Keys further said he doesn’t foresee a “train wreck” in tactical forces, where large numbers of airplanes must retire before the new ones arrive, although “there’s always an opportunity for a train wreck to happen” if a huge technical problem grounds a fleet. Keys said he’s willing to trade “a little risk” in the form of a short-term drop in fighter tails, if it means he can get the F/A-22 and F-35 on schedule. Keys added that the Air Force will have enough warning to take steps to keep the fighter fleet viable a while longer, but the cost would be unappetizing. When they come on line, the F/A-22 and F-35 will rapidly overcome any capability lost to a shortage of tails, he said.
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.