Defense

Budget to affect combat readiness

Federal budget cuts will ground one-third of the U.S. Air Force's active-duty force of combat planes including fighters and bombers. A top general says that mea...

Federal News Radio Custom Media@WTOPWFEDcustom

April 12, 2013 10:44 am

< a min read

Federal budget cuts will ground one-third of the U.S. Air Force’s active-duty force of combat planes including fighters and bombers. A top general says that means “accepting the risk that combat airpower may not be ready to respond immediately to new contingencies as they occur.” Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, issued the warning as the Pentagon braces for more effects of the automatic spending cuts.