462
day and day out to make it in America ,

40:39.462 --> 40:41.684
you got to go to college , but you know

40:41.684 --> 40:43.740
what ? That's great , but somebody's

40:43.740 --> 40:45.684
got to build the things and that's

40:45.684 --> 40:47.851
where it comes back to that industrial

40:47.851 --> 40:50.073
base . Would you shed some light on our

40:50.073 --> 40:53.940
industrial partners ? Thanks very

40:53.940 --> 40:56.250
much , Chairman for that question . Um ,

40:56.260 --> 40:59.680
first , the necessity and the

40:59.680 --> 41:02.240
vitality of our industrial base

41:02.710 --> 41:05.690
directly influences our enduring

41:05.690 --> 41:08.870
readiness . We don't build our own

41:08.870 --> 41:12.440
parts for the most part . Um , we don't

41:12.810 --> 41:16.740
have the sustainability and repair on

41:16.740 --> 41:19.450
our own without our industrial partners ,

41:19.460 --> 41:22.330
our industry partners . So it's

41:22.330 --> 41:25.090
absolutely vital across our enduring

41:25.090 --> 41:27.201
fleet and that's the term that we are

41:27.201 --> 41:29.257
using for those aircraft that we may

41:29.257 --> 41:31.480
not be modernizing substantially , but

41:31.480 --> 41:33.480
we know that we are going to retain

41:33.480 --> 41:35.610
them in our fleet for a substantial

41:35.610 --> 41:37.388
amount of time and they have an

41:37.388 --> 41:39.750
important contribution to make the

41:39.760 --> 41:42.730
patchy the Blackhawk chinook . They're

41:42.730 --> 41:44.952
part of our enduring fleet . We are not

41:44.952 --> 41:47.320
divesting comprehensively of those .

41:47.330 --> 41:49.810
They have a place and we need to

41:49.810 --> 41:52.240
maintain those , those aircraft ready

41:52.610 --> 41:55.820
and have part streams and repair parts

41:55.820 --> 41:58.240
for those for the foreseeable future .

41:58.810 --> 42:01.700
We work very closely with our teammates

42:01.700 --> 42:05.100
and assault as well as Army material

42:05.100 --> 42:08.760
Command to ensure that we have

42:08.770 --> 42:11.590
viability in the industrial base to

42:11.590 --> 42:13.820
include suppliers for those with

42:13.820 --> 42:16.042
respect to the workforce . I've had the

42:16.042 --> 42:19.210
pleasure of visiting , um , locations ,

42:19.220 --> 42:22.180
uh , all of our major

42:22.180 --> 42:25.240
manufacturers and meet the craftsmen

42:25.240 --> 42:28.830
and women on the floor who provide us

42:28.830 --> 42:31.150
with these incredible world class

42:31.150 --> 42:33.950
capabilities that we've taken to combat

42:33.950 --> 42:36.590
and brought home again and thank them

42:36.600 --> 42:39.610
for their contributions , their

42:39.610 --> 42:41.710
commitment and their part that they

42:41.710 --> 42:44.350
play in our national defense . So the

42:44.360 --> 42:47.720
workforce , um , in our industry

42:47.720 --> 42:51.430
partners , an absolute vital portion of

42:51.430 --> 42:54.440
our overall efforts . Thank you . Thank

42:54.440 --> 42:57.470
you . And certainly it should certainly

42:57.480 --> 43:00.520
be noted that during Covid obviously

43:00.520 --> 43:02.576
the servicemen and women never got a

43:02.576 --> 43:04.798
break . But for those in our industrial

43:04.798 --> 43:07.320
base who went to work every day

43:07.330 --> 43:09.330
particularly early on when they had

43:09.330 --> 43:11.052
little knowledge of how it was

43:11.052 --> 43:13.980
spreading . Uh We thank them also

43:13.980 --> 43:17.390
because we would not be here today if

43:17.400 --> 43:19.920
somehow this industrial base stopped .

43:19.930 --> 43:22.097
And we really appreciate all those who

43:22.097 --> 43:24.770
put themselves out there . Uh Just want

43:24.770 --> 43:27.270
to shift quickly over to uh miss

43:27.270 --> 43:29.980
Costello subcommittee obviously has

43:29.980 --> 43:32.470
been supportive of the army and and so

43:32.470 --> 43:34.730
common led efforts for the degraded

43:34.730 --> 43:37.300
visual environment or the D . V .

43:37.310 --> 43:39.750
System for helicopters . And we're

43:39.750 --> 43:41.639
really pleased that the Air Force

43:41.639 --> 43:43.639
joined the effort . Uh and I talked

43:43.639 --> 43:45.583
about how we can work together and

43:45.583 --> 43:47.694
budgeted the system For the current H

43:47.694 --> 43:51.540
60 G helicopter . Now , in the 22

43:51.540 --> 43:55.310
requests it's cancelled . Uh

43:56.100 --> 43:58.080
Can you share with us the thought

43:58.080 --> 44:01.180
process on that that we geared up and

44:01.180 --> 44:03.460
now we're hearing down quite frankly ,

44:03.460 --> 44:06.720
stopping . Uh give me a little bit of

44:06.720 --> 44:09.710
history of why we are , where we are

44:09.710 --> 44:12.500
today . Um

44:15.290 --> 44:18.920
So as the as the

44:18.930 --> 44:21.920
timeline for the aircraft moved out to

44:21.920 --> 44:23.642
the right and the timeline for

44:23.642 --> 44:26.120
integration of that , the basically the

44:26.120 --> 44:28.231
return on investment of what would be

44:28.231 --> 44:30.453
able to install it before we would be ,

44:30.453 --> 44:32.564
you know , removing the aircraft from

44:32.564 --> 44:34.398
our inventory became part of the

44:34.398 --> 44:36.850
equation and that led to , you know ,

44:36.860 --> 44:39.027
assessing the risk of what we're going

44:39.027 --> 44:41.450
to fund and not fund and therefore ,

44:41.460 --> 44:43.627
Combatant Commander looked at that and

44:43.627 --> 44:46.280
decided to not fund at this point uh

44:46.290 --> 44:48.910
for that for that particular aircraft .

44:49.190 --> 44:51.246
Um I don't know if you'd like to add

44:51.246 --> 44:52.912
anything more relative to the

44:52.912 --> 44:54.968
divestiture , because that does have

44:54.968 --> 44:56.920
part to do with the equation . Mhm

44:59.490 --> 45:01.657
Yes , ma'am , thank you . So , as we ,

45:01.657 --> 45:03.712
as we change the divestiture profile

45:03.712 --> 45:05.768
for the HH 60 G and compared that as

45:05.768 --> 45:07.712
Miss Costello said to the , to the

45:07.712 --> 45:09.712
installed timeline in the amount of

45:09.712 --> 45:12.260
investment , um it just did not appear

45:12.260 --> 45:14.427
to be a good use of taxpayer dollars .

45:14.427 --> 45:16.538
It doesn't , it doesn't mean we don't

45:16.538 --> 45:18.593
believe in the system and it doesn't

45:18.593 --> 45:18.270
mean we don't believe that it's that

45:18.270 --> 45:20.492
it's very productive for the pilots and

45:20.492 --> 45:22.659
very helpful for them . It just didn't

45:22.659 --> 45:24.826
make sense in this particular case for

45:24.826 --> 45:26.937
this particular aircraft , but but we

45:26.937 --> 45:28.826
do we do share Mr . Chairman your

45:28.826 --> 45:30.659
thoughts that uh it is , it is a

45:30.659 --> 45:32.826
significant enhancement for the pilots

45:32.826 --> 45:35.048
and and we'll continue to look as we go

45:35.048 --> 45:34.440
forward with new fleets and

45:34.440 --> 45:36.710
incorporating that into into either the

45:36.710 --> 45:38.543
baseline configuration or into a

45:38.543 --> 45:41.920
modification later on , always .

45:42.790 --> 45:45.720
So the dollars that were expended , uh ,

45:47.590 --> 45:49.650
they just don't get lost . That

45:49.650 --> 45:51.594
technology is being forward to the

45:51.594 --> 45:54.480
newer platform . So we have the , we

45:54.480 --> 45:56.480
have the opportunity to incorporate

45:56.480 --> 45:58.647
that into the new aircraft . It is not

45:58.647 --> 46:00.924
a part of the baseline to my knowledge ,

46:00.924 --> 46:02.813
but we do have the opportunity to

46:02.813 --> 46:04.924
incorporate it in . And as we're able

46:04.924 --> 46:04.690
with available funds , that's something

46:04.690 --> 46:06.523
that we certainly will look at .

46:06.523 --> 46:08.746
Because as I said , MR chairman , we do

46:08.746 --> 46:10.857
share your sense that it is something

46:10.857 --> 46:13.220
that's helpful . We we have funded the

46:13.230 --> 46:17.200
HH 60 W uh , to what we believe is the ,

46:17.680 --> 46:19.624
The minimum combat configuration .

46:19.624 --> 46:21.847
There are additional modifications that

46:21.847 --> 46:23.847
could go onto the airplane . But at

46:23.847 --> 46:25.958
this point with the resources that we

46:25.958 --> 46:27.958
have , not all of the modifications

46:27.958 --> 46:27.820
that were originally planned for the HH

46:27.820 --> 46:29.910
60W are included in the current

46:29.910 --> 46:32.410
aircraft . So I understand the timeline ,

46:33.280 --> 46:36.010
but how does it become less of a safety

46:36.010 --> 46:38.300
issue that you wouldn't incorporate it ?

46:39.380 --> 46:42.210
I mr Chairman , I don't know that . I

46:42.210 --> 46:44.432
would say that , first of all , I don't

46:44.432 --> 46:47.370
know that . I would say that it is a um

46:47.380 --> 46:49.324
that it's a requirement for a safe

46:49.324 --> 46:51.491
aircraft . It is an enhancement to the

46:51.491 --> 46:53.602
aircraft . It does improve safety but

46:53.602 --> 46:55.491
we don't believe it's a safety of

46:55.491 --> 46:57.436
flight issue to not have it on the

46:57.436 --> 46:59.491
aircraft . Um And and as I mentioned

46:59.491 --> 47:01.602
that technology will be available for

47:01.602 --> 47:03.824
the HH 60 W . But as we accelerated the

47:03.824 --> 47:05.880
timeline for the G model compared to

47:05.880 --> 47:07.880
the installation timeline , it just

47:07.880 --> 47:10.047
didn't seem to make fiscal , it didn't

47:10.047 --> 47:12.324
seem to be fiscally responsible . Okay ,

47:12.324 --> 47:14.491
I don't understand . Let me hold up on

47:14.491 --> 47:16.491
that and deferring Mrs Hart , sir .

47:16.491 --> 47:18.890
Thank you . Lieutenant General Wise ,

47:18.900 --> 47:22.180
I'd like to discuss the CH 53 K heavy

47:22.180 --> 47:24.670
lift helicopter program and how the

47:24.670 --> 47:27.260
Marine Corps plans to control costs now

47:27.260 --> 47:29.149
and through the life cycle of the

47:29.149 --> 47:31.204
program . Right now , we're buying a

47:31.204 --> 47:33.630
helicopter with a higher Unit costs

47:33.630 --> 47:35.500
than the F- 35

47:37.380 --> 47:40.080
CH 53 K costs were hovering around

47:40.080 --> 47:43.880
$125 million . A copy in

47:43.980 --> 47:47.020
fy 21 costs should decrease once the

47:47.020 --> 47:49.242
program gets too full rate production .

47:49.480 --> 47:51.480
But now I see that the Marine Corps

47:51.480 --> 47:53.720
plans to procure only nine aircraft

47:53.720 --> 47:56.090
this year down from the 11 projected in

47:56.090 --> 47:59.830
Fy 21 fight up Decreasing procurement

47:59.830 --> 48:01.830
numbers has become a trend over the

48:01.830 --> 48:03.774
past few years . Combined with the

48:03.774 --> 48:05.941
marine course , current plan to reduce

48:05.941 --> 48:09.320
from 8 to 5 squadrons , Is it

48:09.330 --> 48:11.770
also the Marine Corps plan to truncate

48:11.770 --> 48:14.210
the CH 53 K procurement at a number

48:14.210 --> 48:16.321
below the current requirement for 200

48:16.321 --> 48:18.540
aircraft . And if so , how will this

48:18.540 --> 48:21.170
impact that current unit cost per

48:21.170 --> 48:21.900
aircraft ?

48:25.870 --> 48:27.870
Senior ranking member ? I very much

48:27.870 --> 48:30.620
appreciate the question . The uh for

48:30.620 --> 48:33.760
the control cost piece of uh of it . I

48:33.760 --> 48:35.830
mean , that's as you know , we've

48:35.830 --> 48:37.941
attacked that in two directions . One

48:37.941 --> 48:40.163
is trying to drive down the unit cost ,

48:40.470 --> 48:43.240
Which is worthy of discussion . The

48:43.250 --> 48:45.870
unit cost on Lot five , which was this

48:45.870 --> 48:49.080
year is 97

48:49.090 --> 48:53.000
million per copy . Uh the uh

48:53.470 --> 48:56.070
Where we are going in 22 , it appears

48:56.070 --> 48:58.450
it's going to be about 94 , so it is on

48:58.450 --> 49:00.590
the way down and and at this point it

49:00.590 --> 49:03.490
is down below the cost of uh of an F35

49:03.490 --> 49:05.601
and trending in the right direction .

49:05.601 --> 49:08.320
Uh so a lot of the reductions in

49:08.320 --> 49:11.100
numbers over recent history really had

49:11.100 --> 49:14.580
to do with uh trying to do risk

49:14.580 --> 49:16.636
reduction initiatives to get through

49:16.636 --> 49:19.510
some of the challenges , but right now

49:19.510 --> 49:21.510
we've actually had great success in

49:21.510 --> 49:23.621
getting through those challenges like

49:23.621 --> 49:25.870
engine gas re ingestion has been uh

49:25.880 --> 49:29.120
we're actually passed that now , so uh

49:29.130 --> 49:32.890
as we get ready to start into um uh

49:32.900 --> 49:36.080
IOT any , so operational tests were

49:36.080 --> 49:38.510
actually starting next month , we're

49:38.510 --> 49:40.732
seeing some fairly impressive readiness

49:40.732 --> 49:42.954
rates for the test birds that are going

49:42.954 --> 49:45.121
to be doing that operational test . So

49:45.121 --> 49:47.730
there is some good news stories as we

49:47.730 --> 49:49.341
have done the risk reduction

49:49.341 --> 49:51.508
initiatives and help driven down costs

49:51.508 --> 49:54.040
for procurement . It also goes into the

49:54.040 --> 49:56.210
sustainment side of the house , things

49:56.210 --> 49:59.090
like uh performance based logistics ,

49:59.100 --> 50:01.250
starting early with that platform to

50:01.250 --> 50:03.580
get some of those parts into

50:03.590 --> 50:05.910
performance based logistics contracts

50:05.910 --> 50:07.799
to keep driving down the cost and

50:07.799 --> 50:10.021
incentivized industry to drive down the

50:10.021 --> 50:12.077
cost . So there's , there's a lot of

50:12.077 --> 50:14.132
good things happening right there as

50:14.132 --> 50:17.660
far as the force design question , Uh ,

50:17.670 --> 50:19.420
and reduction , the original

50:19.420 --> 50:22.600
requirement was about 220 aircraft . It

50:22.600 --> 50:25.530
was reduced to 200 in order to meet

50:25.530 --> 50:29.200
affordability . Uh , so as we look at

50:29.200 --> 50:32.230
force design and how that will affect

50:32.230 --> 50:36.210
that program , uh , it if there is a

50:36.210 --> 50:38.500
reduction , it will probably be less

50:38.500 --> 50:41.020
than we , we would normally think had

50:41.020 --> 50:42.909
we actually bought the program of

50:42.909 --> 50:44.964
record , that was the requirement to

50:44.964 --> 50:48.360
begin with . But as we get to

50:48.370 --> 50:50.900
determining what that number is , any

50:50.900 --> 50:52.956
reduction would not happen until the

50:52.956 --> 50:55.178
end of the life cycle or the end of the

50:55.178 --> 50:57.640
program by so that would , uh , working

50:57.640 --> 51:00.700
with industry , reduce the likelihood

51:00.700 --> 51:03.240
that costs would rise , uh , depending

51:03.240 --> 51:06.310
on the last lot buys . So you're saying

51:06.320 --> 51:08.487
you haven't decided yet whether you're

51:08.487 --> 51:10.653
going to go below 200 and that will be

51:10.653 --> 51:12.709
determined in the future . And if so

51:12.709 --> 51:14.876
it'll be the last lot gets cut . Yes ,

51:14.876 --> 51:17.130
Ma'am . It is , if we do and it is

51:17.130 --> 51:20.470
possible . Absolute . It just won't be

51:20.470 --> 51:22.526
as low as you might think if you did

51:22.526 --> 51:24.710
like the straight math for it Because

51:24.710 --> 51:27.300
of the requirement being to 20

51:27.310 --> 51:29.421
initially . And part of that was also

51:29.421 --> 51:32.850
based on a uh , an attrition rate that

51:32.860 --> 51:35.880
had not been updated to current models .

51:35.890 --> 51:38.870
So , uh , so it , it could go below 200

51:38.870 --> 51:41.092
and it , it may , but I'm not sure it's

51:41.092 --> 51:44.250
going to go grossly below . Yeah , sure .

51:44.250 --> 51:46.710
We'll go closely below . Grossly below .

51:46.710 --> 51:50.370
I don't think go , uh , here's mud all

51:50.370 --> 51:54.220
of this general terms here . Okay , so

51:54.230 --> 51:56.420
thank you . Last question Mr Bush ,

51:56.430 --> 51:58.652
It's my understanding that the army and

51:58.652 --> 52:00.819
the contractor on the improved turbine

52:00.819 --> 52:02.986
engine program . The I tap have worked

52:02.986 --> 52:05.200
through the manufacturing difficulties

52:05.200 --> 52:07.470
posed in the last year by Covid to keep

52:07.470 --> 52:10.020
I tap on schedule . However , previous

52:10.020 --> 52:12.131
year plans to accelerate the schedule

52:12.131 --> 52:14.610
have not been , have now been ruled

52:14.610 --> 52:17.440
infeasible . How confident are you that

52:17.440 --> 52:19.710
I tap can remain on schedule for

52:19.710 --> 52:21.850
integration onto the future . Attack

52:21.850 --> 52:23.739
and reconnaissance aircraft ? The

52:23.739 --> 52:26.130
Farrah . And what risk do you see for

52:26.130 --> 52:29.910
the program in FY 22 funding ? Uh , if

52:29.910 --> 52:32.400
it is not provided the requested levels

52:32.410 --> 52:34.590
and what risk would a cr post the

52:34.590 --> 52:35.701
program timelines .

52:38.350 --> 52:40.294
Thanks for the question man . So a

52:40.294 --> 52:42.350
couple of those I'm going to have to

52:42.350 --> 52:44.350
get back to you on , but let me see

52:44.350 --> 52:46.710
best I can do here . Um , so , uh , of

52:46.710 --> 52:48.880
course the engine is vital for the

52:48.890 --> 52:51.480
Apache and Blackhawk future as well as

52:51.480 --> 52:53.630
the Farrah . So it's a program the

52:53.630 --> 52:55.797
army's committed to as you know , went

52:55.797 --> 52:58.019
through many years with two vendors and

52:58.019 --> 53:00.241
now we have one that did encounter uh ,

53:00.241 --> 53:02.186
covid related in their case , uh ,

53:02.186 --> 53:04.870
difficulties . Um , I think Any

53:04.870 --> 53:06.926
reduction from the 22 requests would

53:06.926 --> 53:10.060
put our um , current plan at risk . Um ,

53:10.070 --> 53:13.750
but as far as detailed estimate

53:13.750 --> 53:17.240
regarding potential additional uh ,

53:17.250 --> 53:19.306
delays , I would have to get back to

53:19.306 --> 53:21.528
you on that man . Okay . Thank you very

53:21.528 --> 53:24.660
much . You're back . Thank you . I

53:24.660 --> 53:26.716
understand . We have Mr horse furred

53:27.050 --> 53:30.720
gentlemen from Nevada . Thank you .

53:30.730 --> 53:32.786
Thank you very much for chairman and

53:32.786 --> 53:36.450
the ranking member . Thank you as ,

53:36.460 --> 53:39.430
as uh , well to our witnesses for your

53:39.430 --> 53:43.220
service and testimony today . Army

53:43.220 --> 53:45.164
National Guard aviators in my home

53:45.164 --> 53:47.760
state of Nevada play an important role

53:47.760 --> 53:49.760
in protecting the communities in my

53:49.760 --> 53:51.649
district from the ever increasing

53:51.649 --> 53:54.380
threat posed by wildfires . I'm very

53:54.380 --> 53:56.610
proud of the work done every year by

53:56.610 --> 53:59.620
both our Army National Guard U . H . 60

53:59.620 --> 54:03.560
black Hawk and CH 47 chinook

54:03.570 --> 54:06.590
aircrews as well as the C 1 30 pilots

54:06.590 --> 54:08.534
of the Nevada Air National Guard .

54:09.040 --> 54:11.610
Aerial firefighting provides the Nevada

54:11.610 --> 54:14.010
division of Forestry and the U . S .

54:14.010 --> 54:15.843
Forest Service with an important

54:15.843 --> 54:18.220
resource that can protect firefighters

54:18.230 --> 54:21.080
on the ground by making precise drops

54:21.080 --> 54:23.540
that often prove critical in shaping

54:23.540 --> 54:26.520
the fight against wildfires . While it

54:26.520 --> 54:29.140
is not their primary purpose , the

54:29.150 --> 54:31.710
aerial firefighting missions conducted

54:31.720 --> 54:35.270
by the Nevada National Guard are some

54:35.270 --> 54:38.100
of the most dangerous missions they fly

54:38.110 --> 54:41.370
to include flying in combat . For that .

54:41.380 --> 54:43.436
For that reason , I think it's vital

54:43.436 --> 54:45.547
that the crews flying these dangerous

54:45.547 --> 54:47.380
missions have access to the most

54:47.380 --> 54:50.560
capable platforms and modern um

54:51.140 --> 54:53.700
systems available both in my state and

54:53.700 --> 54:57.190
across the west . Uh So Mr Bush and

54:57.190 --> 54:59.400
General Peterson , how does the Army

54:59.400 --> 55:01.810
factor in missions like aerial

55:01.820 --> 55:05.050
firefighting into basing decisions for

55:05.060 --> 55:08.300
upgraded uhh sixties ? Given the

55:08.300 --> 55:11.100
consistent increase in demand for these

55:11.100 --> 55:13.840
types submissions and the extreme risks

55:13.930 --> 55:15.940
that they pose to air .

55:20.140 --> 55:22.362
Thank you very much for that question .

55:22.362 --> 55:24.540
First , I'd like to share um your

55:24.540 --> 55:27.700
enthusiastic support and appreciation

55:27.710 --> 55:31.450
for the role that are Army National

55:31.450 --> 55:34.050
Guard and our Army Reserve units play

55:34.050 --> 55:37.400
in in the defense of our homeland and

55:37.400 --> 55:41.260
in vital civil support missions

55:41.840 --> 55:45.170
with respect to specific prioritization

55:45.540 --> 55:48.300
for fielding of

55:48.470 --> 55:51.590
modernization capabilities . Those

55:51.590 --> 55:54.640
fielding decisions within the Army

55:54.640 --> 55:57.390
National Guard are prioritized by the

55:57.390 --> 56:00.320
Army Guard and the Guard Bureau with

56:00.320 --> 56:04.030
consultation and cooperation with the

56:04.030 --> 56:07.440
Army staff , um but

56:07.450 --> 56:10.090
primarily based on the contributions

56:10.090 --> 56:12.450
they will make to our wartime missions

56:12.930 --> 56:16.070
um for those combat aircraft , that is

56:16.070 --> 56:18.330
their primary contribution . Although

56:18.330 --> 56:21.580
there day in day out mission is very

56:21.580 --> 56:24.950
vital and is clearly recognized . The

56:24.960 --> 56:28.180
modernization priorities for our combat

56:28.180 --> 56:31.090
platforms is largely based

56:31.100 --> 56:34.420
on the wartime traces the

56:34.420 --> 56:36.587
contributions that those organizations

56:36.587 --> 56:39.340
will make in a large scale combat

56:39.350 --> 56:42.660
operation fight . Mhm .

56:45.430 --> 56:49.240
Thank you . On a similar note , it's my

56:49.240 --> 56:51.351
understanding that Special Operations

56:51.351 --> 56:53.210
Command will soon complete the

56:53.210 --> 56:55.800
integration of the degraded visual

56:55.810 --> 56:58.940
environment , a heritage system or the

56:58.940 --> 57:02.110
D . B . E . Um given the

57:02.110 --> 57:06.000
similar issues around

57:06.010 --> 57:09.230
the risk of brownout or otherwise

57:09.230 --> 57:11.520
severely degraded visual environments

57:11.530 --> 57:14.580
faced by air crews conducting aerial

57:14.590 --> 57:17.320
firefighting missions . I'm curious if

57:17.320 --> 57:19.640
the army have considered building the

57:19.640 --> 57:22.390
systems to National Guard crews tasked

57:22.390 --> 57:24.730
with this mission . Um Does the army

57:24.730 --> 57:26.897
currently intend to procure additional

57:26.897 --> 57:29.600
D . DV systems for National Guard

57:29.610 --> 57:32.350
aviation units who frequently conduct

57:32.360 --> 57:35.150
aerial firefighting missions ? I don't

57:35.150 --> 57:39.150
think so . That's a uh

57:39.160 --> 57:42.400
another great question With respect to

57:42.400 --> 57:45.290
R . D . V . E . Uh , Investments right

57:45.290 --> 57:47.401
now in our developmental program , we

57:47.401 --> 57:51.130
currently have 15 of the developmental

57:51.130 --> 57:54.460
systems fielded on HH 60

57:54.830 --> 57:58.450
Medevac Blackhawks in 25 fielded with

57:58.460 --> 58:01.410
our special operations forces . Um ,

58:01.420 --> 58:03.870
interestingly my most recent actual

58:03.870 --> 58:05.759
flight , an aircraft . Just a few

58:05.759 --> 58:07.759
months ago , I was in a D . V . E .

58:07.759 --> 58:11.360
Equipped MH 47 G at Fort Campbell and

58:11.370 --> 58:15.180
the contribution of that system to a

58:15.190 --> 58:18.070
combat profile as well as enhancing

58:18.070 --> 58:21.950
safety um , is substantial and

58:21.960 --> 58:25.190
is very relevant . Um , We are using

58:25.190 --> 58:27.680
these initial prototype or

58:27.680 --> 58:30.440
developmental fielding's to inform a

58:30.440 --> 58:33.090
long term strategy and long term

58:33.090 --> 58:36.570
requirements and we have an additional

58:36.580 --> 58:39.570
initial requirements document currently

58:39.570 --> 58:42.820
in staffing that will inform longer

58:42.820 --> 58:45.860
term Army strategy and investments . I

58:45.860 --> 58:48.100
do not believe that uh , that we have

58:48.100 --> 58:50.300
openly discussed and considered the

58:50.300 --> 58:52.370
contribution this could make in in

58:52.370 --> 58:54.259
aerial firefighting , but we will

58:54.259 --> 58:56.481
certainly take that for consideration .

58:56.481 --> 58:59.480
Thank you . Thank you very much . I

58:59.480 --> 59:01.536
look forward to working with you and

59:01.536 --> 59:03.702
the committee to improve the safety of

59:03.702 --> 59:05.536
the crews flying these dangerous

59:05.536 --> 59:07.702
missions . Thank you . Mr Chairman and

59:07.702 --> 59:09.758
Madam , ranking member . And I yield

59:09.758 --> 59:13.000
back thank you . Steve appreciate those

59:13.010 --> 59:16.200
questions . Fire fighting

59:16.210 --> 59:19.240
things that get smoke ,

59:20.020 --> 59:22.510
unfamiliar areas . It's certainly

59:23.220 --> 59:24.998
reminds us of the couple of the

59:24.998 --> 59:27.164
accidents . I know the one in Iraq and

59:27.164 --> 59:29.520
certainly our base in Afghanistan with

59:29.520 --> 59:32.740
the cable going up incredibly important .

59:32.750 --> 59:36.150
Uh , so Mrs Hart sir doesn't have any

59:36.150 --> 59:38.261
other questions . I have one and uh ,

59:38.261 --> 59:41.720
this is sort of a , I want to say slow

59:41.720 --> 59:43.498
pitch but certainly to get your

59:43.498 --> 59:45.664
feedback on that . When we look at the

59:45.664 --> 59:47.780
innovation and technology upgrades on

59:47.780 --> 59:50.000
many of what we're looking for in the

59:50.000 --> 59:52.950
future . And the rotary wing ah

59:53.320 --> 59:55.390
incorporating capabilities like

59:55.400 --> 59:58.370
unmanned flight on major new platforms

59:58.370 --> 01:00:01.860
and some are much more focused than

01:00:01.870 --> 01:00:04.760
others . But in any of these , its the

01:00:04.760 --> 01:00:07.660
complexity is something that is all

01:00:07.660 --> 01:00:10.690
bounced with risk the time , the cost

01:00:10.700 --> 01:00:12.860
on these platforms . Would each of

01:00:12.860 --> 01:00:14.971
services discuss what innovation your

01:00:14.971 --> 01:00:17.470
services expect out of these future

01:00:17.470 --> 01:00:20.070
systems and how far along you are in

01:00:20.070 --> 01:00:22.580
the research development and what

01:00:22.580 --> 01:00:24.800
degree you think unmanned capabilities

01:00:24.800 --> 01:00:27.030
will be part of your future fleet ?

01:00:28.210 --> 01:00:29.766
Let's start with the army .

01:00:32.210 --> 01:00:34.266
Mr Chairman . I'll start and if that

01:00:34.266 --> 01:00:36.154
could turn to General Peterson on

01:00:36.154 --> 01:00:38.154
requirements . Um so army does have

01:00:38.154 --> 01:00:40.154
multiple unmanned aircraft programs

01:00:40.154 --> 01:00:42.790
underway . The the overall , if I could

01:00:42.790 --> 01:00:45.012
describe this way is more of a thinking

01:00:45.012 --> 01:00:47.123
of them as part of a team with manned

01:00:47.123 --> 01:00:49.520
aircraft . So it's they're they're not

01:00:49.520 --> 01:00:51.520
operate completely independently in

01:00:51.520 --> 01:00:53.409
most cases but teamed with manned

01:00:53.409 --> 01:00:55.610
aircraft including even small USSR

01:00:55.610 --> 01:00:57.777
launched through the for example , the

01:00:57.777 --> 01:00:59.760
air launch effects S and T . And

01:00:59.770 --> 01:01:01.750
experimentation efforts that can

01:01:01.760 --> 01:01:03.982
possibly do different missions for us .

01:01:03.982 --> 01:01:06.880
So I think moving along those lines to

01:01:06.880 --> 01:01:09.102
where we can get better teaming between

01:01:09.102 --> 01:01:11.269
manned and unmanned aircraft , I think

01:01:11.269 --> 01:01:13.324
it's still the Army's overall plan .

01:01:13.324 --> 01:01:15.491
While other efforts are underway and I

01:01:15.491 --> 01:01:17.547
turned General Pearson to talk about

01:01:17.547 --> 01:01:16.640
requirements .

01:01:21.810 --> 01:01:23.730
Specifically some of the baseline

01:01:23.730 --> 01:01:25.730
technologies that are already being

01:01:25.730 --> 01:01:28.980
explored and demonstrated in both Flora

01:01:28.980 --> 01:01:31.460
and Farrah will provide a foundation

01:01:31.460 --> 01:01:34.170
for us to move forward um with either

01:01:34.170 --> 01:01:38.050
optionally man partially manned or uh

01:01:38.060 --> 01:01:40.900
advanced elements of unmanned unmanned

01:01:40.900 --> 01:01:44.110
Teaming uh fly by wire technology with

01:01:44.120 --> 01:01:47.640
our our flight controls , the digital

01:01:47.640 --> 01:01:51.310
backbone . Um The modular open system

01:01:51.310 --> 01:01:53.840
architecture that allows us to

01:01:53.840 --> 01:01:56.920
integrate emergent capabilities um in

01:01:56.930 --> 01:01:59.710
in our aircraft for the future will all

01:01:59.710 --> 01:02:02.510
provide a foundation and a launching

01:02:02.510 --> 01:02:04.490
point for these options or

01:02:04.490 --> 01:02:07.990
opportunities . Additionally , uh , the

01:02:07.990 --> 01:02:11.680
armies continued investment in AI and

01:02:11.680 --> 01:02:14.010
machine learning will provide us the

01:02:14.010 --> 01:02:17.140
technological foundation uh , for the

01:02:17.140 --> 01:02:19.630
decision making or the automation that

01:02:19.630 --> 01:02:21.186
will allow these uh , these

01:02:21.186 --> 01:02:23.530
capabilities to move forward not only

01:02:23.530 --> 01:02:25.990
in our rotary wing platforms but in

01:02:26.000 --> 01:02:29.270
other aspects of our advanced combat

01:02:29.270 --> 01:02:30.992
capabilities and modernization

01:02:30.992 --> 01:02:34.850
priorities . You will be ready

01:02:34.850 --> 01:02:37.320
for it and the technology you believe

01:02:37.320 --> 01:02:39.487
will be there in an appropriate way at

01:02:39.487 --> 01:02:42.790
an appropriate cost . Yeah , we are

01:02:42.790 --> 01:02:44.901
absolutely investing in it and making

01:02:44.901 --> 01:02:47.068
progress . I would hesitate to to give

01:02:47.068 --> 01:02:49.840
a date time group for integration or

01:02:49.840 --> 01:02:51.951
implementation these capabilities but

01:02:51.951 --> 01:02:54.640
they are clearly a priority for a

01:02:54.640 --> 01:02:56.696
continued research and development .

01:02:57.000 --> 01:03:00.950
Thank you . Our Navy Marines . Is there

01:03:00.960 --> 01:03:03.127
a again , I'll start and pass it to my

01:03:03.127 --> 01:03:05.380
my service brethren as I think you're

01:03:05.380 --> 01:03:07.324
where we have a Department of Navy

01:03:07.324 --> 01:03:09.380
unmanned Campaign plan that lays out

01:03:09.380 --> 01:03:11.547
those technologies and roadmaps to get

01:03:11.547 --> 01:03:13.547
us to the place where that like our

01:03:13.547 --> 01:03:15.769
army counterparts , we have that manned

01:03:15.769 --> 01:03:18.630
unmanned teaming of the future a little

01:03:18.630 --> 01:03:20.852
different than maybe in our case manned

01:03:20.852 --> 01:03:22.686
and unmanned aircraft , but also

01:03:22.686 --> 01:03:24.630
unmanned with ships and amphibious

01:03:24.630 --> 01:03:26.690
ships , even submarines , that

01:03:26.690 --> 01:03:28.746
connection of unmanned aircraft with

01:03:28.746 --> 01:03:32.270
both manned aircraft and ships . So

01:03:32.280 --> 01:03:34.400
with that introduction , I'll pass it

01:03:34.400 --> 01:03:38.230
over to generalize , I would

01:03:38.230 --> 01:03:41.260
say for the Marine Corps , the uh The

01:03:41.260 --> 01:03:43.710
amount of investment into unmanned

01:03:43.710 --> 01:03:46.330
systems is increasing . Clearly for us

01:03:46.330 --> 01:03:49.970
we're going into the MQ nine a

01:03:49.970 --> 01:03:52.520
rolls now . But the other areas that

01:03:52.520 --> 01:03:54.742
we're going to are not just I . S . Are

01:03:54.742 --> 01:03:56.909
so a lot of the work that's being done

01:03:56.909 --> 01:04:00.300
by General Peterson's uh team and and

01:04:00.300 --> 01:04:02.356
actually I spend quite a bit of time

01:04:02.356 --> 01:04:04.730
with general barry as well on

01:04:04.740 --> 01:04:06.796
development of things that are gonna

01:04:06.796 --> 01:04:08.962
have logistics applications because as

01:04:08.962 --> 01:04:11.920
we look at the vastness of the pacific

01:04:11.920 --> 01:04:14.320
and trying to do distributed operations

01:04:14.320 --> 01:04:16.590
with you know capacity constraints .

01:04:16.590 --> 01:04:19.880
Can we do it with more unmanned

01:04:19.890 --> 01:04:22.770
opportunities ? But part of the

01:04:22.770 --> 01:04:24.881
constraint there is not that we don't

01:04:24.881 --> 01:04:27.048
want to do it , it's there some of the

01:04:27.048 --> 01:04:29.048
technology limitations that General

01:04:29.048 --> 01:04:31.270
Peterson was talking to like the things

01:04:31.270 --> 01:04:33.381
that make it truly autonomous . Can I

01:04:33.381 --> 01:04:35.326
can I not just get there but can I

01:04:35.326 --> 01:04:37.437
sense the zone and clear the zone and

01:04:37.437 --> 01:04:39.548
sit down so that I can get rid of the

01:04:39.548 --> 01:04:41.659
payload and go back and do it again .

01:04:41.659 --> 01:04:43.659
So a lot of opportunities coming is

01:04:43.659 --> 01:04:46.080
just maturing things uh to a point

01:04:46.080 --> 01:04:48.191
where we can invest with a reasonable

01:04:48.191 --> 01:04:50.302
certainty of success but we are going

01:04:50.302 --> 01:04:52.247
in that direction . Sure . I think

01:04:52.590 --> 01:04:55.100
Service Chairman uh from the Navy side

01:04:55.100 --> 01:04:57.156
we are already implementing our Fire

01:04:57.156 --> 01:04:59.850
Scout plan . So we've got rotary wing

01:04:59.850 --> 01:05:01.850
unmanned already in the B and the C

01:05:01.850 --> 01:05:03.850
version the sea is really about the

01:05:03.850 --> 01:05:06.000
size of a Bell 407 helicopters , so

01:05:06.000 --> 01:05:08.111
it's large and so you get some decent

01:05:08.111 --> 01:05:10.710
range out of it . Uh , utilizing the

01:05:10.710 --> 01:05:12.820
systems to do surveillance and that

01:05:12.820 --> 01:05:15.310
type of stuff . It's also part of our

01:05:15.310 --> 01:05:18.090
replacement plan for the MH 53

01:05:19.350 --> 01:05:22.030
utilizing the mine hunting capabilities

01:05:22.030 --> 01:05:25.990
of the Fire Scout uh , system . So

01:05:26.000 --> 01:05:27.889
that is a , leading to an overall

01:05:27.889 --> 01:05:30.380
family of unmanned systems . I had the

01:05:30.390 --> 01:05:32.723
pleasure of commanding the USS George H .

01:05:32.723 --> 01:05:34.723
W . Bush when we got the very first

01:05:34.723 --> 01:05:36.557
arrested landing of a fixed wing

01:05:36.557 --> 01:05:39.400
airplane unmanned . Uh , and now we've

01:05:39.410 --> 01:05:42.850
just had our first plug of an F 18 into

01:05:42.850 --> 01:05:45.000
an unmanned aerial refueling tanker .

01:05:45.010 --> 01:05:47.288
And so we're making some good progress .

01:05:47.288 --> 01:05:49.288
I'm very pleased with the way we're

01:05:49.288 --> 01:05:51.343
going and C . N . O . Is all in with

01:05:51.343 --> 01:05:53.399
our Unmanned campaign plan and so we

01:05:53.399 --> 01:05:55.621
see a significant amount of development

01:05:55.621 --> 01:05:59.520
in our future . Thank you ma'am Mr .

01:05:59.520 --> 01:06:01.798
Chairman . Thank you for your question .

01:06:01.798 --> 01:06:03.798
There are some use cases in the Air

01:06:03.798 --> 01:06:06.050
Force for unmanned aircraft of a rotary

01:06:06.050 --> 01:06:08.272
wing nature agility prime is looking at

01:06:08.272 --> 01:06:10.439
Tv tall for example and there are some

01:06:10.439 --> 01:06:12.383
great use cases for that is just a

01:06:12.383 --> 01:06:14.550
quick example . If you think about the

01:06:14.550 --> 01:06:16.717
range and Ellison the need to resupply

01:06:16.717 --> 01:06:18.939
or move things around on that range and

01:06:18.939 --> 01:06:18.800
you can do it very inexpensively . Was

01:06:18.800 --> 01:06:20.911
something like the veto . Most of the

01:06:20.911 --> 01:06:23.078
use cases that we have however are not

01:06:23.078 --> 01:06:25.920
in the rotary rotary wing world but we

01:06:25.920 --> 01:06:28.142
are exploring obviously both autonomous

01:06:28.142 --> 01:06:30.309
aircraft and manned unmanned teaming .

01:06:30.309 --> 01:06:32.476
I think the execute 58 is probably the

01:06:32.476 --> 01:06:34.531
most powerful example that we have .

01:06:34.531 --> 01:06:36.642
It's already flying and what it tends

01:06:36.642 --> 01:06:38.864
to do really , really well is performed

01:06:38.864 --> 01:06:40.809
as a node in the airborne , in the

01:06:40.809 --> 01:06:42.976
advanced battle management system . Uh

01:06:42.976 --> 01:06:45.142
communications relay a sensor . Uh and

01:06:45.142 --> 01:06:47.309
as we look to a future that is enabled

01:06:47.309 --> 01:06:49.420
by a sense Ingrid . Many of the parts

01:06:49.420 --> 01:06:51.531
of that grid will likely be formed by

01:06:51.531 --> 01:06:53.642
autonomous aircraft . So we certainly

01:06:53.642 --> 01:06:53.080
are invested in this area and it's

01:06:53.080 --> 01:06:55.191
something that we're paying attention

01:06:55.191 --> 01:06:57.413
to it , something that's important with

01:06:57.413 --> 01:06:59.469
us . The rotary wing aspect of it is

01:06:59.469 --> 01:06:59.450
not quite the heart of the use case

01:06:59.450 --> 01:07:01.394
that we have , but we do have some

01:07:01.394 --> 01:07:03.561
examples in Miss Costello has a recent

01:07:03.561 --> 01:07:05.672
one of those I'll pass to her pending

01:07:05.672 --> 01:07:05.660
any questions you have , MR Chairman .

01:07:05.670 --> 01:07:06.400
Thank you .

01:07:09.380 --> 01:07:11.500
And specifically within our Agility

01:07:11.500 --> 01:07:13.389
prime program they are looking at

01:07:13.389 --> 01:07:15.167
autonomy is one of the areas of

01:07:15.167 --> 01:07:17.389
interest . So with all of the companies

01:07:17.389 --> 01:07:19.444
that they're working , autonomy is a

01:07:19.444 --> 01:07:22.340
focus area . Uh since december of 2020

01:07:22.350 --> 01:07:24.800
the kitty hawk example autonomy for

01:07:24.800 --> 01:07:27.010
medevac exercise . They actually devon

01:07:27.020 --> 01:07:29.740
matured and optimize the heavy side

01:07:29.740 --> 01:07:32.480
prototype with autonomous flight and

01:07:32.490 --> 01:07:34.212
demonstrated the first medical

01:07:34.212 --> 01:07:36.434
evacuation by an electric aircraft . So

01:07:36.434 --> 01:07:38.268
that's the sort of thing they're

01:07:38.268 --> 01:07:40.490
investing in . And we hope to mature it

01:07:40.490 --> 01:07:42.712
and be able to leverage in the future .

01:07:42.712 --> 01:07:42.390
And of course , we're looking at an

01:07:42.390 --> 01:07:46.240
area of interest of unmanned cargo type

01:07:46.250 --> 01:07:48.780
capability also . And so those are the

01:07:48.780 --> 01:07:51.340
areas Agility Prime is working . Thank

01:07:51.340 --> 01:07:55.210
you . Mhm Mrs harper and I

01:07:55.210 --> 01:07:57.770
have to go vote , but I understand my

01:07:57.770 --> 01:07:59.937
colleague from Hawaii has a question .

01:07:59.937 --> 01:08:02.048
So I want to thank you in advance for

01:08:02.048 --> 01:08:04.410
your cooperation and working with us .

01:08:04.420 --> 01:08:08.070
Uh but uh Mr kelly will be wrapping it

01:08:08.070 --> 01:08:11.210
up and again appreciate what each of

01:08:11.210 --> 01:08:14.150
you are doing and who you represent to

01:08:14.150 --> 01:08:16.690
keep our nation safe . Thank you .

01:08:33.570 --> 01:08:35.780
All right , Mr MS charon moloch ,

01:08:35.780 --> 01:08:37.840
forgive me this opportunity to ask a

01:08:37.850 --> 01:08:40.017
few more questions that I had and then

01:08:40.017 --> 01:08:42.128
we'll wrap it up . I'll start with uh

01:08:42.270 --> 01:08:44.381
General Peterson actually , let me go

01:08:44.381 --> 01:08:47.060
back to the first question I have for

01:08:47.060 --> 01:08:50.600
General wise sir , you know , I live on

01:08:50.610 --> 01:08:53.370
the island of Hawaii but I represent

01:08:53.370 --> 01:08:55.537
Hawaii's second congressional district

01:08:55.537 --> 01:08:57.648
and this is not an issue that is just

01:08:57.648 --> 01:08:59.648
unique to Hawaii and its helicopter

01:08:59.648 --> 01:09:01.650
noise , especially around Kanye in

01:09:01.650 --> 01:09:03.810
Marine Corps Base . And as as someone

01:09:03.810 --> 01:09:06.950
who in a previous life Um operated C17

01:09:06.960 --> 01:09:09.140
out of cab for for quite a while . I I

01:09:09.150 --> 01:09:11.206
know those noise complaints from our

01:09:11.206 --> 01:09:14.610
communities out there . But as um uh

01:09:14.620 --> 01:09:16.720
you know , we're looking at um the

01:09:16.720 --> 01:09:18.776
future of Canary Marine Corps Base ,

01:09:18.776 --> 01:09:20.664
especially during weekend and and

01:09:20.664 --> 01:09:23.080
nighttime training , which is required

01:09:23.080 --> 01:09:25.450
to maintain readiness . Uh the aircraft

01:09:25.450 --> 01:09:27.850
and helicopter flights can be loud and ,

01:09:27.860 --> 01:09:30.027
you know , the base is great . They're

01:09:30.027 --> 01:09:31.860
trying to do things out there to

01:09:31.860 --> 01:09:33.916
mitigate that , but I just wanted to

01:09:33.916 --> 01:09:35.638
ask on behalf of the community

01:09:35.638 --> 01:09:35.440
organizations and the neighborhood

01:09:35.440 --> 01:09:37.760
boards that represent uh , the windward

01:09:37.760 --> 01:09:39.820
side of the island of Oahu , are you

01:09:39.820 --> 01:09:42.620
committed um , to working with those

01:09:42.620 --> 01:09:44.564
organizations , those neighborhood

01:09:44.564 --> 01:09:46.676
boards , or at least through the uh ,

01:09:46.676 --> 01:09:48.564
the base commander's that counter

01:09:48.564 --> 01:09:50.509
Marine Corps Base to address their

01:09:50.509 --> 01:09:52.620
concerns about noise and safety . And

01:09:52.620 --> 01:09:54.787
if there's anything you want to add to

01:09:54.787 --> 01:09:56.898
that , I'm sure they would appreciate

01:09:56.898 --> 01:10:00.090
hearing it from you . Yeah , sir , I

01:10:00.090 --> 01:10:02.312
appreciate the question and I do assure

01:10:02.312 --> 01:10:04.110
you that uh , the longstanding

01:10:04.110 --> 01:10:05.888
relationship we've had with the

01:10:05.888 --> 01:10:07.777
community is is I think been very

01:10:07.777 --> 01:10:09.721
positive and and for all the right

01:10:09.721 --> 01:10:11.870
reasons . Uh , and I would also say

01:10:11.870 --> 01:10:14.092
that from a course rules perspective as

01:10:14.092 --> 01:10:16.314
you're well aware , trying to make sure

01:10:16.314 --> 01:10:18.710
that we minimize the opportunity to

01:10:18.710 --> 01:10:21.810
create challenges with the community .

01:10:21.810 --> 01:10:24.590
We we always try to avoid that . Uh ,

01:10:24.600 --> 01:10:28.010
and sometimes we don't . But uh , the

01:10:28.010 --> 01:10:30.250
commitment is still there to to look at

01:10:30.250 --> 01:10:32.417
every opportunity to make sure that we

01:10:32.417 --> 01:10:35.230
are good , good partners uh , in good

01:10:35.230 --> 01:10:37.174
community partners . Because we do

01:10:37.174 --> 01:10:39.341
enjoy our relationship very much there

01:10:39.341 --> 01:10:41.619
and we will continue to work with them .

01:10:41.619 --> 01:10:43.841
Thank you for that . And as someone who

01:10:43.841 --> 01:10:46.063
represents the windward side and I know

01:10:46.063 --> 01:10:47.897
um , that they appreciate , uh ,

01:10:47.897 --> 01:10:50.119
economy , Marine Corps Base and our our

01:10:50.119 --> 01:10:52.390
military friends and families that live

01:10:52.390 --> 01:10:54.390
on the island of Oahu . Thank you .

01:10:54.390 --> 01:10:57.690
Okay , over to General Peterson , the

01:10:57.690 --> 01:10:59.900
army has consistently discussed the

01:10:59.900 --> 01:11:01.900
need for speed and range as well as

01:11:01.900 --> 01:11:04.330
survivability when it comes to future

01:11:04.330 --> 01:11:06.274
vertical lift aircraft . Could you

01:11:06.274 --> 01:11:08.441
explain to the committee why speed and

01:11:08.441 --> 01:11:10.560
range are so critical to the future

01:11:10.560 --> 01:11:12.560
long range assault aircraft and how

01:11:12.560 --> 01:11:14.770
this new technology will enable the

01:11:14.770 --> 01:11:18.280
army to leverage um , that aircraft as

01:11:18.280 --> 01:11:21.870
a power projection platform . And then

01:11:21.870 --> 01:11:23.870
how will this capability assist the

01:11:23.870 --> 01:11:25.814
army with its strategy in the indo

01:11:25.814 --> 01:11:27.850
pacific theater in that great power

01:11:27.850 --> 01:11:29.790
competition ? Uh huh .

01:11:31.560 --> 01:11:34.470
Thank you for that question . Uh in

01:11:34.960 --> 01:11:37.940
yeah , essentially , in basic terms ,

01:11:37.950 --> 01:11:41.880
what we are striving to accomplish is

01:11:42.160 --> 01:11:46.040
doubling the performance of what

01:11:46.040 --> 01:11:48.760
we have appreciated and has been

01:11:48.760 --> 01:11:50.870
exceptionally relevant for decades .

01:11:51.460 --> 01:11:55.200
Speed and range will give us

01:11:55.210 --> 01:11:57.970
a and absolutely

01:11:58.860 --> 01:12:01.027
unprecedented capability , one that we

01:12:01.027 --> 01:12:04.000
have never experienced before to

01:12:04.010 --> 01:12:07.290
disaggregate aggregate , operate from

01:12:07.290 --> 01:12:10.430
relative sanctuary and then project

01:12:10.440 --> 01:12:13.770
effects as well as forces

01:12:14.350 --> 01:12:17.820
at distances that our

01:12:17.830 --> 01:12:21.550
enemies um will not be able to predict

01:12:21.560 --> 01:12:23.720
and not be able to counter when we do

01:12:23.720 --> 01:12:26.790
this in mass . Um in the face of

01:12:26.790 --> 01:12:29.980
that determined adversity ,

01:12:30.500 --> 01:12:34.360
the speed allows us to close

01:12:34.360 --> 01:12:37.960
with our objectives at a rate

01:12:38.020 --> 01:12:40.180
where we get inside of our foes

01:12:40.180 --> 01:12:43.480
decision cycles and gives us the

01:12:43.480 --> 01:12:45.500
opportunity to concentrate those

01:12:45.500 --> 01:12:48.260
effects at the place of our choosing .

01:12:48.950 --> 01:12:51.390
The range is in the indo pacific region

01:12:51.390 --> 01:12:54.600
are obviously vast and it adds to our

01:12:54.600 --> 01:12:57.390
relevance and our contribution in that

01:12:57.390 --> 01:13:00.940
area as well . What is the impact on

01:13:00.940 --> 01:13:02.940
that note of speed and range on the

01:13:02.940 --> 01:13:05.650
medevac mission where we need to , you

01:13:05.650 --> 01:13:08.220
know , get wounded soldiers to critical

01:13:08.220 --> 01:13:11.200
care as quickly as early as safely as

01:13:11.200 --> 01:13:14.180
possible . It's absolutely game

01:13:14.180 --> 01:13:16.347
changing . It gives us the opportunity

01:13:16.347 --> 01:13:19.680
to extract uh huh wounded

01:13:19.680 --> 01:13:22.670
soldiers much more quickly and get them

01:13:22.670 --> 01:13:26.380
to the higher levels of care . Um It

01:13:26.380 --> 01:13:29.480
gives us also much more reach without

01:13:29.480 --> 01:13:32.220
support , sustainment and exposure of

01:13:32.220 --> 01:13:35.220
others um to extend those legs as we've

01:13:35.220 --> 01:13:37.930
had to do in other theaters in recent

01:13:37.930 --> 01:13:41.490
years . So that extended reach

01:13:41.490 --> 01:13:44.870
again gets the wounded soldier too .

01:13:45.340 --> 01:13:47.610
The competent medical care much more

01:13:47.610 --> 01:13:50.630
quickly but also reduces the logistical

01:13:50.630 --> 01:13:54.460
burden for those extended range is uh

01:13:54.470 --> 01:13:56.760
to provide that capability . Okay ,

01:13:56.760 --> 01:13:59.410
thank you for that . And if if I may uh

01:13:59.420 --> 01:14:02.420
please mr Bush has one brief comment .

01:14:02.430 --> 01:14:04.708
Israel we'd like to follow up on , sir ,

01:14:04.708 --> 01:14:06.850
if I may . Um I did want to second

01:14:06.850 --> 01:14:09.072
everything that you just heard but also

01:14:09.072 --> 01:14:11.294
mentioned . I was remiss in my previous

01:14:11.294 --> 01:14:12.961
answer and not mentioning the

01:14:12.961 --> 01:14:15.183
tremendous innovation in the commercial

01:14:15.183 --> 01:14:17.350
sector , an unmanned aircraft that the

01:14:17.350 --> 01:14:17.070
army and the other services . I'm sure

01:14:17.070 --> 01:14:19.292
drawing on there's just as much R . And

01:14:19.292 --> 01:14:21.570
D . Out there as there is in the D . O .

01:14:21.570 --> 01:14:23.570
T . And the Army futures Command in

01:14:23.570 --> 01:14:23.530
particular I think is doing a very good

01:14:23.530 --> 01:14:26.750
job of finding things and experimenting

01:14:26.750 --> 01:14:28.806
with things in the commercial sector

01:14:28.806 --> 01:14:30.861
for unmanned aircraft rather than us

01:14:30.861 --> 01:14:33.028
developing things from scratch , which

01:14:33.028 --> 01:14:35.083
I think given the investments are in

01:14:35.083 --> 01:14:37.083
the private sector is a really good

01:14:37.083 --> 01:14:39.440
approach . Okay , thank you . We jump

01:14:39.440 --> 01:14:41.900
over last question of for the Air Force .

01:14:41.900 --> 01:14:44.122
Miss Costello in general . More earlier

01:14:44.122 --> 01:14:46.289
this month , General Henault testified

01:14:46.289 --> 01:14:48.289
before the Sea power and projection

01:14:48.289 --> 01:14:50.840
forces subcommittee that the Air Force

01:14:50.840 --> 01:14:53.062
is considering a vertical lift platform

01:14:53.440 --> 01:14:55.670
To replace the C130 as it seeks to move

01:14:55.670 --> 01:14:59.040
away from fixed wing are fixed runway

01:14:59.050 --> 01:15:01.120
requirements . General also said the

01:15:01.120 --> 01:15:03.231
Air Force is watching the Army future

01:15:03.231 --> 01:15:05.398
vertical lift program when it comes to

01:15:05.398 --> 01:15:07.231
the development of vertical lift

01:15:07.231 --> 01:15:09.630
transport technology . How would the on

01:15:09.630 --> 01:15:11.600
time fielding of an army future

01:15:11.600 --> 01:15:14.020
vertical transport aircraft such as the

01:15:14.020 --> 01:15:15.964
future long range of salt aircraft

01:15:15.964 --> 01:15:18.080
benefit the Air Force as it looks to

01:15:18.080 --> 01:15:20.670
develop the next generation concepts .

01:15:21.040 --> 01:15:23.680
And when possibly would we see a

01:15:23.680 --> 01:15:27.360
potential Vertical lift C130

01:15:27.740 --> 01:15:28.962
replacement fielded ?

01:15:31.740 --> 01:15:33.907
Well , thank you for the question . Um

01:15:33.907 --> 01:15:36.780
uh , it's certainly if you as you spoke

01:15:36.790 --> 01:15:38.679
before about the distances in the

01:15:38.679 --> 01:15:41.000
pacific . One of the things that we

01:15:41.000 --> 01:15:44.480
think will be a part of the need to

01:15:44.480 --> 01:15:46.424
perform well in the pacific is the

01:15:46.424 --> 01:15:48.147
ability to move around between

01:15:48.147 --> 01:15:50.369
different places according to a concept

01:15:50.369 --> 01:15:52.480
we call agile combat employment . And

01:15:52.480 --> 01:15:54.536
if you accept that fixed runways are

01:15:54.536 --> 01:15:56.480
easy to find and therefore easy to

01:15:56.480 --> 01:15:58.536
target , particularly in the 1st and

01:15:58.536 --> 01:15:58.520
2nd island chain . They're they're all

01:15:58.520 --> 01:16:00.660
within range of chinese ballistic

01:16:00.660 --> 01:16:02.827
missiles . The ability to operate in a

01:16:02.827 --> 01:16:04.882
runway independent way makes a great

01:16:04.882 --> 01:16:06.993
deal of sense and is an important use

01:16:06.993 --> 01:16:08.993
case . I'm sure that's what General

01:16:08.993 --> 01:16:11.049
Heino talked about . We are watching

01:16:11.049 --> 01:16:13.160
the army future vertical lift program

01:16:13.160 --> 01:16:15.382
very carefully because it could provide

01:16:15.382 --> 01:16:17.438
The mechanics behind how we could do

01:16:17.438 --> 01:16:19.604
this as to when it would be field that

01:16:19.604 --> 01:16:19.350
I think that would depend on what its

01:16:19.350 --> 01:16:21.406
actual range in payload capabilities

01:16:21.406 --> 01:16:23.810
would be and when it delivers . But if

01:16:23.810 --> 01:16:26.230
you if you consider what the C130 ,

01:16:26.230 --> 01:16:28.550
particularly the C138 can do in the

01:16:28.550 --> 01:16:30.890
Pacific you would you would certainly

01:16:30.890 --> 01:16:33.500
want to look to the next generation of

01:16:33.500 --> 01:16:35.667
lift capability if you want to perform

01:16:35.667 --> 01:16:37.833
an actual combat employment type of of

01:16:37.833 --> 01:16:39.722
operation . Does that get to your

01:16:39.722 --> 01:16:42.760
question sir ? It does and you know , I

01:16:42.760 --> 01:16:44.816
get excited about it as somebody who

01:16:44.816 --> 01:16:47.690
has about 1000 hours in the C 1 30 H

01:16:47.690 --> 01:16:50.360
two and H three . And um as you know ,

01:16:50.370 --> 01:16:53.020
we have C one thirties on Dakota , we

01:16:53.020 --> 01:16:55.460
could possibly look at other locations

01:16:55.460 --> 01:16:57.516
like Anderson for a potential unit ,

01:16:57.516 --> 01:16:59.700
but you know , is this a type of

01:16:59.700 --> 01:17:02.200
aircraft that you see would potentially

01:17:02.200 --> 01:17:05.000
replace those older age ? Is that we

01:17:05.000 --> 01:17:07.056
are looking at retiring or how would

01:17:07.056 --> 01:17:10.060
that um compliment the j models that

01:17:10.060 --> 01:17:12.116
we're investing in ? Of course , you

01:17:12.116 --> 01:17:14.282
know , newer C one thirties that we're

01:17:14.282 --> 01:17:16.400
basing in the pacific um is this the

01:17:16.400 --> 01:17:18.122
type of aircraft that would be

01:17:18.122 --> 01:17:20.540
potentially looked at in that 1st 2nd

01:17:20.540 --> 01:17:24.500
island chain ? Um Yokota , Anderson and

01:17:24.500 --> 01:17:26.667
maybe some other areas ? Yes , sir , I

01:17:26.667 --> 01:17:28.778
think that would probably be the most

01:17:28.778 --> 01:17:30.889
powerful use case and , and if you do

01:17:30.889 --> 01:17:33.167
consider a doubling of performance now ,

01:17:33.167 --> 01:17:35.222
you have now you potentially have an

01:17:35.222 --> 01:17:34.940
aircraft that can , that can operate

01:17:34.940 --> 01:17:37.051
over the distances and therefore with

01:17:37.051 --> 01:17:39.162
the speed required to actually become

01:17:39.162 --> 01:17:41.107
agile in the pacific . And I think

01:17:41.107 --> 01:17:43.218
that's what's going to be required if

01:17:43.218 --> 01:17:43.150
you consider the capabilities that

01:17:43.150 --> 01:17:45.317
china has the target , fixed locations

01:17:45.317 --> 01:17:48.230
and as as well as speed and range

01:17:48.230 --> 01:17:50.810
performance , you really have to be

01:17:50.810 --> 01:17:52.866
able to get away from our own way if

01:17:52.866 --> 01:17:55.032
you're going to execute a concept like

01:17:55.032 --> 01:17:57.143
that successfully . So we're watching

01:17:57.143 --> 01:17:59.310
this closely and look forward to being

01:17:59.310 --> 01:18:01.643
able to leverage what the army develops .

01:18:01.643 --> 01:18:03.866
I would see it as a compliment to the J

01:18:03.866 --> 01:18:05.921
model . I would see that there still

01:18:05.921 --> 01:18:08.032
are use cases for the jays as well as

01:18:08.032 --> 01:18:10.250
for C 17 um , commercial partners play

01:18:10.250 --> 01:18:12.870
in that space as well up to a certain

01:18:12.870 --> 01:18:14.759
point , but I would see this as a

01:18:14.759 --> 01:18:16.814
compliment that could add or augment

01:18:16.814 --> 01:18:18.926
the capabilities that we already have

01:18:18.926 --> 01:18:21.259
in terms of strategic and tactical lift .

01:18:21.259 --> 01:18:23.370
This would be something that it would

01:18:23.370 --> 01:18:25.537
be really totally new for Air force as

01:18:25.537 --> 01:18:27.592
well having vertical lift with , you

01:18:27.592 --> 01:18:29.648
know , these types of aircraft , you

01:18:29.648 --> 01:18:31.648
know , and and a whole new training

01:18:31.648 --> 01:18:33.981
program that would be incorporated into ,

01:18:33.981 --> 01:18:36.037
you know , those different um Little

01:18:36.037 --> 01:18:38.148
rock and Altice and a different basis

01:18:38.148 --> 01:18:40.203
where we haven't even not even doing

01:18:40.203 --> 01:18:42.148
any of these things and we have to

01:18:42.148 --> 01:18:43.926
incorporate that into those new

01:18:43.926 --> 01:18:46.037
programs . It would yes , sir . And I

01:18:46.037 --> 01:18:45.170
would expect that if we were going to

01:18:45.170 --> 01:18:46.948
do that , we would leverage our

01:18:46.948 --> 01:18:49.003
experience with the CV 22 as well as

01:18:49.003 --> 01:18:51.003
the experience that the army has as

01:18:51.003 --> 01:18:53.226
they feel the system a system like this

01:18:53.226 --> 01:18:55.114
because it would particularly the

01:18:55.114 --> 01:18:54.880
tactics and the and the techniques and

01:18:54.880 --> 01:18:56.658
procedures , but just the basic

01:18:56.658 --> 01:18:58.880
airmanship would be different than what

01:18:58.880 --> 01:19:00.991
we do today . Thank you . What else ?

01:19:03.120 --> 01:19:05.231
Okay , well um on behalf of the chair

01:19:05.231 --> 01:19:07.453
and and the full committee , we want to

01:19:07.453 --> 01:19:09.231
thank you for your testimony or

01:19:09.231 --> 01:19:11.410
discussion , um , that you provided a

01:19:11.410 --> 01:19:13.910
committee today . Um , It's been a very

01:19:13.910 --> 01:19:15.980
dynamic day here on the hill with

01:19:15.990 --> 01:19:18.046
having to step in and out of votes ,

01:19:18.046 --> 01:19:20.268
but we sincerely appreciate your time ,

01:19:20.268 --> 01:19:22.434
uh , the attentiveness , your work you

01:19:22.434 --> 01:19:25.190
put into your testimony . So with that

01:19:25.190 --> 01:19:27.134
being said , this committee stands

01:19:27.134 --> 01:19:29.940
adjourn and law . Mhm . Q .