One of the US officials leading air operations in Southwest Asia, Air Force Maj. Gen. David Edgington, told reporters in Iraq this weekend that airstrikes are down from earlier this year when the number of sorties was running ahead compared to a year ago. He said that earlier data showed a “marked increase, about four times” in the number of weapons dropped, but that data for the past month has shown a “marked decrease.” He attributed the drop to the overall improvement in the security situation recently noted by senior US Central Command officials. Edgington said: “We are having less calls for [air] kinetic operations. We are still there,” meaning the air component continues to maintain combat air patrols should ground commanders call for air strikes. (Transcript with link to video clips)
The Air Force ramped up operations and maintenance spending to keep its F-35A fighters flying over the past six years, but readiness continues to lag behind goals, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.