Lockheed Martin F-16 chief Rod McLean notes that the preponderance of the air forces flying missions against ISIS in Iraq and Syria are using F-16s. The US, Denmark, and many of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations—Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates, as well as Jordan and Morrocco—are flying Falcons in Operation Inherent Resolve. McLean, at a company media event in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, pointed out to reporters that Egypt, though not flying against Iraqi or Syrian targets, is flying missions against ISIS in Libya … with F-16s. Turkey has also flown its F-16s against Syrian targets in unrelated operations within the last year.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.