It’s air combat season once again in the Silver State, with the latest Red Flag underway now through Feb. 18 at Nellis AFB, Nev. Air Combat Command’s Red Flag 06-1 comprises more than 80 aircraft, flying day and night sorties at the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range. Joining USAF air and ground crews are airmen from the US Navy, United Kingdom, and Australia, as well as US Army forces.
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.