Author Topic: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs  (Read 1595 times)

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rangerrebew

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Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« on: March 24, 2014, 06:32:25 pm »

Obama to Kill Tomahawk, Hellfire Missile Programs

Cornerstone of U.S. Naval power eliminated under Obama budget



BY:  Adam Kredo   Follow @Kredo0
March 24, 2014 1:23 pm



President Barack Obama is seeking to abolish two highly successful missile programs that experts say has helped the U.S. Navy maintain military superiority for the past several decades.

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.

“The administration’s proposed budget dramatically under-resources our investments in munitions and leaves the Defense Department with dangerous gaps in key areas, like Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles,” said Rep. Randy Forbes (R., Va.), a member of House Armed Services Committee.

“Increasing our investment in munitions and retaining our technological edge in research and development should be a key component of any serious defense strategy,” he said.

The U.S. Navy relied heavily on them during the 2011 military incursion into Libya, where some 220 Tomahawks were used during the fight.

Nearly 100 of these missiles are used each year on average, meaning that the sharp cuts will cause the Tomahawk stock to be completely depleted by around 2018. This is particularly concerning to defense experts because the Pentagon does not have a replacement missile ready to take the Tomahawk’s place.

“It doesn’t make sense,” said Seth Cropsey, director of the Hudson Institute’s Center for American Seapower. “This really moves the U.S. away from a position of influence and military dominance.”

Cropsey said that if someone were trying to “reduce the U.S. ability to shape events” in the world, “they couldn’t find a better way than depriving the U.S. fleet of Tomahawks. It’s breathtaking.”

The Navy has used various incarnations of the Tomahawk with great success over the past 30 years, employing them during Desert Storm and its battle zones from Iraq and Afghanistan to the Balkans.

While the military as a whole is seeing its budgets reduced and equipment scaled back, the Tomahawk cuts do not appear to be due to a lack of funds.

The administration seems to be taking the millions typically spent on the Tomahawk program and investing it in an experimental missile program that experts say will not be battle ready for at least 10 years.

“It is definitely short-sighted given the value of the Tomahawk as a workhorse,” said Mackenzie Eaglen, a former Pentagon staffer who analyzes military readiness. “The opening days of the U.S. lead-from-behind, ‘no-fly zone’ operation over Libya showcased how important this inventory of weapons is still today.”

Overall, the Navy has essentially cut in half its weapons procurement plan, impacting a wide range of tactical weapons and missiles.

Navy experts and retired officials fear that the elimination of the Tomahawk and Hellfire systems—and the lack of a battle-ready replacement—will jeopardize the U.S. Navy’s supremacy as it faces increasingly advanced militaries from North Korea to the Middle East.

The cuts are “like running a white flag up on a very tall flag pole and saying, ‘We are ready to be walked on,’” Cropsey said.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Steve Russell called the cuts to the Tomahawk program devastating for multiple reasons.

“We run a huge risk because so much of our national policy for immediate response is contingent on our national security team threatening with Tomahawk missiles,” said Russell, who is currently running for Congress.

“The very instrument we will often use and cite, we’re now cutting the program,” Russell said. “There was a finite number [of Tomahawk’s] made and they’re not being replenished.”

“If our national policy is contingent on an immediate response with these missile and we’re not replacing them, then what are we going do?” Russell asked.

North Korea, for instance, has successfully tested multi-stage rockets and other ballistic missiles in recent months. Experts say this is a sign that the Navy’s defensive capabilities will become all the more important in the Pacific in the years to come.

Meanwhile, the experimental anti-ship cruise missile meant to replace the Tomahawk program will not be battle ready for at least 10 years, according to some experts.

The Long Range Anti Ship Missile has suffered from extremely expensive development costs and has underperformed when tested.

“You have to ask yourself: An anti-ship missile is not going to be something we can drive into a cave in Tora Bora,” Russell said. “To replace it with something not needed as badly, and invest in something not even capable of passing basic tests, that causes real concern.”

The Pentagon did not return requests for comment.

http://freebeacon.com/obama-to-kill-tomahawk-hellfire-missile-programs/
« Last Edit: March 24, 2014, 09:28:40 pm by rangerrebew »

Offline truth_seeker

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #1 on: March 24, 2014, 06:55:12 pm »
Don't we cite the source when posting articles?

(I'm all for a strong defense.) 
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Offline Gazoo

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"The Tea Party has a right to feel cheated.

When does the Republican Party, put in the majority by the Tea Party, plan to honor its commitment to halt the growth of the Federal monolith and bring the budget back into balance"?

Offline Gazoo

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2014, 07:04:04 pm »
Quote
President Barack Obama is seeking to abolish two highly successful missile programs that experts say has helped the U.S. Navy maintain military superiority for the past several decades.

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.

The article fails to provide what the new system will be.

Even Obama would not take this away and not replace it with something superior?

CORRECT?
"The Tea Party has a right to feel cheated.

When does the Republican Party, put in the majority by the Tea Party, plan to honor its commitment to halt the growth of the Federal monolith and bring the budget back into balance"?

Offline Gazoo

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2014, 07:07:27 pm »
Quote
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.

“The administration’s proposed budget dramatically under-resources our investments in munitions and leaves the Defense Department with dangerous gaps in key areas, like Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles,” said Rep. Randy Forbes (R., Va.), a member of House Armed Services Committee.

“Increasing our investment in munitions and retaining our technological edge in research and development should be a key component of any serious defense strategy,” he said.

The U.S. Navy relied heavily on them during the 2011 military incursion into Libya, where some 220 Tomahawks were used during the fight.


 :wtf:

"The Tea Party has a right to feel cheated.

When does the Republican Party, put in the majority by the Tea Party, plan to honor its commitment to halt the growth of the Federal monolith and bring the budget back into balance"?

Offline flowers

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2014, 07:12:53 pm »
The article fails to provide what the new system will be.

Even Obama would not take this away and not replace it with something superior?

CORRECT?
nope...he will take it away and not replace it. He also has plans to get rid of our nukes too.



rangerrebew

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #7 on: March 24, 2014, 09:30:19 pm »
Don't we cite the source when posting articles?

(I'm all for a strong defense.)

My bad!  I guess the old gray matter ain't what it used to be.  Thanks for the reminder.  It's now posted with the article.

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #8 on: March 24, 2014, 09:37:16 pm »
The article fails to provide what the new system will be.

Even Obama would not take this away and not replace it with something superior?

CORRECT?

It's all in his plan to gut the military...something better happen soon or we won't have a military...
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rangerrebew

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #9 on: March 24, 2014, 09:50:40 pm »
It's all in his plan to gut the military...something better happen soon or we won't have a military...

I think he's going to replace the programs with battering rams, swords, shields, and catapults with bean bags.

Offline Chieftain

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2014, 10:17:09 pm »
The article fails to provide what the new system will be.

Even Obama would not take this away and not replace it with something superior?

CORRECT?

I dunno.  The MK 41 Vertical Launch System is the most widely used VLS right now, and it fires mainly Tomahawks as well as a couple of variants of the SM-1/RIM-66 Standard Missile.  The Navy is developing a new VLS system for the Zumwalt class destroyer but I am sure it will take SM-1 and Tomahawks.

This makes no sense.  This would be like doing away with bullets for the Army to shoot. 

But then again, we have Chuckie Hagel in charge.

 :smokin:

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2014, 10:21:47 pm »
This still has to go through Congress and I am not seeing it happening there.....well it's suppose to go through Congress.../s
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Offline Gazoo

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #12 on: March 25, 2014, 04:28:12 pm »
It's all in his plan to gut the military...something better happen soon or we won't have a military...

We have three years of him.
"The Tea Party has a right to feel cheated.

When does the Republican Party, put in the majority by the Tea Party, plan to honor its commitment to halt the growth of the Federal monolith and bring the budget back into balance"?

Offline Gazoo

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #13 on: March 25, 2014, 07:54:52 pm »
What is next, taking their ships away and just let them all have shore duty?
"The Tea Party has a right to feel cheated.

When does the Republican Party, put in the majority by the Tea Party, plan to honor its commitment to halt the growth of the Federal monolith and bring the budget back into balance"?

Offline Howie66

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2014, 08:14:44 pm »
What is next, taking their ships away and just let them all have shore duty?

he's turning the Navy over to The Village People. At least the ones that haven't died from AIDS yet.
I come in peace, I didn't bring artillery.  But I am pleading with you with tears in my eyes:  If you bleep with me, I'll kill you all.

Marine General James Mattis, to Iraqi tribal leaders (Note: Mattis did NOT say "BLEEP". He threw the F Bomb)

I didn't enlist in the Corps just to watch my country become a Third World Communist Shit-hole. Don't know anyone who did.

Offline Gazoo

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #15 on: March 26, 2014, 04:52:44 pm »
he's turning the Navy over to The Village People. At least the ones that haven't died from AIDS yet.

 **nononono* 8888crybaby   *mad*
« Last Edit: March 26, 2014, 04:55:54 pm by Gazoo »
"The Tea Party has a right to feel cheated.

When does the Republican Party, put in the majority by the Tea Party, plan to honor its commitment to halt the growth of the Federal monolith and bring the budget back into balance"?

Offline Gazoo

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Re: Obama to kill Tomahawk, and Hellfire missile programs
« Reply #16 on: March 27, 2014, 02:37:16 am »


Obama’s “Kantian” decision to kill Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles | Allen B. West - AllenBWest.com
http://allenbwest.com/2014/03/obamas-kantian-decision-kill-tomahawk-hellfire-missiles/
"The Tea Party has a right to feel cheated.

When does the Republican Party, put in the majority by the Tea Party, plan to honor its commitment to halt the growth of the Federal monolith and bring the budget back into balance"?