Air Force problem solving

Popular Mechanics looks at three problems and how they were solved. On the problems with counterinsurgency warfare:

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The Air Force adopted precision air-drop technology that delivers supplies to isolated troops in the field using GPS guidance to control the parachute systems. This support helps make the Air Force relevant to a ground campaign spread over deserts and mountains. But the real value of the Air Force during a counterinsurgency is its ability to generate information. "It used to be easy to find our adversaries and hard to kill them," says David Deptula, assistant Air Force chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. "Now it's the exact opposite." Ground forces were hungry for persistent surveillance from above, and that meant unmanned aerial vehicles. The Air Force is increasing the number of MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper UAVs from 36 to 50 combat air patrols (of four UAVs for each patrol) by the end of 2010. Its Global Hawk UAV also gets steady work. The unmanned airplanes also found roles in "signals intelligence" missions, such as monitoring radio and phone communications or jamming frequencies used to trigger roadside bombs. UAV operators at Creech Air Force Base say that these intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance duties make up 97 percent of their UAV missions—ground troops appreciate that the Predator and Reaper's eyes are more than their teeth. As far as collateral casualties are concerned, long-flying UAVs give commanders and pilots the ability to confirm the identity of a target with certainty, and to avoid mistakes that can kill civilians.

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Now war has transformed a service more than the current war has changed the Air Force. I think they will continue to see revolutionary changes as they adapt to the use of ever more unmanned aircraft.