US Air Force tests how units could fight cut off from support in future war

In a future conflict with China or another technologically advanced adversary, US Air Force units may need to sustain combat operations for extended periods without reinforcements, resupply, or even reliable communications.

This month, the 23rd Wing from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, conducted an exercise designed to test exactly how such isolated units could survive and continue generating airpower. 

Exercise Mosaic Tiger 26-1, held November 12–21 across locations in Georgia and Florida, aimed to demonstrate how the 23rd Wing could maintain combat sorties and aircraft readiness under the conditions expected in a high-end fight, the Air Force said in multiple statements cited by Defense News.

The event was built around the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) doctrine, which seeks to disperse airpower across smaller, more austere bases to avoid the threat posed by large, centralized airfields vulnerable to missile strikes.

ACE, the service explained, is intended to prepare for a potential conflict against China, which is expected to target major air bases at the outset of war using cruise missiles or other weapons designed to halt flight operations. By operating from multiple remote or rugged sites, Air Force units would retain the ability to fight even with disrupted supply lines or degraded command and control.

During Mosaic Tiger, a mix of attack, rescue, and support airmen were tested in scenarios replicating contested wartime conditions. They were required to establish a forward operating site, rapidly refuel and rearm aircraft through “integrated combat turns,” and maintain operations from dispersed locations—demonstrating adaptability under pressure.

A central feature was the activation of the 23rd Combat Air Base Squadron, tasked with standing up forward operating locations and providing defense, logistics, and communications capability. As part of the Air Force’s multi-capable airman concept, personnel were expected to perform tasks outside their traditional specialties, from aircraft maintenance to base security.

“Every airmen in the squadron is tackling tasks that normally wouldn’t fall in their wheelhouse,” squadron commander Lt. Col. Justin May said.

Maintenance personnel from the 74th and 75th Fighter Generation Squadrons were split across several sites, each facing distinct logistical constraints. With no guarantee of when supplies might arrive, airmen had to conserve and creatively stretch what they had—whether spare parts, oil, or other essentials.

“Whatever those airmen brought with them, they need to use judiciously until a future resupply,” the Air Force said in a November 19 release. This forced maintainers to innovate, at times re-using components to keep A-10 Warthogs flying.

“Being responsible for what supplies we do have on site all leads back to ensuring that we stay accountable and utilize all resources available,” Staff Sgt. William Flores said. “Take oil, for example. If we’re burning too much oil, we may want to swap jets so we’re not using more oil than we can supply.”

The exercise also tested how units could continue launching missions during communication outages. Lt. Col. Nathan Frey explained that airmen would begin with a three-day air tasking order, but if an outage extended beyond that, they would rely on broader mission intent and coordination with nearby units.

“If [communication] degradation lasts past 72 hours, we would shift to military-type orders that provide broad intent and allow us to coordinate with adjacent units without the detailed integration,” said Lt. Col. David Pool. In such cases, the wing would help synchronize mission planning among dispersed units.

The exercise, Air Force officials noted, underscored the service’s need to operate independently, flexibly, and under persistent threat—conditions likely to define the next major conflict.

By Sabina Mammadli