Corsair1963 wrote:Honestly, the numbers mean little as the US House usually provide additional aircraft above what the services request. So, expect the final numbers for the F-35B's and F-35C's to increase. When all is said and done....
I immediately thought of the Clinton Years when I saw the budget. Outside of the F-15X thing (I doubt the camel gets its nose under the tent but we will see, almost seems like a red hearing), it looks like all the services are gaming the system. Game plan is simple:
1. Ask for less than you want, especially with programs with strong congressional critter support. These are things like shipbuilding and aircraft (LPDs, CVN mid-life ROH, F-35, etc) that employ large numbers of people.
2. Claim you would buy more if only you had more money but you are being fiscally responsible. Have figures crossed behind back.
3. Make sure the things that you can't get a plus up on is in the submitted budget. Because cutting anything out of the budget is difficult but adding pork, I mean critical defense capabilities, is always possible. Especially when they make jobs.
4. Complain in hearings that Congress is killing the budget.
5. Smile all the way back to the Pentagon.