Airforces

35th Fighter Wing

50 // FEBRUARY 2018 #359 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

efficiently at detecting and classifying threats.

In fact, the combination of the F-16 and HTS

is so accurate in pinpointing a threat that a

high-explosive bomb can be put squarely

on to the radar-emitting target, theoretically

obviating the need to use a precious AGM-88

HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile).

“Combined with the HARM Targeting System,

the jets become the perfect platform to suppress

and destroy enemy SAM systems bringing

precise and lethal fires to the battlespace,”

Col Jobe continued. “Unfortunately, enemy

surface-to-air systems have become increasingly

advanced, jeopardising our ability to gain

and maintain air superiority – the bottom

line is we are losing our technological edge,

putting lives at risk. Moreover, without air

superiority the joint force at large is at risk.”

Col Jobe’s concern at the apparent erosion

of US and allied aerial supremacy is shared by

regular AFM columnist Air Marshal (Ret’d) Greg

Bagwell CB, CBE – who recently discussed it in

this magazine. “The combination of a (falsely)

perceived decreased peer threat, reducing

budgets, and recent counter-insurgency wars

have resulted in a marked shortfall in investment

to countering A2/AD,” AM Bagwell contended.

“This disinvestment coincided with a significant

increase in investment and innovation for

A2/AD within China and Russia, and the

subsequent export of their newer systems.”

Record-breaking ‘BOB’

F-16CM serial 90-0808 – better known as ‘BOB’,

after a crewman amended its serial – surpassed

9,500 hours of flight time on November 20 last year.

The well-worn jet (which also graces the cover of

this issue) has been flown by almost every airman

stationed at Misawa since 1990, including Col Jobe.

“Extending and preserving the life of our Block

50 F-16s is one of our maintenance team’s most

challenging objectives,” Col Jobe stated. “Hitting

9,500 hours on a jet slated to be phased out at 4,800

hours is astonishing, proving that, as technology

continues to become more complex, the airmen

on the ground continue to meet and exceed the

demands we confront them with. Thanks to the

dedication of every ‘Team Misawa’ maintenance

professional, ‘BOB’ has the highest number of flying

hours out of any of its kind in the US Air Force.”

“None of the credit goes to the pilots who flew

BOB,” remarked Lieutenant Colonel Matt Kenkel, the

14th Fighter Squadron commander. “If you think

about things like age, wear and tear, all the life cycles,

engine changes, gear changes, corrosion preventive

maintenance and fixing cracks in the skin, that’s on

the shoulders of the maintainers. It’s really a tribute

to those guys who have maintained ‘BOB’, giving him

a 27-year lifespan, and kept him flying this long.”

Col Jobe pre-flights ‘BOB’ at Misawa.

USAF/Senior Airman Brittany A Chase