Senator CHAVEZ. The subcommittee will please be in order. Admiral PIRIE. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. It is my privilege to again present naval requirements to this committee. Last year I appeared in behalf of the naval aviation requirements included in the "Aircraft and related procurement" appropriation. During the past year parts of the former "Aircraft and related procurement" and the "Ordnance and ammunitions" appropriations were combined into one appropriation when the Bureaus of Aeronautics and Ordnance were consolidated. The major portion of this new appropriation, "Procurement of aircraft and missiles, Navy," finances procurement of aircraft, guided missiles, and related supporting equipment for the Navy and Marine Corps. It also provides for necessary operational and safety of flight improvements to service aircraft, procurement of aerial targets and antisubmarine warfare drones, and for major weapon system flight and maintenance training simulators. AIRCRAFT PROCUREMENT Admiral Burke has emphasized the powerful military strength of Soviet forces, forces which are modern, well trained, and well equipped to fight any type of war from small limited wars to a worldwide nuclear conflict. The decline that is taking place in the naval aircraft operating inventory presents a serious problem to the Navy. The naval aircraft operating program will drop below 6,800 aircraft by end fiscal year 1961. This reduction of approximately 400 aircraft from the originally planned fiscal year, 1960 strength of 7,200 operating aircraft has resulted from two factors. First, we have bought an average of about 650 new aircraft each year since 1958. This number falls far short of supporting an average operating program of 7,200 aircraft. Based on aircraft gains and loss experience tables, approximately 20 percent of the operating inventory should be replaced each year in order to maintain a level operating program. To maintain 7,200 operating aircraft would require an average annual buy of about 1,200 new aircraft. Second, some reductions in operating aircraft have resulted from adjustments to obtain a better balance within total naval combat forces. Although some combat units had to be decommissioned during fiscal year 1958 and early fiscal year 1959, the numbers of operating combat aircraft have been held level from end fiscal year 1959 through end fiscal year 1961. Reductions to combat units have been avoided at the cost of cutting support areas. Past experience indicates that combat and support aircraft should be split about 60-40 for a well balanced program. On June 30, 1961, 3,496 of the fleet operating aircraft will be combat models. Cuts in support aircraft are beginning to create an imbalance and, unless additional aircraft can be bought, reductions will be necessary in the number of combat aircraft in the years subsequent to fiscal year 1961. The fiscal year 1961 budget request includes 658 new aircraft. This is essentially the same level of procurement as in prior years and portends further reductions in operating aircraft. The entire aircraft buy in fiscal year 1961 will be operated in combat units. This indicates the emphasis being placed on keeping the combat inventory as high as possible. At this time I will discuss briefly how each of the aircraft in this budget will be employed. ATTACK CARRIER AIR GROUPS Our attack carrier air groups must be equipped with aircraft capable of matching the high performance aircraft of any potential enemy. The two supersonic fighters included in this budget provide this capability. With the F-4H-1 all weather fighter and the F-8U-2N day-night fighter the entire spectrum of operating around the clock and in all weather conditions is covered. The F-4H-1 is an altogether new fighter with superior performance characteristics. Its twin jets give it added safety and reliability, qualities which are highly desirable when operating over water. The F-8U-2N is an improved model of a fighter that is already in fleet use. Its high performance makes it an excellent aircraft for its intended mission. We have continued procurement of the F-8U-2N and have not gone all out for the F-4H at this time, for two reasons: First, the F-4H is still undergoing operational test and evaluation. While it is highly successful so far, and we do not anticipate any difficulties, we want to be absolutely sure. Second, the cost of the F-8U-2N is much less and we need it to replace losses in the fighter inventory because of attrition, obsolescence, and wearout. In other words, we are using a conservative approach in maintaining a militarily acceptable balance in fighter aircraft. Three attack aircraft are included on this request. The first is the A-3J, which provides an all weather, long range, supersonic, high or low altitude, nuclear or conventional weapons delivery capability. The second is the A-4D-2N which provides a light, easily maintained aircraft for general purpose work in either nuclear or conventional weapons delivery. The third is a new twin engine jet, the A-2F, which is in the final stages of development. This aircraft with its all weather delivery capability will replace our outmoded piston engine AD attack aircraft now in fleet use. All of these aircraft can carry the most modern nuclear or conventional weapons. This gives the tactical commander the flexibility to apply the proper amount of force appropriate to any situation. The new W-2F carrier based airborne early warning aircraft is continued in the development stage in this budget. This aircraft will provide a major advance in track and air intercept warfare. It is intended that the W-2F will replace the old and inadequate AD-5W and supplement the WF-2's entering the fleet this year. When the required quantity is on hand our ability to exercise air superiority will be greatly strengthened. The HU-2K turbine powered search and rescue helicopters requested are an integral part of carrier air group operations. They are specifically designed to operate in the high winds encountered aboard a fast moving carrier. The increased speed, range, and weight carrying capability of the HU-2K will greatly enhance rescues at sea where these factors are most often the difference between life and death. ANTISUBMARINE AIR UNITS In antisubmarine warfare aircraft are our primary and best means for searching large ocean areas effectively and continuously. With an ever-increasing submarine threat, it is essential that our ASW forces be provided with the equipment required to contain this threat. In the antisubmarine category we are requesting another small quantity of our new land based patrol aircraft, the P3V, a special adaption of the Lockheed Electra commercial transport. When introduced to the operational squadrons, this aircraft will replace our overloaded P2V Neptunes. The P3V has the capacity to carry the advanced submarine detection and tracking equipment required to counter modern submarines. Its higher speed characteristics and improved equipment will greatly increase search coverage. The growth potential of this aircraft will make it valuable for many years to come. We are also requesting additional carrier based S2F-3 aircraft and HSS-2 helicopters. The ASW aircraft are equipped with the most modern detection, tracking and kill capability available today, and will provide the carrier based antisubmarine groups with an all weather around the clock capability. MARINE AIR WINGS The Marine air wings provide the air elements that are essential for exploiting the vertical envelopment concept. Each wing maintains a complete tactical package including an antiair warfare, attack, reconnaissance, and assault transport capability. The attack and fighter aircraft are the same types employed in the attack carrier air group. The HUS-1 troop carrying helicopters included in this budget provide the link for projecting forces deep ashore without the necessity of direct assault on the intervening shoreline. The fixed wing GV assault transport inflight refuelers are a modification of the UŠAF's C-130B. These aircraft will provide a dual capability: First, an intratheater resupply system immediately available to the amphibious force commander; and Second, a means of rapidly deploying Marine tactical aircraft to trouble spots through use of inflight refueling techniques. This will provide a more rapid deployment capability for naval air replacement and Marine combat air elements. OTHER AIRCRAFT No support, training, or administrative aircraft have been included in this budget request. However, the need to commence a replacement program in these categories is increasing with each passing year. Accordingly, our plans for the future contemplate procurement of a new carrier on board delivery aircraft, utility helicopters for logistic support between ships at sea, and bombardier-navigator trainers. Each year we strive to reduce the number of types of aircraft we must buy. Twelve models are contained in this year's procurement list. This is a reduction of four from last year and eight from fiscal year 1959. We are now close to the minimum number of models. In this regard, I must emphasize that the complex equipment required for modern naval air warfare cannot be crowded into two or three basic airframes. There will be a continued requirement for propeller as well as jet aircraft in the Navy. Some missions cannot be accomplished as well with jets as with propeller type aircraft. The mixture of jet and propeller aircraft has about stabilized in the Navy operating forces. Therefore, I hesitate to use the percentage of jets in the Navy as a measure of modernity. I assure you that naval air combat forces are as modern as we can make them with the equipment available today. GUIDED MISSILES AND DRONES The funds requested will procure limited quantities of our most urgently needed air-launched and surface-launched guided missiles. The slight increase in funds over the fiscal year 1960 request reflects procurement for the additional ships and aircraft now capable of firing missiles. All of the missiles included represent models already in production. The fleet ballistic missile, POLARIS, is funded in numbers sufficient for immediate needs. Air-launched missiles include SPARROW III, an improved version of SIDEWINDER and BULLPUP. In the surface-launched category TALOS, TERRIER, and TARTAR missiles are being procured for missile cruisers, frigates, and destroyers. AIRCRAFT MODERNIZATION The funds requested for the aircraft modernization program will continue the improved detection and tracking program for ASW aircraft, the electronic countermeasures program, and provide for the correction of urgent safety of flight defects found after aircraft are operated in the fleet. In this program we have balanced procurement of new aircraft against modernization of older aircraft. Through modernization we are able to capitalize to the maximum extent on the growth potential in existing aircraft. At the same time the maximum dollar value on our previous investments is obtained. In summary, the aircraft missile and related programs have been carefully reviewed to attain the best balance possible within this budget request. Combat readiness has been stressed throughout. The Navy-Marine Corps team with its mobile base flexibility will be ready to move into any situation from a small peripheral conflict where a simple show of force may be all that is required, or to meet the demands of an all-out general war. Your support in maintaining effective naval and Marine forces to counter the continuing threat to our national security is earnestly requested. Mr. Chairman, Admiral Stroop, the Chief of the Bureau of Weapons, who is here with me as a supporting witness, has a statement. Senator CHAVEZ. I presume that Admiral Stroop will discuss the money items. Is that not true, Admiral? Admiral STROOP. Yes, sir; that is in my statement. Senator CHAVEZ. Senator Ellender, Admiral Pirie's statement was in generalities. I understand that Admiral Stroop is going to go into the details. You may proceed, Admiral. STATEMENT OF REAR ADM. P. D. STROOP, USN, CHIEF, BUREAU OF NAVAL WEAPONS GENERAL STATEMENT Admiral STROOP. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, it is a privilege to appear before you to explain our budget request for the Navy's procurement of aircraft and missiles appropriation. The Bureau of Naval Weapons which I head is responsible for the development and procurement of all aircraft and missiles for the Navy and Marine air wings. Procurement costs of these aircraft and missiles are to be funded in 1961 under the appropriation you are now considering. This new appropriation was formed by combining the aircraft and missile procurement of our former aircraft and related procurement, and procurement of ordnance and ammunition, accounts into a new consolidated ac |