The U.S. Air Force Is Looking For A Better Way To Provide Close Air Support

The A-10 has proven itself to be the platform of choice for close air support missions, and many have criticised USAF plans to withdraw the aircraft as a cost saving measure. Source: US Air Force

Colin Clark, Breaking Defense: Air Force To Hold Close Air Support Summit; May Need New Weapon

ORLANDO: The Air Force, under heavy pressure from Congress to keep the A-10 Warthog in the air, will hold a mini-summit with the Army, Navy and Marines to figure out the best ways to do Close Air Support, the politically sensitive mission of aircraft protecting troops on the ground.

Gen. Hawk Carlisle, head of Air Combat Command, told reporters here at the Air Force Association’s annual winter conference that the service would be looking at all manner of ways to kill enemy troops shooting at American and allied troops. Carlisle said the service would consider buying a new weapon to do CAS.

WNU Editor: I take this as an admission that maybe the F-35 is not up to the job.

The U.S. Air Force Believes That The Future Belongs To Swarm Of Autonomous Warbirds That Explode On Target

The F-35 fighter incorporates all the defining features of a fifth-generation fighter -- advanced stealth, agile maneuver, sensor fusion and high-capacity, secure datalinks. Collectively, those characteristics make it far more survivable and effective in coping with the sophisticated air defenses now becoming available to countries like Syria. (USAF: Courtesy photo Tom Reynolds/Lockheed Martin)

Washington Examiner: The Air Force wants a futuristic swarm of exploding autonomous warbirds

Last week, the Navy had its say on what a sixth-generation fighter should look like, and on Friday, the Air Force joined the discussion.

The Navy envisions heavy firepower and the electronic means to suppress enemy air defenses, while the Air Force imagines a futuristic swarm of autonomous warbirds that explode on target.

WNU Editor: The Navy wants firepower .... the Air Force is looking at still looking at stealth.