Besides expanding to NATO and smaller bases in the East and South of Europe, US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa chief Gen. Frank Gorenc thinks NATO should be looking North, as well. The “high North” will become an issue, he said, “partly because of climate change and the ability of ships to pass in that area,” and this is a concern to “allies and partners” in the region. It’s one of the “strategic directions” NATO should be concerned with, and Gorenc said he’ll be exploring ways to exploit more northern airfields as the region becomes more highly contested and trafficked by shipping and naval forces.
After years of experiments and tests, senior Air Force leaders say they're on the verge of using C-17s and other cargo aircraft to launch cruise missiles via airdrop, touting the development as a way to bolster the combat fleet and a major shift in the service’s mindset.