WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today participated in a full committee hearing discussing the future force posture of the United States Air Force (USAF), and United States Space Force (USSF).

In his remarks, Wicker observed that the threat environment posed by China and Russia highlights the importance of airpower and spacepower in protecting American interests.

“Putin’s brutal and unprovoked war in Ukraine has demonstrated the significance of air and missile defense in denying the effective use of airpower. Russia maintains a high level of capability in space, but communist China is much further ahead in comparison,” Wicker said. “Meanwhile, the state of competition to use – or deny the use of – space capabilities is rapidly evolving. And Beijing rapidly continues to develop and field capabilities that could contest our own assets in the air and in space.”

Wicker additionally called for the acceleration and development of Air Force warfighting programs in the service of deterring China.

“The Air Force and Space Force have essential roles to play in deterring conflict in the Western Pacific. As I have said at other posture hearings, complacency is not an option,” Wicker said. “Complacency undermines deterrence. We need to proceed with urgency to get our forces the capabilities they need.”

USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, and USSF Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman testified before the committee.

Read Senator Wicker’s comments as delivered below

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I join you in welcoming our distinguished witnesses and thank them for their many years of service.

This past year has highlighted several growing challenges confronting both the Air Force and Space Force.

For example, Putin’s brutal and unprovoked war in Ukraine has demonstrated the significance of air and missile defense in denying the effective use of airpower. Russia maintains a high level of capability in space, but communist China is much further ahead in comparison. Meanwhile, the state of competition to use – or deny the use of – space capabilities is rapidly evolving. And Beijing rapidly continues to develop and field capabilities that could contest our own assets in the air and in space.

Although we face challenges, there are good signs of progress in this year’s budget request. For example, I am encouraged to see the Department of the Air Force continue to modernize. In particular, the Air Force is finally building out its fleet of fighter aircraft at a rate much closer to what we need. It does so while continuing to develop the next generation of advanced fighters and bombers. I hope our witnesses will provide an update regarding plans for the next generation of tanker aircraft, considering that the KC-46 delivery is still in progress.

I am also glad to see adequate resourcing for programs such as the Sentinel, B-21, and Long Range Stand Off missile. However, there are alarming reports that indicate the ICBM replacement program could be delayed. We simply cannot afford to fall behind on nuclear modernization. So, perhaps we’ll talk about that.

I commend the Space Force for the effort it has put into building a hybrid architecture for missile warning, secure communications, and resilient navigation. I hope our witnesses will identify steps Congress can take to improve space capabilities more rapidly.

I am concerned that the Air Force is still assuming risk in the near-term. In the air domain – particularly during the years of concern to operational commanders and the National Defense Strategy, Mr. Secretary – there remains a large gap between warfighting needs and capability. Many of the platforms Congress has supported continue to be delayed, including the F-35 Block 4 upgrades and T-7 trainer aircraft. This is particularly troubling since those delays indicate we may not have these assets to deploy when we would need them most.

I am also bothered by potential delays to accelerate programs such as the E-7 command and control aircraft, despite the clear congressional signal of support last year. Other challenges stand in the way of Agile Combat Employment. To make that a reality, we need to make progress in the electromagnetic spectrum, in munitions production, and in building out the posture of basing and logistics.

Further delays in these programs could have disastrous consequences. The Air Force and Space Force have essential roles to play in deterring conflict in the Western Pacific. As I have said at other posture hearings, complacency is not an option. Complacency undermines deterrence. We need to proceed with urgency to get our forces the capabilities they need.

I thank our witnesses and look forward to an important discussion.