In testifying before Congress, Marine Corps Gen. James L. Jones, Supreme Allied Command Europe and head of US European Command, complained that fixing the lack of strategic airlift capability within NATO is “a 10- to 12-year project.” Jones said that nations made commitments about three years ago, but that “economic modalities” were tying up current discussions on acquisition of as many as five strategic airlifters. Jones told reporters at the Pentagon last week that he would recommend the C-17 airlifter for NATO, rather than going with their current choice the A-400.
The U.S. sent Air Force F-16s over central Syria in a show of force following the Dec. 13 killing of two U.S. Army Soldiers and one American civilian interpreter by a gunman linked to the Islamic State group.
