US Air Forces in Europe “currently operates a limited number” of airborne intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance assets, so it has “aggressively pursued” working with allies who have such capabilities, says Army Gen. John Craddock, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and head of US European Command. Craddock told lawmakers last week during testimony on the 2008 defense budget that last year USAFE “almost doubled its traditional intelligence exchanges.” He stated in written testimony that USAFE had participated in 438 security cooperation events in 61 countries.
The Air Force is launching an effort to develop a new stand-off missile with a range of 1,000 nautical miles, or 1,150 miles, that would eventually be used for both air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.