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As the U.S. Air Force attempts to resolve force structure requirements with decreasing military budgets, multi-role aircraft are gaining acceptance as economical solutions. Unfortunately, close air support (CAS) has few mission requirements that are compatible with more traditional air combat roles. Despite this fact, current and future force planning is attempting to force the CAS mission on already saturated multi-role forces. The U.S. Air Force must view CAS as a specialized mission that requires specifically designed aircraft and specially trained pilots. Recognition of this fact is crucial to ensuring that the U.S. Air Force is prepared to meet the challenges of CAS in the future. To prove such a position, it is necessary to demonstrate that CAS is a specialized mission that can only be adequately performed by dedicated CAS forces. Once this is accomplished, a continuing future need for such specialized capabilities must be established. This will be achieved by showing that U.S. combat experiences over the current decade have constantly required the introduction and support of ground forces. From this foundation, reasonable predictions show that few external influences are likely to change such requirements in the future. As such, the U.S. Air Force must be prepared to support ground troops with dedicated CAS forces into the 21st century.
