Not happy with the shape of the US Air Force? Propose your own! The Dew Line reports:
A couple points, starting with the name. “Effects based” strikes me as somewhat silly. All of the USAF’s weapons are ‘effects based,’ lest anyone believe we’re procuring ineffectual aircraft. Second, although I love the idea of 6,700 new ground attack aircraft blotting out the sun, all those air-to-ground platforms are useless unless the USAF can continue its half-century plus streak of total air supremacy. F-16s are still highly capable strikers, but would have a tough time matching the newer classes of MiGs and Suhkois. Seizing the skies has been the strategic cornerstone of every American military victory since Overlord, which means we simply must — and I’m theatrically biting my knuckle here — buy up more F-22 Raptors. Last, where are the ISR platforms? UAVs aren’t great in a medium-to-high threat environment, but they’re still some of the best weapons we’ve got when it comes to detecting, tracking, and killing al Qaeda baddies. Plus, they’re border-busters. What’s more provocative? An A-10 crashing in northwest Pakistan, or an unmanned drone? Sprey’s an unusual character, but he does know military aviation. Though clearly overboard, the attack-heavy component of his plan pushes the ever-raging airpower debate in the right direction. That makes Sprey’s overall strategy, if nothing else, worth a bent ear. Hat Tip: Defense Tech
