Schwartz: No light attack aircraft in combat

The Air Force’s top uniformed leader is adamant the service will not fly light attack and light mobility planes in missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz made his position clear in a May 6 speech at the Center for National Policy in Washington, D.C., attended by congressional staff members and other military officials.

By the end of 2012, the Air Force plans to buy 30 light mobility and light attack aircraft to train foreign air forces. U.S. aviation experts and defense analysts have suggested the planes also relieve the service’s fighter jets and cargo planes in the war zones.

“What you’re suggesting here is we need a light strike, light attack platform to perform our organic requirements and I would argue that there is a limited need for that. Again, with the platforms that we already have in our force structure, in our capability, we can service any close-air support requirement. As simple as that,” Schwartz said in response to a question from the audience.

The Air Force’s sole purpose for buying the light aircraft, Schwartz said, is to help poorer nations such as Iraq and Afghanistan establish air forces.

“The thing that we don't have is a capability that can be readily transferred to a maturing air force and that’s what we are trying to address,” he said.

Airmen will learn to fly the light aircraft and then train their foreign counterparts to fly the planes. Once the training is over, the Air Force will not simply hand over the light attack aircraft. Schwartz, however, does expect the aircraft to be high on the nations’ wish lists.

“Clearly, I think there is the potential that there will be those nations as in the cases with Afghanistan that they will seek to procure those assets to which they have become aware, knowledgeable, trained and so on,” Schwartz said. “The purpose for these aircraft is to build capacity and then there are other mechanisms to equip a nascent air force with a similar capability.”

Schwartz showed his temper when an audience member asked whether he considers the Air Force’s ability to conduct irregular warfare “an existential necessity of the force.”

Answered Schwartz: “The bottom line is: Is this existential? You are damn right it is existential for the kids on the ground. And we take that very seriously so this is the notion that your air force is all in.”