The Impending Joint Air Force

F-15Es

From New Wars:

One of our regular commenter’s brought this idea up, also mentioned in a NY Times Oped by Marine Paul Kane, of combining the USAF with the Navy and Marines “mini air forces”. According to Aviation Week, it may be happening anyway:

The impending fighter shortfall in the U.S. Air Force may prompt the Pentagon to turn to the Navy to fulfill some air sovereignty missions – flying patrols in U.S. airspace – in the future, according to Defense Department officials.

The Air Force is facing the retirement of up to 80% of the fleet dedicated to conducing the air sovereignty mission in the United States without timely replacements expected, according to testimony offered at a House Armed Services readiness subcommittee hearing April 22. Of 16 Air National Guard units on alert status, 11 fly F-16s. The aircraft of eight of those units are expected to reach their service lives between Fiscal 2015-2017.

Read more ....

My Comment: It always comes down to money. You want hte best .... but the money is not there. This is a good summary on the state of the U.S. Air Force from New Wars.