A-10 Thunderbolt IIs taxi to a parking spot on the flight line at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, Oct. 9, 2014. The jets flew in as part of a coronet, which is the term the Air Force uses to describe the movement of jets coming in, refueling, and departing the island. (Air Force photo by SSgt. Zachary Wolf.) (Click on image above to reach wallpaper version.)
U.S. munitions have been expended at a high rate during Operation Epic Fury against Iran, prompting concerns that the Pentagon is eating into weapons stockpiles it needs to deter threats around the world. Yet the newly released $1.5 trillion defense budget request was developed before the war against Iran and…