The Air Force sent a team to Grand Forks AFB, N.D., last week to begin preparations for the base’s new unmanned aerial vehicle mission. According to Associated Press news service, Air Combat Command sent a 10-member team of civil engineers, communications specialists, and others to begin coordinating the switch from the KC-135 tanker mission to a UAV mission. The Air Force plans to install both Predator and Global Hawk UAVs at the North Dakota base, but USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley also considers Grand Forks a candidate for the new tanker.
The Air Force could conduct an operation like Israel's successful air campaign against Iran's nuclear sites, military leadership and air defenses, but readiness issues would make it risky, airpower experts said. Limited spare parts and training, low mission capable rates and few flying hours would put a drag on USAF's…