Defense S
ecretary Robert Gates sat in the cockpit of one of the Air Force’s F-22A Raptors during a visit to Langley AFB, Va. Seated in the new stealthy fighter, Gates listened to a review of its attributes from Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, commander of Langley’s 94th Fighter Squadron. Smith had just returned to Langley from the first participation by the Raptor in Red Flag at Nellis AFB, Nev.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.