When I launched the concept of Excalibur R&D, LLC, I wanted to present a demonstration of the vision for a process that could bring folks together and allow them to interact, add to the discussion, and collaborate to produce new and innovative concepts that could advance the defense of our country.  The specific topic I chose was a proposal to rapidly acquire an armed version of the Hawker Beechcraft AT-6B Texan II.  Since that time, we’ve had great commentary from a variety of individuals with most agreeing for the need for new aircraft and capabilities for countering insurgents.  I am grateful for all those that participated and the hundreds more lurkers who downloaded many of the products posted on the site.

The intent was to use this concept as a test and see what happened, whether a contract may be forthcoming and use this process as a template, or even advance the dialogue specifically on COIN aircraft that might generate some real sturm und drang , neither of which happened.  There are different reasons perhaps for the lack of excitement for a COIN aircraft:: the beginnings of success on the battlefield in countering the insurgencies, a pre-election year in which there is no appetite for new defense starts, and most telling, a complete lack of desire for the USAF to embrace any real COIN capability, outside those claiming the service is already engaged in the effort with legacy systems.

Then there is the F-22 and the recent mishaps involving the disintegration of F-15’s in flight.  F-15’s grounded again!  THAT is really disturbing on many levels but the stark reality of the situation is that the Air Force has been laser focused on the F-22 while efforts to acquire a new tanker and CSAR helicopter flail about like a salmon on a Manhattan Subway:  Lots of flopping around and while it’s moving, where and if it will ever arrive and in what shape is unknown. Then you have the voices calling for the elimination of the United States Air Force and here’s the voice of an Air Force General pleading for understanding of us poor misunderstood airmen.

The dirty little secret is the United States of America doesn’t need the US Air Force.  Nor in fact does it need a Marine Corps.  But it wants a Marine Corps.  If the ground forces ever decreased to only two divisions, one would surely be a Marine Division.  Why?  It’s the history, traditions, and all of the legacies the Marines bring to the fight.  While the Air Force is now 60 years on….do we need an Air Force?  Actually, the question is, do we need this Air Force.  And my simple answer is we need an aviation capability to do what the nation needs and if this Air Force is not willing to do that, perhaps it’s time for a relook?

Throughout the history of airpower, the aviation service has done that which was needed:  carried the mail during postal strikes, flown to the Antarctic; recovered satellites from space; conducted strategic reconnaissance missions in Dragon Lady’s and Blackbirds; penetrated Hurricanes; transported President’s and world leaders; rescued civilian hikers; And it’s performed superbly in war and peace dropping bombs and moving cargo.  And oh yeah, one other thing, it’s shot down airplanes.

This airplane shooting down thing is really really sexy:  knights of the air, single combat warriors, read the Right Stuff and any of a hundred books on fighter aviation (many which occupy my book shelves) and you will find tales of unbelievable bravery, courage, effectiveness, and tales of daring do.  But the fact is that in modern times, especially post Desert Storm, the pure air to air fighter pilot (read F-15C here) has become a one trick pony and that trick is hardly used, except in the first few days of combat.  But, it’s still a vital trick, but not the only one we should concentrate on. Yet, the USAF still worships at the alter of the single seat fighter pilot and eleven of the recent twelve 4-star generals had flown F-15’s in their career.  I’m not saying anyone of them or all of them were bad or not deserving but as the importance of that platform (the air to air fighter) declines, shouldn’t then other specialties rise to the top:  the mobility, UAV, intelligence, SOF, air to ground, cyber, and other specialists or generalists?

There is simply no way the USAF will be eliminated.  However, here’s a (not entirely unserious) proposal for the future of airpower in America.  Transition the US Air Force to the US Air to Air Force.  Make that service responsible for Air Defense of the US (primarily ANG “interceptor squadrons”) and what is known as Offensive and Defensive Counter air.  Assign the single seat F-15’s and F-22’s, as well as AWACS to the US Air to Air Force fully but begin to transfer control of other assets and personnel to other commands as follows:

• TRANSCOM: all mobility assets (C-5, C-17, C-130, KC-135, KC-10, etc), to include the Guard and Reserve
• STRATCOM: All bombers (B-52, B-1, B-2, future) all Recce (U-2’s UAV’, RC-135 etc.) and cyberwarfare
• SOCOM: Effectively already has AF SOF units, re-add back CSAR to SOF
• US Army: A-10’s

I still don’t know what to do with Air Combat Command and it’s F-15e's, F-16’s and F-35’s, still thinking about that one…But just look around at some recent history and it’s compelling: the Air Force has paid scant attention to electronic defense, fought a rear guard action trying to wrest control of UAV’s, and jumped right into the middle of the Army’s quest for relief for their CH-47 force with a small fixed wing airlifter which morphed into the AF led Joint Cargo Aircraft.  While the AF tends to ignore these areas of aviation in normal times, when they see another service trying to fill the void, they jump in and attempt to wrest back  the asset or mission area, often too little too late. I read this gem at Danger Room that the Army is acquiring up to 540 MQ-9 Reapers right under the nose of the USAF.  Ouch, that one’s gonna leave a mark!

Just as the Army has Branches (Aviation, Infantry, Signal, etc) and the Navy has warfare specialties (surface, aviation, submariner etc.) the US Air to Air Force could be the parent organization for uniforms, traditions etc, but the Combatant Commands above would promote and assign their subordinates, NOT the US Air to Air Force.  Of course, there would be a commensurate transfer of General Officer billets too, hmm, got your attention yet?  Now I realize this whole proposal is extremely unlikely to come to fruition, but I thought I would throw it out there as an item of discussion.

For Excalibur, the bottom line is I am pulling the plug on the COIN aircraft proposal.  The briefs and links will stay on the site as a resource for those that still might be passionate about the idea, but time for us to move one.  If anyone is still interested, feel free to contract us to support, but we’ll be moving on to different ideas and proposals. 

Finally, as a service to posterity, I want to leave you with this one last gem, written by a young Major Brian Shul when he was an instructor at the Lead In Fighter Training at Holloman AFB in the late 70’s.  Brian’s air to ground students were getting harassed in the bar by the F-15 guys as if to say who needs A-7’s, A-10’s, F-4’s, and F-16’s, everyone knows it’s the F-15 pilot that is the top of the pyramid.  Here’s what Brian had to say (modernized for our current time) about flying and fighting, not applicable to everyone but the fighter community will surely “get it.” Warning, PG-13 rated!

• 1. The mission of the Air Force is to put ordnance on target.  Everything else such as the personnel unit, Base Exchange, finance, fuel trucks, and Air to Air is simply support for this mission. 
• 2. You win the war by killing them by the thousands, not one at a time at twenty thousand feet. 
• 3. In peacetime, basic fighter maneuvering is something air to ground pilots use to rejoin off the range. 
• 4. In wartime, basic fighter maneuvering is something the air to ground pilot uses to turn and shoot some a.s.s.hole in the face who’s trying to stop him, before going on to hit the target. 
• 5. There is no such thing as “defensive basic fighter maneuvering” I am “offended” when someone jumps me enroute to the target, and much offence is taken when I have to take the time to blow his t.i.t.s off. 
• 6. Concerning the tally of Medal of Honor recipients in Southeast Asia, it shows the score: air to ground 5 and air to air 0 
• 7. In wartime, our POW’s were not released because the enemy sent representatives to sit smugly at “peace talks.” They were not released because domestic anti-war groups unwittingly played into the hands of the enemy and tied the hands of their countrymen-at-arms.  And they were not released because the enemy lost 5 airplanes to a select few called aces.  They were released because brave men took their fighters and bombers downtown and spoke personally to their captors, in the only language the enemy understands, iron bombs falling on their heads. 
• 8. You can shoot down all the Migs you want, but when you return from the mission to find an enemy unit in your main briefing room, you’ve lost the war. 
• 9. These lessons have been forged in blood and steel by all those air to ground fighter pilots who have gone before you; back when happiness was flying a Hun; back when jets were hard lightin’ and mean, and only quiche-eatin’ airline pukes flew fans; back when Skyraiders roamed valleys and spit death to those that would try and stop the Jolly Greens; in an earlier time when the biggest Cadillac in town was called Thud and TAC patches were twice the size of every other commands’; and the enemy knew the tip of the sword had been sharpened to a fine edge. Times change, the technology changes, but the man and woman in the cockpit must remain the same brave warrior every age has counted on in peril. 
• 10. Finally real men and real women fly Air to Ground because they understand the fundamental law of wartime negotiations.  You negotiate with the enemy with your knee in his chest and your knife at his throat.