The Air Force has increased the size of its deployment of combat search and rescue forces in Iraq, making the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron the largest CSAR outfit since the Vietnam War, reports the Red Tail Flyer. The squadron is larger than rescue squadrons in the US. Recently the 64th ERQS added five additional HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, nearly tripling the unit’s aircraft. The number of aircrew, pararescue jumpers, and combat rescue officers has grown as well to sustain a 24/7 operation. Their mission also expanded to cover not just downed aircrews but also special operations missions.
The Air Force overall reduced its size by 120 aircraft in fiscal year 2021, but kept about the same number of fighter, bomber and attack aircraft, according to data supplied by the service. The F-35 fleet saw the biggest increase while the B-1B bomber fleet saw the largest decline.