Our Defense Budget Cut As Russia Continues Buildup

Russia announced that its Air Force will continue to grow, and will get more than 90 new or
others that have been greatly modernized. This will include both rotary wing and fixed wing
aircraft.

The very large list will consist of 10 Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers, and a number; not specified
at this time of the new Su-35S Flanker E multi-role fighters, and about ten Su-25SM Frogfoot
attack fighters.

There will also be more than 20 attack helicopters including Mi-35 Hind helicopters that have
been revamped and made more modern, in addition to the Ka-52 Alligator and Mi-28 Night
Hunter. There will also be 5 heavy lift and about 30 transport helicopters.

Russia claims the newest plane Su-35S is the next generation and is equal to the US F-35.

There is some thought in the US that the number of F-35's will be greatly reduced in the budget
cuts that will have to be made over the next ten years.

Many military leaders have said that the cuts being mandated will create a US military that
could be devastated and unready for future combat missions. New weapon systems will
be scrapped, ships and planes now in service will be forced to operate beyond their
original life service plans.

As Russia and China both continue to enlarge the respective military might can we as a nation
allow our military to become a second class force? Will we be unable to defend ourselves and
meet our obligations around the world?

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996