About one-third of the approximately four-dozen fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft that struck targets across Syria Monday night were USAF assets, a defense official told Air Force Magazine. All the aircraft already were deployed in the region. The Air Force also provided all aerial tanker support and most of the command and control, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support for the strikes, he added. In total, there were three waves of strikes on 22 targets with some 200 munitions, said Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Cassidy. Cassidy said USAF won’t provide specifics on the types of munitions employed, or the bases of origin. F-22, F-15Es, F-16s, and B-1s were among the specific USAF combat aircraft to participate.
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.