It Isn't Just the Air Force

This isn't good news. Perhaps we can keep the S-3 around just in case.

Nearly a fourth of the U.S. Navy's fleet of Lockheed Martin Corp P-3C Orion surveillance planes, some used in the U.S.-declared global war on terrorism, are being grounded due to fears of "structural fatigue," the Navy said on Monday.

It said 39 of the 161 planes in the P-3C fleet were affected, with repairs expected to take 18 to 24 months per plane.

"Program officials determined that these aircraft are beyond known structural limits on the lower section of the P-3 wing," the Naval Air Systems Command said in a statement.

There really are not 161 P-3Cs left, there are actually fewer. Several have been converted to the EP-3 variant, but I believe the grounding effects them as well.

I wonder how many Global Hawks will be rushed into service? Just saying...