It’s like every day I think how much more stupid can we be? And then I find out. -Am
”Members of Congress are going to say, ‘Wait a second. We need to do what to get our Army around the world? Rely on the Russians?’“
Posted on Sun, Dec. 21, 2003
Russian aircraft getting U.S. C-5 work Congressional officials surprised, upset that Air Force is outsourcing cargo transport By Gene Rector Telegraph Staff Writer
WARNER ROBINS - The Air Force's C-5A strategic airlift fleet, already battling for its existence against budget shortfalls and C-17 advocates, may have another, especially unwelcome competitor -- the Russians.
The Telegraph has learned that Russian aircraft have been landing at bases in the United States to assist the U.S. Air Force in moving materiel around the world. Air Mobility Command, the agency responsible for strategic airlift within the Defense Department, confirmed the Russian involvement last week.
AMC said Russian AN-124 heavy transports were used during fiscal year 2003, particularly to haul cargo when U.S. C-5s were not available.
Mark Voorhis, an AMC spokesman, said 79 missions were flown during the year at a cost of $28.9 million. The Russian aircraft landed at a number of Air Force and Army installations in the United States, although Voorhis said Robins Air Force Base was not among them.
However, a senior Robins official who asked not to be identified, disputed that, telling The Telegraph that Russian aircraft have landed on base during the year.
An official base response was not available last week.
The news comes at a particularly unsettled time for the C-5 and the 1,000 people at Robins who manage and maintain the huge, Lockheed Martin system. The Air Force is retiring 14 C-5As, the older version of the four-engine aircraft, and evaluating whether to upgrade or retire the remaining 60. Presumably, 50 newer C-5Bs will be retained and upgraded at a cost of about $75 million per aircraft.
Members of Georgia’s congressional delegation, when informed by a reporter last week of the Russian aircraft involvement, said hiring Russian heavy transports while at the same time retiring C-5As will not be well received on Capitol Hill.
”Members of Congress are going to say, ‘Wait a second. We need to do what to get our Army around the world? Rely on the Russians?’“ predicted Bill Johnson, chief of staff for Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga. “If this is not gap filling, throwing a bone to a potential ally or a one-time occurrence, then it won’t go down well.”
Rep. Jim Marshall, D-Ga., said he planned to file and inquiry with the Air Force.
”I’d like to know what missions were so critical that we had to bring in Russian aircraft,” he said. “We absolutely need to maintain in-house capabilities to do our critical airlift. We need in-house control.”
Clyde Taylor, military legislative assistant for U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., said he needed more information.
”But why would you continue to retire C-5s and then use Russian airlift?” he asked.
AMC did not immediately provide answers to questions regarding the destination of the AN-124s or the nature of the cargo. Officials also delayed discussing any future plans for relying on Russian airlift. Voorhis said he would assemble a team next week to provide additional information.
Supporters of the C-5 say AMC would like to retire the C-5A as soon as possible and push Congress for more C-17s, the newer but smaller strategic transport manufactured by Boeing. AMC commander Gen. John Handy appeared to underscore that point during an August interview with Air Force Times, a weekly publication based in the Washington, D.C., area.
”Let’s find a way to retire the As,” Handy was quoted as saying. “Let’s robust the Bs … and buy sufficient numbers of the C-17.” Congress has approved the purchase of 180 C-17s, although Handy has said at least 222 are needed.
The C-5A’s future is currently undergoing scrutiny from an Air Force Fleet Advisability Board, convened earlier in the year to look at all aging aircraft. Its C-5A findings are expected in March. A mobility requirements study scheduled for 2005 will look at the overall need for airlift, including the necessary mix of C-17s and C-5s.
Experts agree that the nation must deal with its airlift shortfall – underscored by the current war on terrorism. However, money is tight. Each C-17 costs about $240 million and it must compete against a host of other requirements, including the need for new fighter and tanker aircraft.
The C-17 is also not a direct replacement for the C-5. Its payload is 35 percent smaller, and its ability to haul the Army’s heavy tanks and fighting vehicles is considerably less.
Robins data show the C-5A – built from 1966 to 1973 – has considerable life left in it. According to Al Fatkin, deputy chief of the strategic airlift directorate, the average C-5A has logged 17,000 flying hours.
”The limiting factor is about 70,000 flying hours,” Fatkin said in a previous interview. “We don’t know of anything that would cause the aircraft to not be available through the year 2040.”
Johnson agrees that the new C-17 is a great aircraft. “Everybody loves it,” he said. “We want more. But one of the huge questions out there is what to do with the C-5.”
He said depending on the Russians to haul cargo bigger than what the C-17 can carry is not an alternative.
”If the Air Force is building a strategic plan that requires us to do that, then that’s not a plan,” Johnson said. “Nothing in our nation’s security is more important than strategic airlift and we can’t subcontract that to a foreign country.”
He also admitted to a general aversion to contracting with the Russians – at least for the moment.
”The last time I checked, they weren’t helpful when we needed them,” he said, referring to Russia’s lack of support for the war in Iraq.
”So, I don’t think we want to keep their aircraft industry alive,” he said. “If this use of Russian aircraft is anything other than gap filling, there will be strong, strong backlash in Congress.”
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Gene Rector by e-mail at grector@macontel.com. or call him at 923-3109, ext. 239. http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/7543545.htm
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