US Air Force F-16s conducted a pre-planned air strike in the vicinity of Tall Afar, Iraq, on Dec. 18—expending precision-guided munitions against a cave being used by Iraqi insurgents.
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.