The flip side of all this is what Wynne called “the wear-out factor.” It’s not known what the long-term implications are of using all of the force at a higher rate. One thing’s for sure, though, said Wynne, “We are flying more hours than we planned.”
After years of experiments and tests, senior Air Force leaders say they're on the verge of using C-17s and other cargo aircraft to launch cruise missiles via airdrop, touting the development as a way to bolster the combat fleet and a major shift in the service’s mindset.