Why did we retire the Super Tomcats again? That seems a little...stupid to say the least.
Furthermore, what’s up with reducing the number of aircraft in the Air Wings? Is it just a matter or replacing the Tomcat Squadrons or is there something else going on?
To prove that "Big Dick" Cheney had tons of swing and could beat up Grumman.
It was a squabble over a projected next-gen Tomcat project. Cheney (with Poppy Bush's nod) killed it -- and ordered the dies cut up -- to make a point. To make a point. Guess that means more in Bushworld than "the future security of the United States".
There were at least three designs left on the drawing-board for follow-on "improved" Tomcat designs when he did that.
They're reducing the number of carriers so they're cutting the number of air wings. Eleven carriers, ten air wings.