Step-Up

In addition to juggling the economy and foreign crises, President Kennedy last week ordered a step-up in U.S. deterrent and airlift capability, and asked Defense Secretary Robert McNamara to produce by month's end a full reappraisal of the U.S. defense setup. Along the way, Kennedy registered a solid boost in G.I. morale by rescinding Dwight Eisenhower's order calling for a cut-down in the number of military dependents abroad to slow the drain on gold.

Next day Bob McNamara, slim and businesslike, barreled into his first press conference to lay out some of the details of the Kennedy new look. Items:

P: The Pentagon found that it could save the same amount of foreign spending, and leave military dependents overseas, if the military and their dependents would cut annual personal spending by $80. They will be urged to do so. Expected annual savings: $80 million.

P: To put muscle in the U.S. deterrent forces, Defense has ordered a change in the Polaris submarine program that will put five subs now in construction into service nine months ahead of schedule.

P: To increase the airlift capability. Defense will add 53 troop-transport planes to its purchasing program. Thirty of these planes will be Boeing C-135 jets (military version of the 707). Deliveries at the rate of two per month will begin in June. The remaining 23 planes will be Lockheed null turboprops, which will be turned out at a fast eight per month, beginning in July. In all, the aim is to outfit the military with long-range (4,000 miles plus) craft with a 25-ton payload that can operate on relatively short, 6,000-ft. runways.

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