T
he Air Force unleashed a firepower demonstration last week at Nellis AFB, Nev., showing the public—and assorted Capitol Hill staffers—the type of action rarely seen outside a war zone, reports A1C Oleksandra Manko. For more than an hour, airmen on the ground and in the air went through combat scenarios. Fighter, bombers, gunships, and helicopters flew simulated combat sorties for 60 minutes, preceded by a two-hour video presentation in which the participating pilots explained their maneuvers. The event also showcased desert warfare simulations and a downed-pilot rescue.
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.