At the Projection Forces Subcommittee hearing last night, Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) asked whether the Air Force would prefer to buy more C-17s or recapitalize its tanker fleet. Lt. Gen. Donald Hoffman, military deputy for acquisition, said the service is serious about recapitalizing the KC-135 fleet effectively and quickly. (Read his written testimony here.) Hoffman revealed that on Monday when he met with the Chief of Staff, Gen. Michael Moseley, Moseley said, “I’ll take the first tanker before I take the 181st C-17.”
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.