If air-to-air combat is no longer relevant, why do we need an Air Force with all its beaurucratic tail and headquarters? Air-to-air stemmed from the need to protect manned bombers from other fighters. No with all the so called smart munitions, unmanned aircraft (which could be bombers), long range missiles, etc, why do we need an Air Force? Let it revert back to the Army, and in some cases to the Navy. DOD would save a whole hell of a lot of taxpayer money. I know that never crosses the mind of many in the Pentagon. It is too entrenched in old beauracracies and keeping traditions over saving money. The age old slogan continues...if you don’t spend it you lose it.
“why do we need an Air Force with all its beaurucratic tail and headquarters? “
It’s the golf courses.