The capabilities of both the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightening II are both being taken into account as the services develop the airborne electronic attack “system of systems,” said Maj. Jeff Salem, head of Air Combat Command’s electronic attack requirements shop. (See above) However, although he couldn’t “talk to specifics,” Salem said that the two fighters would be a part of the new AEA landscape. “They will complement each other, but they’re not necessarily tied together,” he added.
After years of experiments and tests, senior Air Force leaders say they're on the verge of using C-17s and other cargo aircraft to launch cruise missiles via airdrop, touting the development as a way to bolster the combat fleet and a major shift in the service’s mindset.