Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of the Air Combat Command, has said the U.S. Air Force‘s F-35 could deploy quickly this year if a combat mission calls for the jet’s assistance, Bloomberg reported Thursday.Anthony Capaccio writes Carlisle expects the Lockheed Martin-developed aircraft to reach initial operating capability within the August-to-December window.
“The minute I declare initial operational capability, if the combatant commander calls me up and says they needed F-35s, I would send them,â€Â he told Bloomberg.
The Air Force said Thursday he addressed air superiority and combat air force modernization efforts during a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing held Wednesday.
“America cannot effectively wield its military as an instrument of national power without the means to control the skies,â€Â Carlisle said.
“Today’s air superiority mission rests upon a mix of fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, supported by a highly refined command and control network.”
The service branch performs aerial operations with its F-15C Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F-22 Raptor and F-35 platforms.
Carlisle noted his command aims to develop strategies to help the Air Force manage acquisition agility, procurement timelines and life cycle costs of air superiority missions.
