The House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee met last week—in closed sessions—with the Air Force and Navy in one session, the Army and Marine Corps in another, and Guard and Reserve in a third. The subject was readiness. According to Government Executive, panel chair Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), who has vehemently opposed the war in Iraq, wants to tie any future war supplemental to US force readiness.
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.