A new report from RAND calls for the creation of an Air Force counterinsurgency wing, a new COIN light attack aircraft, more forward air controllers operating with small units and a new division-plus sized irregular warfare organization headed by a two star general. The report also calls for a new special operations gunship, more surveillance aircraft and a low observable special operations insertion aircraft.

According to the Pentagon’s April Selected Acquisition Reports released last week, the costs to build three Gerald Ford class carriers jumped from $35 billion to $40 billion, a 15 percent increase. Littoral Combat Ship program costs rose by $883 million, a 31 percent increase.