Air Force Turns to Supersonic Mercenaries

[jakeXT]

The ‘smallest Air Force in history’ is dealing with more missions than ever. So the flyboys are calling in the military contractors to operate their jets.

The U.S. Air Force fleet of planes and pilots is stretched so thin, the service is considering hiring private military corporations flying supersonic jets to train its fighter jocks in mock air combat.

The Air Force is being forced to consider such desperate measures because it doesn’t have enough fighter jets and trained aircrew to fly missions where they would simulate enemy warplanes—also called “red air” in military slang.

Due to budget cuts and investments in ultra-expensive gear, the Air Force was forced to disband one of its three so-called Aggressor squadrons that fly frontline jets like the Boeing F-15C Eagle and Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon that are painted in enemy colors and use enemy tactics.

The reason for the new initiative? Pure desperation, say more than a half-dozen senior Air Force officials. “The red air situation is a mess,” one senior Air Force told The Daily Beast. “There are Band-Aid fixes being applied to areas around the community, but it’s not enough.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/20/air-force-turning-to-supersonic-mercenaries.html

[Sherman A1]

1. The better answer of course is to

give the Air Force and other areas of the military fewer missions and to refocus our national efforts on areas that improve our common lot.

[bemildred]

2. Craziness, how would our Congresspersons try to buy their seats without all that slush? nt