NATO is considering using AWACS in the fight against ISIS, the French newswire AFP reported. “We can confirm there has been a request for concrete support from NATO to the anti-ISIL effort in the form of NATO AWACS surveillance planes,” a NATO official told the news agency. NATO has so far not participated directly in Operation Inherent Resolve, though several members of the alliance are members of the coalition to defeat ISIS. Defense Secretary Ash Carter met Jan. 20 in Paris with representatives of the seven countries providing major contributions to the battle against the terrorist organization, and has been actively encouraging other countries to contribute more to the fight.
The Air Force has selected Collins Aerospace and Shield AI to develop the software Collaborative Combat Aircraft will use to fly missions alongside manned fighters, the service revealed Feb. 12—and drone-maker General Atomics was quick to announce it has already flown its YFQ-42A aircraft with Collins’ system.
