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.
The emphasis on speed in the Pentagon’s newly unveiled slate of acquisition reforms may come with increased near-term cost increases, analysts say. But according to U.S. defense officials, the new weapons-buying construct provides the military with enough flexibility to prevent runaway budget overruns in major programs.
