Continuing the Air Force plan to transform its numbered air forces into warfighting headquarters, 12th Air Force at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., now has become Air Forces Southern, or AFSOUTH, provisional. (It will remain provisional until it formally reaches operational capability.) In addition, AFSOUTH has become a full-time Air Force component for US Southern Command. AFSOUTH also has responsibility for training and equipping its wings and units.
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.