During his Feb. 17 meeting with defense reporters (see above), the Air Force’s top uniformed official, Gen. Norton Schwartz, discussed the Air Force’s commitment to the joint fight, including making “some adjustments” to its existing force mix, if necessary. In “Analytically Driven,” Daily Report senior editor Michael Sirak covers the Chief’s views on joint support, the growth of intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance capability, the need to demolish “long-held beliefs” on the number of F-22s, and the real “demand signal” for additional airmen.
The new F-15E and F-15EX electronic warfare suite, meant to protect the fourth-generation fighters in contested battlespace—was shown to be “operationally effective” and “suitable,” the Pentagon's Director of Operational Test and Evaluation said.