An illustrative combat air patrol requires four aircraft airborne and four on alert, ready to take over when the first patrol engages a target. Four groups of four rotate through flying, readiness, preparation and recovery, with two spare airframes covering losses or lengthy maintenance. That produces the rough 18-aircraft minimum for one sustained role. Helicopters also need to replenish weapons and sonobuoys, refuel and change crews, while high-tempo saltwater operations require component replacement whether an aircraft is crewed or uncrewed. A common multi-role type can combine two 18-aircraft allocations into a pool of 36. Aircraft can then move between patrol and strike duties when losses, maintenance or an unusually large strike create uneven demands.
Notable Point · 44:30-47:25
Mission count sets the air group size problem
Sustaining combat air patrol, strike, or anti-submarine work requires rotating aircraft through flying, alert, maintenance, refueling, rearming, and crew-change states.