Compiled by Douglas Barrie and Jennifer Pite
AIR FORCES CONTINUE to struggle with tighter budgets, while not necessarily facing reduced operational demands. In the USA and Europe, air forces have restructured and rethought operational strategy to meet low-to-high intensity operations out of area. In Russia, the air force is shackled by financial constraints. Most of its third-generation combat aircraft have been withdrawn. In the Pacific Rim, air forces are revamping inventories, but African air forces continue to struggle with obsolete Soviet Union fighter aircraft.
Source: Flight International