US Central Command on July 19 disclosed that an Air Force F-16, flying a nontraditional ISR mission in support of ground forces in Iraq, attacked an killed an insurgent planting a roadside bomb near Baquba, Iraq. The F-16, which was in action on July 18, identified three possible IED plants on the ground and passed the information to ground forces, which verified the target and called on the F-16 to engage. It strafed the location, killing one of the insurgents. Such kills are becoming more common in the theater, say USAF officials.
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.