INTERCEPTOR AIRCRAFT

Operational facilities in direct support of our manned interceptor aircraft total only $0.6 million for a modest amount of paving and shoulder stabilization,

CONTROL AND WARNING

A total of $12 million is requested for the establishment, improvement, and continuation of our control and warning systems. Most significant among these is a $1.1 million increment of the "over-the-horizon" radar network. This system, which will provide a wider margin of warning time against possible hostile ICBM launchings is a significant extension of our defensive capabilities. The earlier warning not only provides more reaction time for our strategic and defense forces, but also allows a more careful evaluation of the launch event observed. Also included is a third increment of $2.1 million for the installation of "backup" interceptor control equipment for SAGE. This program called BUIC (backup interceptor control) involves a number of sites in the United States. It provides a capability for continued control of the air defense system after a missile attack if the primary system is damaged.

Appropriation in the amount of $4.6 million is requested to build a composite structure housing both the working and living spaces of the aircraft control and warning system radar station at Tin City Air Station, Alaska. The presently existing station was built in 1959-51 in haste and as a "lashup" facility. It consists of separate living and working quarters and has, because of the extremes of climate and use beyond its originally anticipated lifespan, deteriorated to the point that complete replacement is essential to insure an uninterrupted operational capability.

The remaining $4.2 million for control and warning is comprised of a number of smaller projects at A.C. & W. sites scattered over the North American Continent. They provide the specialized maintenance, recreation, and utilities improvements that are critical requirements at these remote and frequently completely isolated defense stations.

DEFENSE SUPPORT

Included in our defense support projects is one which justifies special comment. It is a $1.8 million project for construction of a warehouse at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. This replaces a similar facility which was damaged beyond repair in the earthquake of March 27, 1964.

Facilities not directly related to a specific defense system, but equally necessary for smooth functioning and support of these systems, are requested in the amount of $7.3 million. These projects consist mainly of troop housing and dining facilities, $2.6 million; community and recreation facilities, $1.6 million; and utility systems improvements, $1.2 million.

GENERAL PURPOSE FORCES

More than one-sixth of the appropriation requested in this program is in direct support of our versatile and farflung general purpose forces. This fact, is particularly striking. Especially when it is compared to prior construction programs which were predominantly in support of strategic systems. This fact graphically portrays the shifts in emphasis that are necessary to meet our Nation's changing needs and responsibilities. Construction amounting to $64 million for this force will give it a greater degree of operational capability.

TACTICAL AIRCRAFT

Higher performance tactical aircraft being introduced into the force require specialized new facilities and augmentation of existing facilities.

Projects directly related to tactical aircraft, and construction at bases which support only these aircraft total $17 million.

Another $4 million is included for support of combat crew training for tactical units.

TACTICAL COMMAND AND SUPPORT

The Air Force, as host for the unified Strike Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., has included in this program an appropriation request for $3.6 million to properly and effectively house the headquarters of this command which

has overall control of our Nation's tactical forces. Related is a replacement for the headquarters of the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va., at $2.3 million.

Other projects essential to maintenance, operation, and housing of the tactical force in the United States amount to $9.9 million. Troop housing and community facilities make up approximately 45 percent of that figure.

OVERSEA THEATER SUPPORT

The general purpose forces also include our major air units in the European and Pacific areas of the world. Construction in these areas is required in the amount of $25.5 million. Of this, $11.6 million is in the Pacific area and $13.9 million in the European area.

Major items in the Pacific area are:

(a) $7.2 million for bulk fuel storage at two locations.

(b) $2.7 million to provide storage space for conventional munitions. Two earlier increments of munitions storage facilities were provided by the Congress in prior legislation.

(c) $6.6 million for additional facilities at Clark Airbase in the Philippines. This most vital base, a major staging and en route stop to southeast Asia, is presently taxed beyond its capabilities. Additional facilities here are sorely needed.

AIRLIFT FORCES

The airlift forces, like the tactical forces, are fulfilling worldwide commitments in a variety of trying situations. Simultaneously these forces are undergoing a significant period of adapting to new equipments and techniques. Rapidity of the evolution of the airlift force is evidenced by the fact that within months of the successful first flight of the C-141, Starlifter aircraft, we now have the first details of a follow-on and complimentary aircraft with even greater capabilities, the C-5.

The C-141, although designed to operate from our presently existing bases, requires some alteration, and expansion of facilities to meet the demands of its physical characteristics and cargo handling capabilities. Out of our total airlift appropriation request of $20 million, some $9.1 million is for operational and maintenance facilities at C-141 bases. These are all within the United States. The balance of the airlift program provides improved aerial port and terminal facilities at three U.S. and four overseas bases for $2.5 million, $1 million for a major fuel storage project on a U.S. territory in the Pacific, and various other projects supporting the operations of MATS at six bases in the United States and its territories.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The research and development efforts of the Air Force depend, to a great extent, on providing our scientists and engineers with the physical facilities essential to their task. We recognize the primary contribution that research and development has made to our present position of world leadership as well as its importance to future attainments.

To insure adequate support of the variety of research and development programs conducted by, and for, the Air Force, $57.8 million in new appropriation is requested.

MISSILE RANGES

Range facilities on both the Eastern and the Western Test Ranges represent $32.3 million of the research and development request. The proposed appropriation at the Western Test Range totals $30.3 million. This amount provides the first unit of a TITAN III space launch booster complex for $18 million, for the acquisition of related land at $4 million and construction of a technical management control center for $2.4 million. Other range facilities, launch complex modifications, and technical support items comprise the balance of $5.8 million. The Eastern Test Range request includes $1.5 million for modification of launch complexes and $0.5 million for improvement of facilities at Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Kennedy, Fla.

RESEARCH SUPPORT

Appropriations of $25.5 million are being requested for support of research and development projects and for necessary support of our research and development centers. Technical facilities in this amount total to $18.7 million and include: a Materials Science Laboratory for primary investigations in the fields of metals, ceramics, fibers, plastics, and protective coatings for $6.7 million; an Electronics Research Laboratory for $1.6 million; a vacuum telescope, $3.2 million, and alteration of and additions to several tracking stations for $2.1 million.

Nontechnical projects at our research and development centers which are essential to the accomplishment of the basic function amount to $6.8 million. These projects, located at six bases in the United States provide: an addition to the Systems Command Headquarters at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., $1.7 million; a large electric power substation alteration, $1 million; and other projects for operational and personnel facilities.

GENERAL SUPPORT

The general support package represents a request of $177.8 million. This package, the largest in value, covers training and support functions and various other activities and missions not included in the primary systems previously discussed.

TRAINING

The consolidation and improvement of our training bases continues to be an area of primary importance and effort. The whole gamut of our training requirements, recruit training, tech training, flying training, and professional training are represented in the $51.5 million appropriation requested. This amount contains: $7.8 million for continuation of the improvement in our recruit training facilities at Lackland AFB, Tex.; $10 million for technical training and support facilities at four bases; $18.4 million at our flight training bases; primarily to provide adequate troop housing and community facilities. Included is $15.1 million for the second increment of the expansion of the Air Force Academy. Last year $8.5 million was appropriated for this expansion program. The $15.1 million requested this year brings us up to $23.6 million of the total $40 million estimated to be needed for this purpose.

LOGISTICAL SUPPORT

Management and operation of the logistical functions in support of our global Air Force operations requires construction appropriation of $34.5 million. Depot maintenance facilities make up $9.3 million of this figure. These projects consist primarily of alterations to existing buildings to adapt them for continued use in the maintenance and overhaul of new systems and equipment.

Projects at our continuing air materiel areas to accommodate the missions being consolidated, and to make long needed improvement in the normal base facilities amount to $24.7 million. Of this $14.4 million is for the alteration and conversion of warehouses and other suitable buildings to house our logistical administrative functions. This amount is but another indication of the rapid shift that is continuing to take place in our logistical function. This shift put heavy emphasis on production and control. The inherent efficiency and economy to be realized from this shift does require provision of adequate space for these functions. The balance of the projects, some $10.3 million, are a wide range of projects to support the Logistical Command functions, again with primary emphasis on personnel and community items.

COMMUNICATIONS

Technological improvements to, and extension of, existing communications nets as well as the establishment of new comunications facilities and the related power and support facilities place a continuing demand on the construction program. We are requesting $20.9 million, of which seven projects for major systems extensions/expansions represent $15.7 million of that amount. A major power improvement project for $3 million and various base comunication projects for both buildings and power at eight locations in the United States and four bases overseas make up the balance.

MEDICAL FACILITIES

Medical facilities, which include composite medical facilities, dispensaries, and dental clinics are included in our request for $14.5 million. Only one new composite medical facility which is at Turner Air Force Base, Ga., and totaling $2.4 million is included. Other projects for composite medical facilities are additions and major alterations to seven composite medical facilities, six of which are in the United States and one in the Philippines and will cost $10.1 million. Four dispensaries, two in the United States and two overseas plus three dental clinics, all in the United States, and three other medical items make up the remainder of the medical projects to be presented.

OTHER GENERAL SUPPORT

General support items not categorized so far total $18.8 million. Classified activities at overseas locations account for $3.1 million of this amount. The second increment of the construction at Bolling Air Force Base to implement the Bolling-Fort Myer area cantonment plan is included at $4.3 million. The remainder provides navigation and landing aids and supports such diversified activities and commands as the Air Weather Service, Headquarters Command, and the Southern Command.

DESIGN

In his statement Mr. Ignatius pointed out the progress that has been made in developing standard definitive designs for use by all the services. In areas not yet covered by triservice standards the Air Force has, and continues to make, maximum use of our own standard designs, site adaptations of previous designs, and to use preengineered structures wherever possible. We will continue in active partnership with our construction agents and the Department of Defense to effect economies in design of our facilities. The $20 million requested for design will be used primarily to complete design of the fiscal year 1966 military construction program. A portion of these funds will be used to initiate design of the fiscal year 1967 military construction program.

MINOR CONSTRUCTION

The Air Force requests a total of $15 million for minor construction in fiscal year 1966. These funds are applied only to urgently required projects not otherwise authorized by law. Each project so funded is estimated to cost over $25,000 with a maximum limit of $200,000. Projects in excess of $25,000 must be approved by the Secretary of the Air Force and, if over $50,000, by the Secretary of Defense. Therefore, all Air Force minor construction projects funded from this appropriation are approved at the Washington level.

The appropriation of funds to be applied under the minor construction authority is an invaluable asset to the operational effectiveness of the Air Force. It allows us to be responsive to such diverse unprogramable construction requirements as those generated by our presence in southeast Asia as well as those resulting from realinement of our forces in the continental United States. These funds provide the method to meet emergencies without a realinement or deferral of projects that have been funded in the regular military construction appropriation program.

For fiscal year 1965, $12.4 million was appropriated for accomplishment of urgent construction projects. This amount, plus the unobligated carryover from fiscal year 1964 appropriations and reimbursements into the account provided a total fund availability of $15.4 million.

As of June 30, 1965, all of the available $15.4 million was obligated, except for a small reserve for supervision and inspection costs.

ACCESS ROADS

The amount of $2 million is requested to finance the Air Force portion of requirements for construction of off-base access roads and improvement or relocation of existing public highways where the need is generated by Air Force operations. Right-of-way acquisition and construction work related to these roads is performed for the Air Force by the Bureau of Public Roads after certification by the Secretary of Defense.

LAND ACQUISITION ($25,000 AND UNDER)

The program includes $100,000 to provide for the acquisition of real estate interests where the cost of an individual parcel or group of contiguous parcels does not exceed $25,000. These minor land acquisitions are made under permanent authorizations and include unforeseen real estate requirements as well as currently identified specific minor real estate interests.

CONSTRUCTION CATEGORIES

Each of the program areas that have been discussed up to this point represents a cross section of the various types of construction that we do at our installations. Each area contains all the facilities, from launch pads through warehouses to real estate that may be required to make that specific system function. To see the total amounts requested for each type, or category of construction, a summary of the total program by major construction category is provided in table III which is attached to the printed copies of my statement.

The operational category, the largest of the group, amounts to $119.9 million. One-third of this category, $48.8 million is in support of our continuing missile and space programs. The significant projects in this entire category have been highlighted earlier.

Projects for maintenance of aircraft, missiles, and our basic facilities themselves total $31.3 million. This amount, when combined with the operational category to which they are closely allied, accounts for almost one-half of our appropriation request.

The

The troop housing and the community facilities category, one-quarter of our requested appropriation, contains the projects that mainly provide the nonworking hours environment for our airmen and officers. These are the facilities that most directly affect the attitude of the individual toward his Air Force Consequently, there is a very direct relationship between the adequacy of facilities in this category and our ability to retain our skilled personnel. $98.6 million requested in this program will allow us to continue the program to eliminate deficiencies and replace temporary and substandard facilities with adequate structures. However, this amount will not solve the total problem. We will need future programs and will also then request your continued assistance in providing the facilities that will produce an acceptable standard of troop housing and community facilities for Air Force personnel.

Within this amount we are requesting the construction or replacement of some 10.631 airmen dormitory spaces and the alteration or improvement of over 12,851 more spaces at a cost of $23.5 million and $6.8 million, respectively. Similarly, we are requesting to build about 2,522 new officers quarters for $19.8 million and to improve some 1,830 spaces at $2.7 million.

The other appropriations within this category will provide a wide variety of projects that are steps toward establishment of a community atmosphere on our installations, particularly those removed from urban centers, compatible with the caliber of people needed to maintain our Air Force the most effective it can be. It contains, among others, 8 service clubs, 26 chapels or chapel annexes, 11 schools, 3 exchanges, and 14 theaters. These facilities are basic to a balanced and effective force.