The new Air Force Chief unfurled an optimistic—perhaps unduly optimistic—take on the highly public political battle over Air Force plans to cut Air National Guard airframes and units. Moseley said the heat generated by the issue has led some to think there is an Active-Air Guard breach. However, the reality, according to the Chief is that this so-called “split” is “a bit of an urban myth.” Moseley says, “We are not separate tribes; we are one Air Force.” The decisions made under the BRAC process were driven by the fact the Total Force is “sitting on the oldest inventory in the history of the Air Force,” explains Moseley. “The reality is we will have less equipment, and the equipment we have got needs to be replaced.”
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.