Ordered by the Senate to review the Pentagon’s work on the Mobility Capabilities Study, now expected out sometime this fall, the GAO offers some “preliminary observations,” mainly that the Congressional auditors were “unable to assess the adequacy” of the DOD process to validate legacy models used to gauge how best to meet future transportation requirements. The Pentagon, says GAO, did not use current independent validation and verification processes, instead its analysts used an “equivalent” process with “little documentation” describing that process. In its response to the report, DOD basically agreed with the GAO, noting, though, that “two decades of mobility studies have been conducted using many of the legacy models” with no questions as to their credibility. Is that an endorsement of past studies? Does that mean the new MCS will reiterate the lsst study’s conclusion—the Pentagon needs more airlift? Read our report on the air mobility situation here.
The Air Force is placing Air Combat Command in charge of teaching combat tactics to fighter and remotely-piloted aircraft units, according to a May 12 announcement. Beginning this summer, the service will reassign the formal training units for the F-35, F-16, and MQ-9 from Air Education and Training Command to…