Deep cuts to the Airborne Laser (ABL) missile program are unwise, as would be a proposed killing of the Joint Air-to-Surface Missile (JASM) program, the Air Force Association (AFA) stated.

President Obama’s proposed cuts would be harmful, and Congress should reverse them, the AFA stated.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates proposed not buying any more Airborne Laser aircraft, even if the one existing ABL prototype aircraft annihilates a target missile in a crucial test later this year.

President Obama then made that planned Gates ABL cut part of the White House defense budget proposal for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2010, a package that Obama sent to Congress.

"The proposed [fiscal 2010] defense budget will have a significant impact on the defense industrial base as it recommends terminating or delaying nine key aerospace programs which are essential for the defense of our nation," the AFA stated.

"Procurement decisions should be driven by the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) based on the national security strategy," said Mike Dunn, President/CEO of AFA. "Strategy considerations must be brought to the forefront since these decisions will be with us for decades, not just a few budget cycles."

But the Obama budget plan is being sent to Congress before the QDR sets forth what systems are or aren’t required for strategic, long-term U.S. military needs, the AFA noted.

"AFA is deeply concerned that the cuts announced as part of the defense budget weaken core capabilities that are key elements of national defense," the group stated.

As for missile defense, the AFA observed that ABL "technology shows promise of being able to destroy an advancing missile with precision at the beginning of its trajectory, where the missile is both the slowest and the ‘hottest’ … and where the debris will fall on the launching country." That means that the flaming exhaust of the enemy missile just after launch is relatively easy for the ABL to spot, so it can kill the missile. Other missile defense systems attempt to hit the enemy missile later in its trajectory, when its engines aren’t flaming, and when the enemy missile is moving much faster.

"North Korea’s and Iran’s test of missile technology displays the need for continued investment in missile defense, including the airborne laser," Mike Dunn, president and CEO of AFA, said. "This technology could revolutionize our defenses."

The AFA also criticized Obama’s proposed cuts in other programs vital to the Air Force, including the C-17 airlifter (terminate), F-22 fighter (terminate), Next Generation Bomber (delay), Combat Search and Rescue – X (terminate), Transformational Satellite program [TSAT] (terminate), C-27 transport (cut the buy by over 50%), Presidential Helicopter (terminate).

The budget wasn’t totally bad news, according to AFA.

"We are pleased to see support for the replacement [aerial refueling tanker plane] and reversing the planned drawdown of USAF personnel in the 2010 budget," said Joe Sutter, AFA Chairman of the Board. "But the future is hard to predict, so we must maintain robust capabilities throughout the full spectrum of operations. The weapon systems purchased today will be in the inventory for three or more decades. Airpower — to include space power and the emerging opportunities inherent within cyber power — provides much of the asymmetric capability for the U.S."