Posted on 03/25/2014 7:46:46 AM PDT by bestintxas
Obama Seeking to Abolish Tomahawk, Hellfire Missile Programs by Debra Heine 24 Mar 2014 947post a comment Share This: 143 281 Obama is doing that thing again that he loves to do, "which is surrender whatever advantages the country has – whichever advantages, wherever we dominate...." The president is seeking to cut two highly successful missile programs, which defense experts say have helped the U.S. Navy maintain military superiority for the past several decades. Obama's proposal they say would leave us with no functioning Tomahawk missiles past 2018.
Via the Washington Free Beacon:
The Tomahawk missile program—known as “the world’s most advanced cruise missile”—is set to be cut by $128 million under Obama’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal and completely eliminated by fiscal year 2016, according to budget documents released by the Navy.
In addition to the monetary cuts to the program, the number of actual Tomahawk missiles acquired by the United States would drop significantly—from 196 last year to just 100 in 2015. The number will then drop to zero in 2016.
The Navy will also be forced to cancel its acquisition of the well-regarded and highly effective Hellfire missiles in 2015, according to Obama’s proposal.
The proposed elimination of these missile programs came as a shock to lawmakers and military experts, who warned ending cutting these missiles would significantly erode America’s ability to deter enemy forces.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
The report is a half-truth, because it omits how the Tomahawk has a proposed successor, the Cruise Missile XR (Extended Range). The Russians are marketing increasingly effective anti-cruise missile systems, and the Tomahawk was not suitable for striking moving targets. The new Cruise Missile XR (Extended Range) offers stealth capabilities, the ability to strike moving targets, and other improvements challenging the Russian anti-cruise missile systems.
The Hellfire has long been under consideraton for phasing out as proposed replacements were developed and scheduled for appropriations that were subsequently canceled for budgetary reasons. The latest proposed replacement for the Hellfire is the Joint Air to Ground Missile (JAGM).
The retirement of the Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles after long service is to be expected sooner or later, so the real question is whether or not the Obama Administration is going to proved adequate and timely funding for effective replacement missile systems?
And just where will DHS, TSA, FEMA, IRS, FBI, CIA, ATF and locale law enforcement get their Hellfire and Tomahawk missiles from now?
“so the real question is whether or not the Obama Administration is going to proved adequate and timely funding for effective replacement missile systems?”
Is it a real question or a foregone conclusion to the negative? I am know how I’d bet.
Why do we need weapons? Doesn’t everyone love us now?
To strip America's defensive capabilities bare and leave her open to attack. That's why.
Someone’s sleeping, Lord, kumbaya
Please note that Kerry has voted AGAINST almost EVERY WEAPON SYSTEM IN THE U.S. INVENTORY!!!
Thanks for posting “the rest of the story”. I started to go check facts but decided to skim comments first.
I had heard a few years ago that the Tomahawk cruise missile was becoming obsolete as a result of America’s (and by proxy the world’s) missile defense systems. The Tomahawk is a subsonic, straight flying, precision munition. It flies low and follows ground contour, which initially made it difficult to shoot down. Today, as I understand it, they can be detected and taken out with heat seeking munitions. It stands to reason we have more capable weapons today.
The real questions is, are we funding and manufacturing the replacements or are we going back to sticks and stones?
The Obamaists are touting the Coup Stick missile. It touches the enemy to count coup.
“The real questions is, are we funding and manufacturing the replacements or are we going back to sticks and stones?”
I have strong doubts considering the way the replacements have been stricken from the Budget before and the way Hagel and Obama have never seen a Defense appropriation that could not be cut or eliminated altogether.
” are we funding and manufacturing the replacements or are we going back to sticks and stones?”
Your comment reminds me of what Zell Miller said about Kerry and using spitballs.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2004/zellmiller2004rnc.htm
“Please note that Kerry has voted AGAINST almost EVERY WEAPON SYSTEM IN THE U.S. INVENTORY!!!”
As he asks himself “WWJD?” (What Would Jane (Fonda) Do?).
Could you elaborate? These missle systems aren't needed anymore? Thanks.
Its TREASON
And half the people are walking around with their fingers up their noses and don’t know and don’t care.
Who’s going to stop him, huh? No one. Congress is too busy kissing his backside and more than half the nation is up there, too.
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