The obvious question for many is whether handling such homeland defense duties would limit the capacity of the military to fight and win a war? The answer, says Rumsfeld, is that DOD officials have a system in place to “review our capabilities and test them against the kinds of things” the department might have to undertake, “and that include homeland defense.” So, the short answer: No problemo.
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.