Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1365706
Rafale MRCA - excluding the ones engaged in nuclear deterrence, as well as the Danish, Dutch, or British F-35s. The base availability is an obvious limitation, but it is not a choke point. Some missions may be carried out from homeland bases, with air refueling being used for that purpose. Force multipliers in a form of AEW/SIGINT platforms would also be helpful. Nonetheless, Europe's capability within that scope is limited. The MMF multinational tanker fleet that is being built now only involves 8 Airbus A330 MRTTs. Furthermore, France is looking forward to owning 15 aircraft as such. The UK - 14. For the sake of comparison, let us recall the fact that the US Air Force currently operates 477 tankers, of three different types: KC-135, KC-10A, and KC-46; only a single squadron is permanently based in Europe. Adding in the quantitative potential that the USAF has, and the qualitative advantages (especially in the electronic warfare, air superiority, and strategic bomber outreach areas) we are getting the full picture of the potential that could significantly alter the unfolding events. The US potential in Europe is also not the one to be disregarded, with two F-15E squadrons, three F-16C squadrons (including one Wild Weasels unit), and a single pure fighter squadron flying the F-15C. In the upcoming future, these would also be joined by an expeditionary F-35 squadron. These forces may receive reinforcements easily, in a form of two Langley AFB F-22 squadrons (1st Tactical Fighter Wing), 20th Wing based in Shaw (three F-16 squadrons), and 6 squadrons flying A-10s, F-15Es, and F-15Cs. This is a major scope of involvement, yet a limited one, as it does not concern the reserves (except for the F-15Cs). It also has a limited impact on the response capability of USAF, which would be needed if another crisis happened in another part of the world. The worst-case scenario is for each of the squadrons to operate 18 jets. This translates into 126 aircraft deployed to Europe permanently, and 198 that need to fly over from CONUS. 324 MRCA in total. And the above refers to tactical aviation assets alone. One should also remember about the strategic potential. Here, it is not quantified by the number of bombers, but by the number of cruise missiles, those bombers may carry. A single B-1B can carry 24 AGM-158 JASSM missiles. The plans unveiled in 2020 assume that the B-one should be able to carry up to 31 new generation AGM-183 missiles. Furthermore, one should add the Navy's aviation assets to the mix. Here, both conventional aircraft carriers, as well as the landing ship docks with the F-35Bs, should be accounted for. Along with the European assets, also considering the losses from which Russia would suffer, the aforesaid potential would be equal to the Russian one - maybe even allowing the western allies to gain air superiority. www.fragoutmag.com