Our folks, the media and the hill keep asking us why readiness is not improving. The answer is simple. It can take 24 months or more to turn money into parts. But thanks to Air Force Materiel Command, we are making real progress in cutting these times. For example, backorders fell by 30 percent in fiscal 1999, even though we fought the equivalent of a major theater war.
Modernization is also an important part of the readiness equation.
At some point, you must replace whole subsystems or even whole aircraft. The C-17 is our largest new procurement program and it is proceeding very well. And lest I be accused of ignoring missiles and space, Minuteman modernization is our number two upgrade program. In fact, we are funding replacements and upgrades for every one of our existing satellite systems. We are also fixing the cockpits and avionics of every one of our heritage aircraft.