How Quickly We Forget: Policy wonks at Congressional Research Service in a March 16 report to Congress offer an overview of current tactical aviation plans and analysis—more of a point-counterpoint recitation of views—about “key issues.” The issues, per CRS, include one called “service roles and missions,” which concludes with this point: The war in Afghanistan in 2001 “highlighted the importance of carrier-based aviation.” We disagree, considering that 70 percent of the ordnance dropped came from USAF bombers. And, carrier-based fighters were no less dependent on aerial refueling than were USAF fighters when it came to fighting over land-locked Afghanistan. (Read our July 2002 article “In Defense of Fighters.”)
The Air Force is accelerating its plans to field an MQ-9A replacement in the wake of heavy Reaper losses in operations against Iran, top officials said Sept. 3, and they’re targeting a price point of just $10 million per aircraft.
