General: Army lost 130 helicopters in Iraq , Afghanistan; Says 'The U.S. is not at war, the military is at war'

Helicopters at Balad AFB in Iraq

WASHINGTON – The Army has lost 130 helicopters in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about a third to shoot-downs, its aviation director said Friday. He complained that industry is not replacing them fast enough.

“While the military may be on a war footing, our nation's industry is not on a war footing,” said Brig. Gen. Stephen Mundt.

He said it takes 24 months to get replacement aircraft built and delivered and that replacements for the early losses are just now arriving.

“The U.S. is not at war, the military is at war,” he told a group of Pentagon reporters, also complaining about the timing of how money flows from the government to pay for the purchases. “Industry, you have got to get to the point of where you're producing ... faster.”

Read the rest at the San Diego Tribune

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