Moseley spoke about mobility issues, reminding AEI conference attendees that it wasn’t very long ago that certain critics in Washington were trying to kill the C-17 program. “Where would we be now without it?” Moseley said of the workhorse transport. On the other mobility issue: Moseley said the long-awaited analysis of alternatives for a replacement tanker is “in the building” and is being evaluated. He also noted the ongoing independent review and, what he termed, a sufficiency review—both of which, coupled with the AOA, will lead to tanker recapitalization. It is a given, according to Moseley, because everyone knows that global reach “is all dependent on being able to cross oceans.”
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.