Air Force units this week continued their support of earthquake relief efforts in Pakistan. According to statistics from US Central Command Air Forces, a C-17 transport, a contracted AN-124 Condor, and two contracted B-747s flew in more than 430,000 pounds of medical, office and school supplies, vehicles and other materials. As of October 31, USAF airlifters had hauled into Pakistan more than five million pounds of supplies.
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.