The Air Force, said Lt. Col. Tim Healy, air staff special aircraft requirements deputy division chief, is looking at options for a new light cargo-medium transport aircraft. He told reporters that USAF has completed an initial capabilities document that identifies a capability gap in the ability to do intra-theater airlift into “austere” locations. USAF has tagged RAND to conduct a capabilities-based assessment, said Healy. No timeline was given. Healy noted, though, “We want to do this smart and not waste money.”
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.