According to Army Gen. Burwell Bell, getting adequate air training space—particularly for air-to-ground training—is a key issue for US Forces Korea. Burwell, USFK leader, told the House Armed Services Committee last week, “We do not have the ranges that I believe are required to ensure our competency day to day.” He said that USAF had access to ranges “until several months back” and was promised use of a new range. The new arrangement has met local resident resistance. Burwell maintained that he is “trying to resolve this” with South Korea.
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft will be operational in the late 2020s, several years before the Next-Generation Air Dominance family of systems, Air Force officials told the House Armed Services tactical aviation panel. The CCAs will first be “shooters,” then electronic warfare platforms, then sensors, in that order, they added.