Texas Air National GuardStrategic Issues Brief

104/22/2023

Brigadier General Ken WisianAssistant Adjutant General of TexasCommander, Texas Air National Guard

UNCLASS

Air National Guard Fleet Age &TXANG Aircraft Modernization and Recapitalization

• The entire ANG fleet is older and aging faster than the active duty fleet– ANG is about 1/3 of the USAF combat power– Creeping obsolescence threatens viability of

the Guard as an (operational) reserve and the very combat capability of the USAF

• You cannot be a front-line force with second string equipment

– This is not “concurrent and proportional”– Long history of the ANG having to “fend for

itself” to stay a front-line force• 1991 Iraq war an example of being left behind due to

old equipment (A-7s)• Litening targeting pod an example of ANG developing

its own equipment (that active duty then adopted)• Congress has “forced” many of the ANG aircraft

modernizations in the past

204/22/2023

UNCLASS

TXANG C-130s

• TXANG C-130s are 30 years old– 5 of 8 Texas C-130s are on the list of the

65 oldest H-models facing imminent retirement

• This retirement was part of the original PB-13 plan, now put on hold by Congress

– New airlift aircraft have gone disproportionately to the active duty

• C-130H - only 23% in AD• C-130J - 63% to AD• C-17 - 86% to AD!

– C-130s face inability to fly in FAA airspace by 2020 without a significant avionics upgrade

• AMP (Avionics Modernization Program) cancelled with no replacement identified yet Data from 2012 Air Force Almanac

304/22/2023

UNCLASS

TXANG F-16s

• TXANG F-16s are of the oldest operational Block (30) still in the inventory (26 years old)– Need to program new aircraft (F-35) to

stay relevant as a fighter pilot training unit

• Our FTU (and the ANG FTUs in general) provide better trained aircrew, faster and at less cost than active duty FTUs

– New aircraft have gone disproportionately to the Active Duty

• A-10, F-15C and F-16C about equal between AD and ARC

• F22 – 90% to AD!– Continued F-35 delays drive need for

an F-16 SLEP* or buy of new (4.5 generation) F-16s

• No plan in place to re-capitalize the unit• Last round of F-35 basing scoring was

seriously flawed & under-rated the 149 th FW*Service Life Extension Program

Data from 2012 Air Force Almanac

404/22/2023

UNCLASS

TXANG RPAs

• TXANG MQ-1 Predators are first generation RPAs*– Currently at the end of the line for

MQ-9 second generation RPA– Our MQ-1s are only a few years old

but facing obsolescence in this fastest changing area of military technology

• As the need for RPAs decreases – this makes us vulnerable

– New Aircraft have gone disproportionately to the Active Duty

• 92% of MQ-9, 100% or RQ-4– ANG share of the RPA mission: 15%– The 147 RW has been in surge since

2008• Maximum surge scheduled to go down to

“normal” surge this June (two years at Max)

• Mob authority ends this Sep

Data from 2012 Air Force Almanac

504/22/2023

* Remotely Piloted Aircraft

UNCLASS

Cyber/Intel Growth

• Texas is perfectly positioned for growth in the Cyber/Intel mission areas– Texas’ civil computer/internet workforce/ education/ industry is

#2 in the US*• The ANG is the best way to tap the civil expertise out there and retain

experience– DoD cannot compete with industry $$ for top talent– Consider a 5% (mostly officer) full-time model vs. 25% standard

• ANG is the essential bridge between federal and local/business worlds• Austin will be the second city to get Google fiber – making it even more

attractive to key civilian industries and workers– Manpower available right now to jump into new missions

• 217th Intel Training Squadron slated to close 30 Sep!• The need for this “bill payer” is greatly reduced by the latest AF force

structure plans– Infrastructure is ready– Demand signal is pegged

• The only DoD “growth” area– Current force structure is skewed (similar to aircraft)

• AD - 67% (100% of Group and higher structure is AD)• ANG – 24%• AFRES – 9%

* http://www.texaswideopenforbusiness.com 604/22/2023

ANG Strength – Accessions Report, Dec 2012

Authorized ANG personnel versus State Population

Texas is only authorized1.2 ANG personnel per10,000 citizens

96.8%

97.2%

99.8%

92.2%

96.1%

95.1%95.7%

100.2%

Manning rates for larger states as of Dec 12

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