The US Air Force is in the thick of NATO’s first major exercise for its new NATO Response Force. Steadfast Jaguar, which kicked off last week and runs through today, comprises more than 7,000 airmen, sailors, and soldiers. More than 200 alliance officials and journalists observed a “major show of force” that included USAF F-16s and Spanish Harrier fighters striking mock terrorist camps. The locale—Cape Verde, a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa—was chosen primarily because of its distance from the alliance’s normal area of operations. Most participants form NRF-7, which starts its stand-by phase in July. NRFs are being trained as multinational forces ready for deployment within five days for up to 30 days.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…