According to the Clovis News Journal, only one entity has put in a bid to house operations at Cannon AFB, N.M., and that is Air Force Special Operations Command. The Air Force mounted a PR blitz to show off the base, which must find a new mission by 2010 or face closure, to DOD and other government agencies. Neighboring Arizonans even sought to shift some of their unwanted military aircraft operations to Cannon.
The Air Force's new Aircraft Readiness Unit will maintain and provide Collaborative Combat Aircraft for operations, but won’t serve as a “schoolhouse” teaching fighter pilots how to manage these escort drones.