Air-to-surface missiles.-$10 million are included in the program to construct facilities for the Hounddog and the Quail air-to-surface missiles carried by the Strategic Air Command bombers to provide them with greater penetration capability. This amount provides assembly, checkout, and engine test facilities at 15 B-52 bases inside the United States.

Bomber facilities.-Fiscal year 1957 construction authorization initiated a program of construction to adapt existing Air Force bases for dispersal of the squadrons of the SAC heavy bomber force. Through the fiscal year 1959 program, construction has been completed or is underway providing 22 of these B-52 dispersal bases. Added to the 11 bases which had been the homes for the original B-36 wings, these 22 additional bases would permit full dispersal by squadron of the then-planned 33 squadrons or 11 wings of B-52's.

The currently planned B-52 force has been increased to 14 wings and additional dispersal bases are needed. This authorization request proposes the provision of four additional B-52 dispersal bases by the conversion of existing B-47 installations-Homestead, Fla.; McCoy, Fla.; Larson, Wash.; and Schilling, Kans.-and includes $18.2 million for construction of facilities for that purpose. By adjustment of the forces and attrition of B-47 units concurrently with the increase in the number of B-52 wings, a substantial degree of dispersal also is being achieved for the medium bomber wings. The bomber force facilities in this year's construction program includes a third major increment of construction, $21.5 million, at Richard Bong Air Force Base, Wis., at which one of the first operational B-58 wings will be deployed.

The balance of $29.5 million for bombers principally provides operational types of facilities at dispersal bases previously programed to improve the capability and alert posture of the B-52 squadrons at those locations.

SAC tanker facilities.-In the fiscal year 1958 supplemental and fiscal year 1959 programs, authorization and funds were provided for construction which would permit the relocation of KC-97 tanker refueling squadrons from southern bases in the United States to locations in northern areas from which they can operate without delay in support of strike missions by the B-47 medium bombers. Under those programs 10 KC-97 squadrons are being relocated on 8 existing Air Force bases.

A total of $6.7 million is requested in this program to provide additional facilities to increase operational effectiveness of the KC-97's at six bases; also, $1.6 million of the tanker facilities amount provides additional construction at one KC-135 tanker base.

Strategic support. The balance of $20 million for strategic support is distributed among a number of bases and consists of various operational and support facilities which directly support the strategic effort but are not associated solely with a single strategic system or objective.

Air defense. Facilities for air defense, including both active defense and warning and control functions, amount to $231.7 million, or 26.5 percent of the total program.

Defense missiles.-A significant package within this defense grouping is that for the Bomarc missile, amounting to $27 million. Construction of facilities for this missile was initiated in the fiscal year 1958 construction program at four locations. Fiscal year 1959 authorizations provided facilities at 10 additional locations. This fiscal year 1960 request includes $26 million to construct five additional sites and $1 million for support facilities at a previously programed site.

The Bomarc missile squadrons are being placed on or near existing Air Force or other military installations, with the main base providing the major portion of necessary support facilities, including housing.

Interceptor facilities.-The $24.9 million for interceptors provide principally operational and maintenance facilities at a number of bases to improve the readiness capability and effectiveness of fighter interceptor aircraft. A major portion of the items consist of shelters for the calibration of the interceptor weapons and shops for the maintenance of the extensive and sensitive armament and electronics equipment on the newer improved types of Century-series interceptor aircraft.

Ballistic missile early warning.-The Soviet advances in ballistic missiles have emphasized the need for a system to provide immediate warning of a surprise ballistic missile attack against this country. This is essential to the protec tion and response of our deterrent and active defensive forces. The Congress recognized this urgent need last year and authorized $189 million in the fiscal year 1958 supplemental construction program to proceed with development of

a ballistic missile warning system. Construction of the system now is well underway. This fiscal year 1960 program contains $33.5 million of additional authorization to provide the balance of the facilities needed for the first operational sites.

Aircraft control and warning.-$33.2 million are requested to provide for expansion and improvements in the radar warning system. Almost $20 million of this amount is for the provision of increased electric power generating capacity at primary radar stations in North America. This increased power is required for the operation of new types of more powerful and long range radar equipment being installed in the system. Also included in the warning and control package are 27 units of family housing at each of five radar sites inside the United States where community housing is not available for lease; 19 unmanned automatic gap filler sites in the United States; and freight terminals at several principal resupply stations on the DEW line to provide logistic support improvements determined necessary after experience gained in the first year's operation of the DEW line.

Sage. A substantial amount, $90,661,000, is requested for the SAGE (semiautomatic ground environment) system which provides the speed and accuracy necessary for air battle analysis and control and coordination of intercept actions with our defense missiles and interceptor aircraft. The major portion, $76.3 million, of the SAGE authorization amount will be utilized for the construction of a number of hardened facilities for the installation of solid-state (transistor) computers in super combat centers. Construction of these super combat centers will substantially reduce the vulnerability of the SAGE system and will provide much greater capacities for air surveillance and weapons control.

These tremendous improvements in air defense capabilities are possible as the result of recent developments in solid-state electronic elements, or transistors, and the application of transistors to computors, together with better computor techniques. They are the direct outgrowth of our research and development program and the application of commercial developments to the resolution of military problems.

The balance of the facilities requested for the SAGE system primarily provides communications receivers and transmitters and operations buildings additions at existing radar sites to tie them into the SAGE direction and control centers.

NORAD headquarters.-$10 million are requested to initiate construction of a hardened combat operations center in the Colorado Springs, Colo., area, from which the NORAD command will direct and control the air defense of the United States and Canada. In this facility, the NORAD component force commands will perform their various functions which are directly related to tactical operations in support of the NORAD mission. The initial increment requested in this program generally will provide for necessary real estate acquisition, site preparation, rock excavation, and utilities and access roads. Subsequent increments will complete excavation work and construct the basic operations center structure and supporting facilities.

Air defense support.-The $12.5 million for air defense support, as in the case of the strategic support package discussed earlier, includes various types of facilities related to more than one weapon system. These projects, generally, consist of operational, aircraft maintenance, and personnel support facilities, and include $4.3 million for facilities needed to support the ADC fighter interceptor Weapons Employment Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

Tactical forces.-The program directly supporting the tactical forces amounts to $25.8 million, or 3 percent of the total authorization request. $10.2 million are devoted to facilities for tactical missiles, the major portion of which will provide hardened facilities for the MACE missile at oversea locations. Other projects for the tactical forces include $10.3 million for operational and aircraft maintenance facilities in support of tactical fighter, tanker, and transport aircraft, and $5.3 million for various support facilities at Tactical Air Command bases.

Military air transport.-Projects for military air transport activities total $13 million and consist of operational and support facilities related to MATS transport aircraft operations.

Research, development, and test.-$23.7 million are requested for facilities to support Air Force R. & D. programs. The principal projects include $5.7 million at Arnold Engineering Development Center to provide increased capa

bilities for development work associated with supersonic aircraft and missile engine components under such conditions as orbital speed, and $7.3 million for a laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base for research in sonic effects on flight vehicles.

Training and education.-The training and education package of $12.8 million includes $10.8 million for operational, training, and support facilities at bases of the Air Training Command and $2 million for personnel and support facilities at the air university at Maxwell and Gunter Air Force Bases, Ala. Depot operations.—$7.6 million are included in the program for various operational, maintenance, supply, and support facilities at Air Materiel Command depots inside the United States.

Overseas theater forces.-Facilities for forces stationed in oversea theaters include $15.6 million for classified activities of the U.S. Security Service; $13.8 million for Pacific area bases; and $6.4 million for bases in the European and Middle East area.

Move of Air Force flying activities from the Washington, D.C., area. $20.7 million are included in the program for construction at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., to provide a second increment of facilities needed by the Air Force to implement plans for phasing Air Force and Navy flying activities out of Anacostia Naval Air Station, Bolling Air Force Base, and Washington National Airport. Air Force construction authorized in fiscal year 1959 at Andrews provided the long leadtime airfield construction plus support facilities to accommodate the Air Force flying activity to be moved from Washington National Airport. The additional facilities in this fiscal year 1960 request will accommodate the flying activities to be moved from Bolling Air Force Base.

Unforeseen construction.-$17.5 million of authorization is requested in this bill for construction of unforeseen projects, without identification to specific construction items or locations. This authorization will provide the Secretary of the Air Force authority to construct urgently required facilities for which requirements are not now known or firm but which must be initiated prior to the next military construction authorization act.

Changing international conditions and operational concepts, changes in Air Force missions, new weapons developments, improved production schedules, and new or unforeseen research and development requirements often create new and additional facility requirements on which construction must be initiated promptly and provided in short periods of time in order that the weapons and systems may be effectively ultilized at the earliest possible dates or by specified requirement dates.

Unused balances of this type of emergency authority available under Public Law 85-685 will expire as of the date of enactment of this bill. Similarly, any unused balance under the emergency authorization requested in this bill will expire on September 30, 1960.

Categories of construction.-In the preceding summary of the program by weapon system and program objectives, each of the program packages discussed includes facilities that fall under the various standard construction categories. To provide the committee with a corollary analysis of the program, the following table shows the distribution of the authorization request by major construction category.

Department of the Air Force fiscal year 1960 military construction authoriza tion-program by construction categories

Category

Amount $652, 317,000

59, 166, 000

Total

22, 266, 000 13, 971,000 17,488,000 3, 802,000 36,012,000 49, 175, 000 1,064, 000 17,500,000

872, 761, 000

Over two-thirds of the operational and training category, which represents about 75 percent of the total program, is composed of missile and satellite facilities.

Unforeseen Construction___.

Hospital and Medical.-The hospital and medical facilities category of $17.5 million consists of 4 hospitals, 5 dispensaries, and an out-patient facility. The hospitals, which are the predominant portion of this category, include a new hospital at Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio, where none currently exists, and three hospitals to replace grossly inadequate and substandard facilities at Sheppard Air Force Base, Tex.; George Air Force Base, Calif.; and Clark Air Force Base, Philippine Islands.

Utilities and Ground Improvements.—Almost half of the utilities category which makes up 5.3 percent of the total program is for the provision of increased electric power capacity at aircraft control and warning sites on the North American continent which I previously discussed. The balance of the utilities items include the second increment of a program to provide a water borne sewage system at Thule Air Base in Greenland and utility system extensions and additions at various bases required to support the new facilities to be constructed in this program.

Real Estate.-$1.1 million are requested in the program for the acquisition of various types of identified real estate interests. These interests include 1,563 acres of fee purchase at a cost of $850,000; 550 acres of clearance easements at a cost of $141,000; and 33 acres of right-of-way easements at a cost of $73,000. These interests are required primarily for the installation of runway overruns and approach lights, navaids and communications facilities, and to establish clearances for flight safety in runway approach zones. In addition, certain real estate interests, not yet firmly identified will be required under the authorizations requested in section 302 for the missile programs, and for the SAGE super combat centers and the NORAD combat operations center. Family Housing.-The Air Force family housing program in this fiscal year 1960 military construction authorization bill constitutes a continuing effort to provide adequate housing for our military personnel. With the committee's support of the Air Force housing programs in the past few years, we feel that we have been reasonably and moderately successful in this field. The constantly changing needs for housing stems from the development and growth of new weapons systems, and resultant operational changes based upon them, and also upon the growth and enlargement of Air Force families in the past several years. We have been, and are, taking every opportunity to review construction projects at specific locations to assure that we will not overbuild and impose hardship upon the local communities, while at the same time providing for our military personnel within the limits established by the Department of Defense.

The housing program authorized under title VIII of the National Housing Act has for the past several years been our main source of providing this important personnel facility. This program, under the direct control and supervision of Air Force headquarters and the Department of Defense, is carried out and administered through the major Air Force commands. Design and supervision of construction is accomplished by civilian architect-engineer firms selected for their knowledge and ability in this field; construction is accomplished by private construction contractors through competitive bids. On the basis of our past experience, we have achieved within the dollar limitations imposed by law, contemporary housing of maximum livability through the freedom used by the architect-engineers to employ local materials, design and architectural treatment which will also afford the maximum economy. We have every confidence that this approach will also ensure low maintenance costs over a long period.

As of February 25, 1959, there have been 52,700 units of title VIII housing approved by the Congress at 110 bases. Of this amount, 19 projects for 11,300 units have been completed and occupied; 67 additional projects for 30,700 units are currently under construction; acceptable bids have been received on 8 projects for 2,700 units; and the balance of 16 projects for approximately 8,000 units are in various stages of design or out for bid. In this bill is a request for the construction authorization of 26 projects for 8,025 units under this title VIII program which will augment our prior program.

The problem of housing our military personnel in the northern areas of the United States or at isolated locations where virtually no community housing is available remains with us, as does the allied problem of programing adequate housing for our airmen who have not yet reached the grade of airman first class with at least 7 years of service and who do not receive quarters allowances under permanent legislation.

Outside the United States surplus commodity housing program provides most of our housing. This program based upon the generation of foreign currencies through the sale of surplus agricultural products, such as tobacco or cotton, has been very satisfactory especially in certain areas such as the United Kingdom where our surplus agricultural products have been in demand. To supplement this program, appropriated funds not to exceed 25 percent of the total cost of the project are used to provide services and construction materials such as hardware or plumbing items which may not be available locally. Under this program 2,000 units have been constructed and occupied. An additional 2,000 units are currently under construction in France, Morocco, Spain, and the United Kingdom. In this authorization bill 2,037 units under this program are requested for the United Kingdom, France, and three classified locations. Where the title VIII and surplus commodity programs are not feasible, either because of high construction costs, small projects, or an inability to generate credits in foreign countries, a limited amount of housing is programed by means of appropriated funds. Included in this authorization bill is a request for the construction of 135 units at five aircraft control and warning sites in the United States where there is very little or no local community rental housing available for rent by our military personnel.

Our housing program outlined here continues the Air Force policy of programing yearly increments of housing to meet the most urgent needs at specified and carefully reviewed locations by the most efficient and economical means. Following congressional authorization, these projects are subjected to additional reviews through the completed design stages and through the fund apportionment stages of the construction program to assure that they are valid, necessary, and urgent before contract is awarded. This procedure is considered to be reasonable and prudent in order that we may get the most housing from our construction dollars used in this field.

Contained in the general provisions of this bill are items providing for the leasing of 7,500 housing units at or near tactical military installations for the three services of which the Air Force is allotted 2,350 units. This authority will enable us to lease housing for aircraft control and warning personnel and for tactical fighter-interceptor personnel at locations where local community rental housing exists. This provision is a continuation and extension of the original Army philosophy of using such leased housing for NIKE personnel; and the Air Force is hopeful that we can greatly alleviate some of our critical housing problem for aircraft control and warning and tactical personnel by this leasing authority. A pilot project for 125 such units is currently underway in the Air Defense Command as a part of the total authorizations granted to the Department of Defense for this item under the fiscal year 1959 Military Construction Authorization Act (Public Law 85-685).

The general provisions also include authority to construct a limited number of four-bedroom quarters with a net floor area of 1,400 square feet for officers below the grade of major. This will provide a more suitable design and adequate space for living room, dining room, and kitchen for larger families requiring four bedrooms. This is needed to accommodate at least some of the larger families of these junior officers.

In order to enable the Air Force to realize overall economy and flexibility in the financing of overseas housing, another provision permits the substitution of a surplus commodity project for an appropriated fund project where feasible at the same location in a foreign country.

We feel the housing program reflected in this bill is necessary, urgent and a reasonable increment in our overall housing objectives. The problem is complex and dynamically changing. Continuing studies of Air Force requirements, the evaluation of available community housing and the judicious application of time-distance criteria to support Air Force missions and activities are constantly being made to keep pace with our objective of providing adequate housing for Air Force personnel.

Increases in prior years, authorizations.-The deficiencies, in prior years' Air Force authorizations which have developed during the past year are substantially less than those for which increased authorizations were requested in previous years. The amount of increases requested in this bill total only $2.343,000 as compared with last year's total of $13.4 million and the previous year's total of almost $115 million.

This gratifying reduction in authorization deficiencies has resulted primarily from better estimates as additional experience is gained from awards on newer