
The U.S. Air Force may need a significant increase in its drone force to help defend Europe, if Russia tries to invade Eastern European nations beyond Ukraine. Dedicated close air support (CAS) has been low on the list of Air Force modernization priorities, and the service is divesting its A-10 Warthog fleet, as top service officials and some in Congress, such as Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), have said that other aircraft, such as Lockheed Martin [LMT]-built F-16s and stealthy F-35s,…