The Air National Guard’s 1st Air Force also now is Air Force North, or AFNORTH, in keeping with the Air Force plan to re-vamp numbered Air Forces into warfighting headquarters. The counterpart AFSOUTH, the alternate moniker for 12th Air Force, took its new name earlier this month. Both units are considered provisional until they reach full operational capability.
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.