Last week, I wrote up a new RAND report over at DOD Buzz calling for the Air Force to quit putzing around and get in on the irregular warfare gig. If, like me, you believe the future is one filled with lots of small irregular, what we used to call “brushfire wars,” when they all seemed to be located in Africa, then you’ll find common ground in this latest from RAND’s Project Air Force that calls for a serious cultural shift away from the fast mover mafia’s all air-superiority all the time so that becoming an irregular warfare expert isn’t the “kiss of death” (RAND’s words) for airmen. Good luck. Although, I have to say I am impressed with air chief Gen. Norton Schwartz’s efforts to drag his service into the 21st century with the Light Attack and Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) aircraft initiative, which might, just might, see an order placed this year. RAND says standing up a dedicated COIN wing with about 100 of the light attack planes would go far to help shift that Air Force mindset. Earlier this week, Hawker Beechcraft tested a beefed up version of its venerable T-6 Trainer single prop it plans to compete in the LAAR fly-off expected this summer.
Read more:
Air Force COIN Plane Buzz, Beechcraft Flies New Contest Entry
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Bob D.
Robert F. Dorr
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