a key part of the mq9 is that nevada's creech air force base. last year, the funding was included at the top of priorities end in april, the committee was told of the mq9's importance of the need for more. the air force lacks capacity to meet combatant commander requirements contained in the 20 18 national defense strategy. despite this, the department previously proposed cutting the platform, the most cost-effective, without a program of record to replace it, which would further risk widening the isr capability gap. secretary, what is the department plan for the mq9, and cost-effectiveness, and the requirement by commanders for more ion's are -- more isr? secretary austin: thank you, senator. you heard general millie talk about the late combatant commander's view on isr. having been a combatant commander, i agree, there is never enough isr. i always want more. the air force is committed to taking off a number of lines of isr, but they are not reducing the tales of the aircraft -- the tails of the aircraft that go with those lines. they are maki