Orlando, February 18, 2010—The Pentagon’s recently completed comprehensive mobility study finds that there is no need for additional strategic airlift, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told the audience at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium. In fact, said Donley, the Mobility Capabilities and Requirements Study “reconfirms that we have more strategic airlift tails than we need.” That means the service will try again to retire some of the least capable C-5As and, —Congress take note—the Air Force really doesn’t want anymore C-17s. Continue
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.