A congressionally mandated review of the Air Force’s fighter force obtained by Breaking Defense finds that as many as 1,558 combat-ready jets are needed to fulfill global obligations, requiring greater procurement of aircraft like the F-15EX and F-35.
The LACM should be compatible with fighter aircraft, have a unit cost of $300,000 and be ready for deliveries next year, according to an Air Force notice.
The network transport architecture for NGC2 could be a hybrid approach that combines high assurance communications with 5G, WiFi, and multi-orbit satellites.
An agreement would represent a significant shift in the Serbian Air Force — a move to modern Western fighters as it divests of Soviet-era fighter jets, including MiG-21 and MiG-29 platforms.
"For Iraq's military... these are prestige items more than a security necessity," CSIS's Daniel Byman told Breaking Defense of the fighter jet rumors, saying Baghdad has "less glamorous" priorities.
"But, of course, you've always got an eye on what the next gear change might need to be if the war continues to develop and another gear change is needed," British Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey told reporters.
The recommendation from RUSI reopens debate around Western fighter jets being sent to Ukraine, with the Swedish aircraft being tipped to provide exceptional operation value, especially against Russian long-range missile strikes.
Reducing cognitive overload on warfighters while improving “time to trust” for autonomous systems is a matter of design.