February 2013/$5 Readiness at Risk Living Boneyard Air Dominance Lessons From WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Unconventional. Undetectable. Undeniable. The F-35A Lightning II delivers the 21st century capabilities U.S. and thE F-35 lightning ii tEAM allied forces need. An innovative combination of stealth, speed, NORTHROP GRUMMAN f-35 and cutting-edge sensors allows it to fly through or slip past BAE SYSTEMS lightning ii advanced air defenses, virtually undetected. Superior battlespace PRATT & WHITNEY awareness leaves the enemy nowhere to hide. And that gives lOCKhEED MARtin pilots unprecedented power to engage the target and return home. The F-35A Lightning II. Rising to the challenges of the 21st century. See it in action – F35.com. 301-64993_F35_Unconventional_AFM.indd 1 10/4/12 5:04 PM February 2013, Vol. 96, No. 2 Publisher Craig R. McKinley Editor in Chief Adam J. Hebert Editorial
[email protected] Editor Suzann Chapman Executive Editors Michael Sirak John A. Tirpak Senior Editors Amy McCullough 26 Marc V. Schanz FEATURES Associate Editor Aaron M. U. Church 4 Editorial: The Perils of Air Parity By Adam J. Hebert Contributors USAF must preserve readiness, keep Walter J. Boyne, Jack Broughton, John modernization on track, and retain top- T. Correll, Robert S. Dudney, Rebecca notch airmen as funds decline. Grant, Peter Grier, Richard P. Hallion, Marina Malenic 26 Sharpening the Nuclear Sword By Aaron M. U. Church Production
[email protected] Air Force Global Strike Command’s Managing Editor bombers and missile forces are at an Juliette Kelsey Chagnon increasing level of readiness. Assistant Managing Editor 32 Living Boneyard Frances McKenney By John A.