unforeseen contingencies worldwide. Additionally, bombers are able to provide maritime support to U.S. naval forces through long-range sea surveillance, ship attack, and mine laying. In light of the rapid advances in the Soviet military arsenal and Soviet-backed adventurism around the world, the need to modernize our strategic bomber force is clear and compelling. The B-52s have been the mainstay of our manned bomber force for the past 25 years, but their ability to continue to serve effectively in the long term is diminishing. First of all, they are becoming more difficult and expensive to maintain. In addition, because B-52s are not fully hardened against the effects of nuclear blasts and are relatively slow in flying out from their bases, they are more vulnerable to attacks from SLBMs launched from Soviet submarines patrolling off our coasts. Moreover, because of their large radar reflectivity and relatively slow speed at low altitudes, the B-52's capability to penetrate Soviet air defenses will decline substantially during the latter part of this decade. The limitations inherent in the B-52 make it imperative that we start fielding a follow-on bomber now. We have begun a time-phased bomber modernization program designed to effectively use the existing capabilities of the B-52 while laying the groundwork for our future bomber force. The plan calls for the major portion of the B-52G and B-52H force to be modified to carry cruise mis siles. At the same time, we will produce 100 B-1Bs which will have an Initial Operational capability (IOC) in 1986. The final segment of the plan is to develop and produce an Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) with an estimated IOC in the early 1990s. Acquiring the B-1B while continuing to pursue the ATB is the most prudent approach for revitalizing our bomber forces. This approach enables us to field the necessary additional forces required during a period when the United States must depend heavily on bombers, while we take the proper steps to strengthen our land-based missiles. It will also provide time for an orderly and logical development pace of the ATB to capitalize on this important technology and avoid major risks and costly redesigns. In addition, a combined force of B-1Bs, ATBS, and cruise missiles will place maximum stress on Soviet air defenses and provide the United States with significant deterrent capability. The B-1B is about 80 percent common with the original B-1 in terms of basic airframe and engine design. It will incorporate state-of-the-art improvements that will make it highly survivable against existing and projected threats. For example, the B-1B will embody a combination of techniques to reduce its radar cross section to a level one-tenth that of the original B-1 and one-hundredth that of the B-52. It will also include the latest developments in electronic countermeasures technology and offensive avionics systems. These developments, in conjunction with its speed and low level capabilities, will provide high confidence that the B-1B will be able to penetrate Soviet air defenses well into the 1990s and perform as an effective strategic offensive weapon system. Because the B-1B will be capable of performing the missions of a conventional bomber, a cruise missile launch platform and a nuclear weapons delivery system in strategic and tactical roles, it is an essential element of the President's Strategic Modernization Program. The President has certified to the Congress that we can field the B-1B on time and within the projected cost to $20.5 billion (expressed in Fiscal Year 1981 constant dollars, or $28.3 billion, expressed in then year dollars), if the Congress appropriates the money in the amount and on the schedule advanced by the Administration. This confidence stems from the fact that the maior part of the engineering is complete, the design is mature and tested, and the B-1 has already undergone almost 2,000 hours of highly successful flight testing. The current program incorporates no new technology development. Our primary focus is for initial production, such as forgings, tooling, and materials, have been retained from the original B-1 program and are available. Finally, we have in place a highly skilled and experienced team of Air Force and contractor personnel to manage the program. The Fiscal Year 1984 B-1B RDT&E program continues necessary development and test activities, including work deferred from the original B-1A program, cost/producibility redesigns, development of multirole capabilities. integration of modern off-the-shelf avionics and flight tests. We intend to seek multiyear funding approval for the B-1B beginning in Fiscal Year 1984, with advanced procurement in Fiscal Year 1983, to take advantage of major savings opportu I will be going through these programs one by one in subsequent slides. You will see here in these pictures the B-1B over the rugged mountains, here is the B-52 with cruise missiles attached to the wings and the KC-135 refueling, in this case a fighter plane. You will notice by and large the B-1B has larger research and development and larger procurement dollars and we will get into the reasons for that in just a moment. Senator WARNER. One more quick glance at that slide. Senator WARNER. I would like to study them. General WELCH. Here on the slide is the B-52, $607 million for procurement. That is primarily for the modifications. There are breakouts in subsequent slides. The B-1B has $750 million for research and development and $5,627 million in procurement. The ATB figures cannot be disclosed at this classification level. For the air launch cruise missile, there is $29 million in RDT&E and $104 million in fiscal year 1984 for procurement. You may remember that there are no missiles to be authorized or requested for authorization in the ALCM-B. This is for procurement of support equipment, spares, initial spares, and other. Reengining with the CFM56 is the most cost-effective means of alleviating a serious and growing tanker shortfall. A reengined KC-135, designated the KC135R, is on the average as capable as one and one-half KC-135As and will have a useful life well into the next century. Aside from helping to reduce increasing tanker shortfalls, the KC-135R will also correct specific KC-135A operational and environmental deficiencies. With its performance improvements, the KC135R will off-load more fuel and provide increased operational flexibility by eliminating our current dependence on extremely long runways. In addition, the new engines will offset the high and growing costs of operating and maintaining the present aging engines. Because of fuel efficiency alone, we estimate that a fleet of KC-135Rs would save approximately 110 million gallons of fuel per year-a five year savings of over $715 million. Finally, the CFM56 will meet Federal Aviation Administration noise and pollution standards which the current J57 engines do not meet. In Fiscal Year 1984, we plan to buy a total of 31 kits for KC-135R aircraft; through Fiscal Year 1988, we plan to buy approximately 334 kits. Joining our KC-135R modernization effort, the French government will reengine its eleven C-135F aircraft, as part of the production program. Senator WARNER. You might express to the general, I am certain the Deputy is equally competent to provide us with the facts. Dr. COOPER. We have Major General Welch who is the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Research, Development and Acquisition; General Skantze's right-hand man. We also have Gen. Bill Thurman, Deputy for the B-1B program and Brig. Gen. John Shaud, Deputy Director for Plans, Headquarters, Air Force. With that, Mr. Chairman, I would like to turn it over to General Welch. Senator WARNER. Good morning, General. STATEMENT OF MAJ. GEN. JASPER WELCH, ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF (RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION) General WELCH. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. With your permission, I will stand at the screen and speak up so that everyone can hear. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ACQUISITION I appreciate the opportunity to be here. I have had some time with these programs and it is quite pleasing to me to see how well they are coming along. I would like to share that with you. If I sound a little over enthusiastic, it is because of the hurdles we have overcome, not being unmindful of those ahead. Senator WARNER. I think from what I know, your enthusiasm is equally justified not only for yourself, but other members of the Department. General WELCH. Thank you, sir. The next slide is an overview of the main programs which are important, mostly in their size and budget implications, but also in their capabilities. Listed here you will see the B-52, the B-1B, the advanced technology bomber, air launch cruise missile, the advanced cruise missile, and the KC-135 to be reengined. We have listed those in research and development dollars and procurement dollars here. I will be going through these programs one by one in subsequent slides. You will see here in these pictures the B-1B over the rugged mountains, here is the B-52 with cruise missiles attached to the wings and the KC-135 refueling, in this case a fighter plane. You will notice by and large the B-1B has larger research and development and larger procurement dollars and we will get into the reasons for that in just a moment. Senator WARNER. One more quick glance at that slide. Senator WARNER. I would like to study them. General WELCH. Here on the slide is the B-52, $607 million for procurement. That is primarily for the modifications. There are breakouts in subsequent slides. The B-1B has $750 million for research and development and $5,627 million in procurement. The ATB figures cannot be disclosed at this classification level. For the air launch cruise missile, there is $29 million in RDT&E and $104 million in fiscal year 1984 for procurement. You may remember that there are no missiles to be authorized or requested for authorization in the ALCM-B. This is for procurement of support equipment, spares, initial spares, and other. Senator WARNER. Only in ALCM-B. The advanced ALCM-B is not in that line? General WELCH. That is right. The advanced ALCM-B has its own line. Senator WARNER. I have it now. General WELCH. Then the $996 million for procurement for the KC-135 squadron is primarily the reengining. Senator WARNER. That sum of money for the KC-135 will fund how many aircraft? General WELCH. Of this, the part that is associated with the reengining is not that whole amount. It is the lesser amount. We will get that in the next slide. There will be 31 requested in the Senator WARNER. That is what percentage of your total fleet? General WELCH. That is 5 percent of 600, roughly. Senator WARNER. So we have a big job ahead of us? General WELCH. We have a big job ahead of us. At that rate, we will be doing 65 to 72, the 72 is the level rate we will achieve in about 3 years. Senator WARNER. There are substantial fuel savings to offset that? General WELCH. There are substantial fuel savings. I believe that if you do it as an economic matter, you will find that large amounts are offset, but I think our principal objective is the greater capability that we will achieve. Senator WARNER. Thank you. General SHAUD. A reengining is worth about 11⁄2 KC-135's. General WELCH. Another rule of thumb which is useful and one which is predominant on the cost efficiency base is that we could have asked for new airplanes in lieu of this reengining. That would have cost for the same amount of capability three times as much. So, we are getting the added capability that we need at one-third the price of buying a new plane by going to this modification. It is a very slight modification which will keep the airplane in service for another 35 or 40 years. Senator WARNER. What about the Guard elements? General WELCH. The Guard elements will, in due course, get the KC-135 reengining with this particular type engine. Congress provided funds last year for putting an interim engine on some of the Guard aircraft to speed up the progress. Dr. COOPER. Mr. Chairman, we see three primary benefits. Of course, General Welch was mentioning thrust improvement if we go with the CFM-56. It will have a greatly increased fuel efficiency and also as a spinoff be 96 percent quieter from the environmental concern point of view. B-52 MODIFICATION Maintains B-52 as an effective strategic deterrent. Reliability updates increase effectiveness while decreasing support costs. General WELCH. The B-52 modification program is a substantial program. I think it is important to realize that we will be having B-52's in the force for a decade or more. It is the carrier which is currently used for the cruise missile, a very important part of our cruise |