End of 65 Caps

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Though achieving 65 combat air patrols of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft was a worthy goal during the height of the Afghanistan war, Air Combat Command boss Gen. Mike Hostage said he wants out of the commitment. During a meeting with reporters on Sept. 17 at AFA’s 2013 Air and Space Conference, Hostage said he’s “trying to convince” the Pentagon leadership that “65 CAPs is not the force structure we need or can afford.” In an anti-access, area-denial environment, either airplane is “useless,” said Hostage, because they would be shot down promptly.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org