Inside the Ring

Missile advance

Pentagon officials tell us China’s recent flight test of a new 6,000-mile-range JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile earlier this month was not the only recent troubling development in Beijing’s military buildup.

About the same time as the JL-2 test, China also test-fired a new long-range air-to-air missile.

“The missile has over-the-horizon capability, something they have not had before,” said one official familiar with the test.

Defense analysts believe the missile, which was not identified by type, could be one of China’s new PL-12 air-to-air missiles, an indigenous missile that has beyond-visual-range radar guidance and targeting.

Air Force Gen. Paul V. Hester, commander of Pacific Air Forces, said in a recent meeting with reporters that China’s fighter modernization is being watched closely and warned against underestimating Chinese military air power, as occurred with Soviet warplanes during the Cold War.

“They have great equipment. The fighters are very technologically advanced, and what we know about them gives us pause or concern against ours,” he said.

Job openings

The Pentagon inspector general’s recently released report on “accountability” in the Boeing tanker lease deal is not expected to derail the job prospects of Michael W. Wynne, insiders tell us.

Mr. Wynne is principal deputy undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, as well as a favorite of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

Mr. Rumsfeld was eyeing Mr. Wynne as the next acquisition czar, but never made the move. Standing in the way was Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican, who has showcased the scuttled Boeing lease as a sweetheart deal, as an example of cronyism in the industry-Pentagon culture, and as Pentagon officials not following acquisition rules.

But time has passed since Mr. McCain held up nominations last year. Air Force officials have acknowledged failures and commended Mr. McCain for his diligence. Officials believe Mr. Wynne would likely win confirmation as Air Force or Navy secretary.

One potential snag was the IG report. But it went relatively soft on Mr. Wynne, leveling its harshest criticism on Mr. Wynne’s former boss; the former Air Force secretary; his top acquisition official; and his deputy, Darleen Druyun, who is now in prison.

The report commended Mr. Wynne for raising concerns about the lease price and the way an analysis of alternatives was conducted. But it criticized him for not requiring the Air Force to adhere to certain Defense Department directives.

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