The problems with the F-15 fleet have begun to take a toll on major exercises. On Jan. 16, Pacific Air Forces announced the cancellation of Exercise Commando Sling 08-2. According to 13th Air Force officials, the decision was made due to flight restrictions and the limited availability of aircraft to participate in the exercise, which is conducted with the Marine Corps and the Republic of Singapore Air Force. PACAF on Jan. 10 had cleared most of its F-15 A-D models, following the Jan. 9 recommendation of Air Combat Command, which had overseen the F-15 structural analysis and engineering risk assessments during the fleet-wide stand down. However, PACAF still has about 35 percent of its F-15s undergoing engineering analysis of inspection results. The command participated in the first of the new fiscal year’s Commando Sling, staged in October 2007, utilizing F-16s from the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan AB, South Korea. According to PACAF, at this time, the third and fourth iterations of the exercise may proceed as scheduled beginning in May and June of this year.
Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2
April 25, 2024
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.