72-Hour Combat: Pilots Fly Solo

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The Air Force just proved American pilots can fight and win without talking to command which is a critical edge against China’s growing missile threat.

Quick Take

Air Force Exercise Mosaic Tiger 26-1 demonstrated pilots can sustain combat operations for 72 hours without communications
The war game tested the Agile Combat Employment strategy, shifting decision-making from centralized command to individual pilots and crews
China’s expanding missile arsenal threatens traditional U.S. air bases, making dispersed, independent operations essential for future conflicts
Cross-functional training showed maintenance crews, logistics, and base defense personnel can operate effectively without real-time orders
The exercise reveals Air Force readiness challenges, with only 59% mission capability rates limiting full implementation across the force

Why This Matters for American Strength

For decades, the U.S. Air Force relied on centralized command-and-control from secure bases with robust communications. That model is obsolete. China’s advanced missile capabilities now threaten traditional American air bases, forcing a fundamental rethinking of how the Air Force operates. Exercise Mosaic Tiger 26-1, conducted in November 2025 at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, proves the Air Force can adapt—and win—even when communications collapse.

Testing Independent Operations Under Fire

The 23rd Wing conducted a comprehensive exercise testing whether airmen could sustain combat operations during extended communications degradation. The exercise examined how pilots, maintenance crews, logistics personnel, and base defense teams could function independently. Results showed that with pre-published Air Tasking Orders, operations could continue for 72 hours without command guidance. Beyond that window, airmen relied on broad military-type orders and pre-briefed mission plans to maintain effectiveness.

Decentralizing Command Empowers Our Pilots

The Agile Combat Employment strategy fundamentally redistributes decision-making authority downward, from distant command centers to individual pilots and squadron-level commanders. This represents a shift from centralized control to tactical autonomy based on pre-briefed intent. Lt. Col. Nathan Frey, Director of Operations for the 74th Fighter Squadron, emphasized that the 72-hour independent operations capability provides a concrete benchmark for planning. Lt. Col. David Pool noted the strategy relies on broad military-type orders for extended operations, empowering airmen to adapt tactics to real-time conditions rather than waiting for orders from above.

Cross-Training Creates Operational Resilience

The exercise demonstrated that cross-functional training across traditional role boundaries strengthens operational resilience. Every airman tackled tasks outside normal responsibilities—pilots assisted maintenance crews, logistics personnel performed base defense duties, and support staff executed operational tasks. Staff Sgt. William Flores, a crew chief with the 75th Fighter Generation Squadron, emphasized resource accountability and efficient material utilization in austere environments. This flexibility ensures operations continue even when specialized personnel become unavailable or overwhelmed.

The China Threat Driving Strategic Change

The exercise directly addresses emerging peer-competitor threats. China’s expanding missile arsenal has made traditional centralized air bases increasingly vulnerable to attack. The A2/AD (anti-access/area-denial) capabilities China is developing can strike American bases from hundreds of miles away, forcing dispersed operations from austere, remote locations. The Agile Combat Employment strategy ensures American air power remains effective even when adversaries degrade communications infrastructure. This represents a necessary evolution in doctrine to maintain American military superiority in contested environments.

Readiness Challenges Remain

While Exercise Mosaic Tiger 26-1 validates key operational concepts, broader Air Force readiness challenges persist. The service faces significant capacity constraints, with only 59% mission capability rates compared to 80% during the Cold War. Only 24% of the combat-coded fleet consists of fifth-generation fighters. These constraints may limit the Air Force’s ability to fully implement communications-denied operational concepts across the entire force. Aging aircraft platforms and maintenance capacity issues require attention alongside doctrine development to ensure operational effectiveness across all squadrons and bases.

🔥🚨BREAKING: This footage is not a video game, thanks to new ‘EagleEye’ connection technology allows American troops to command and control unmanned systems and call for fires through a heads-up, hands-free display. The future of warfare is here. pic.twitter.com/0HvT7CZzi4

— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) October 15, 2025

Exercise Mosaic Tiger 26-1 demonstrates American airmen can adapt, overcome, and prevail even when adversaries degrade communications. The exercise validates the strategic direction of the Agile Combat Employment strategy and proves that decentralized decision-making, cross-functional training, and pre-briefed intent can sustain combat operations during extended communications outages. These lessons will shape future Air Force doctrine, training priorities, and acquisition decisions. However, realizing the full potential of this strategy requires addressing broader readiness challenges and ensuring adequate resources for implementation across the entire force. The exercise represents a significant step toward building an Air Force capable of defeating peer competitors in contested, communications-denied environments.