Morning Smoke: An Early Look At the U.S. Military Blueprint for the Future

Defense review urges 'more and better' capabilities by Megan Scully [CongressDaily] - Quadrenniel Defense Review can be found here

Gates orders Air Force and Navy to study joint weapons system by Walter Pincus [Washington Post]

CIA ops moonlight in corporate world by Eamon Javers [Politico]

RAND Expert Raises Warning On Reform by Bill Sweetman [Ares]

War spending surges in President Obama's budget by David Rogers [Politico]

Obama's $3.8 trillion budget slashes 120 programs by Elizabeth Newell [Government Executive]

Report: TARP benefits have fallen far short by Silla Brush [The Hill]

TARP Inspector General Investigating 'Suspect Trades' by TARP Investment Management Firm by Peter Barnes [FOXBusiness]

Comments

[Dfens]

Good thing we're shutting down our F-22 line, just as Russia is ramping up the production of their version, the Sukoi T-50 (news story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584241,00.html?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a4:g4:r4:c0.000000:b0:z5, video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22fN4fVoFdY). You might notice that this amounts to a stealthy version of the Su-27 family of aircraft. The T-50 has many aerodynamic advantages over the F-22. By killing F-22 production now, we ensure Russian parity with our best fighter, as we drag out the development of the F-35. When we finally get through screwing around with that one, we can spend another 25 years developing the next air superiority fighter, which should mean it comes on line in 40 years. Gee, do you think the Russians might be ahead of us by then? And that's assuming we don't build a bomber in there somewhere, because we certainly can't afford more than one major development program at a time.