The flip side of all this is what Wynne called “the wear-out factor.” It’s not known what the long-term implications are of using all of the force at a higher rate. One thing’s for sure, though, said Wynne, “We are flying more hours than we planned.”
The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.