A group of retired Air Force generals is urging Congress to recapitalize the service's "geriatric" fleets of bombers, tankers, fighter jets and trainer aircraft even in a constrained budget environment, according to a letter sent Nov. 14 to senior members of the House Armed Services Committee. The letter, which was written by the Air Force Association and signed by nine retired Air Force generals, the service's former chief scientist and a military historian, argues that deferring the acquisition of new systems to replace or augment the capabilities of B-52 bombers, T-38 trainers, KC-135 tankers and other aircraft should be a priority for Congress and the Defense Department. The alternative, they suggest, is a fleet with structural problems that requires constant investment to maintain minimum levels of capability.
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