“The Chief’s Words”
1. IN RESPONSE TO YOUR HTS CONCERNS, THERE ARE THREE KEY BLOCK 50 INITIATIVES BEING ADDRESSED TO INCREASE MULTI-ROLE CAPABILITY. THEY ARE HTS R-7, AIR-TO-AIR INTERROGATOR, AND HTS PODS. WE ARE PUSHING THESE ISSUES HARD IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AND ARE LOOKING TO ACCELERATE SOME VIA THE FY99 EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL AND THE FY00 UPL. WE WILL CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE THESE PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT THE CAF'S REQUIREMENT TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL HTS PODS TO PROVIDE A "1 FOR 1 + 10%" POD TO AIRCRAFT RATIO DURING THE FY01 APOM/BES. THESE ARE CRITICAL CAPABILITIES THAT ARE VITAL TO OUR EAF OPERATIONS AND WILL ENABLE US TO DEPLOY ONE BLOCK 50 SQUADRON TO COVER MULTIPLE MISSION AREAS.
2. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE ASKED XO TO DEVELOP AN OPTION TO GIVE THE BLOCK 50 TARGETING POD CAPABILITIES IN FY03. THIS WILL PROVIDE US MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN MEETING COMBAT TASKINGS AND ALLOW THE BLOCK 50 TO ACCOMPLISH DESTRUCTIVE SEAD USING PRECISION WEAPONS.
PERSONAL FOR GEN JUMPER. INFO GEN EBERHART, GEN HAWLEY, GEN GAMBLE,
SUBJ: HTS PODS ACQUISITION