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  • Secretary discusses alternative fuel initiative

    With more than 140 aircraft appearing at the Le Bourget Airport for the 47th International Paris Air Show, the future of jet fuel and rising cost of oil jet fuel were among the topics of keen interest. A press conference held by the Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and the Administrator

  • Air Force supports International Paris Air Show

    Hundreds of flight enthusiasts flooded the Le Bourget Airport to attend the opening of the 47th International Paris Air Show. This year's air show, boasting more than 2,000 exhibits from 42 countries, opened to trade visitors June 18 and the general public can visit from June 22-24. With planes all

  • Hickam 'rolls out' Air Force Week Honolulu

    To celebrate the Air Force's 60th anniversary, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley chose six cities to host an Air Force Week, a celebration designed to inform and educate the public about the important roles the Air Force plays in support of the nation's defense. Honolulu is the only

  • Newest 'Week in Photos' features Airmen around the globe

    The "Week in Photos" Web feature on Air Force Link provides visitors with photos that highlight Air Force missions around the world. At Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, Lt. Col. Kimberly Bradley carries away an oxygen tank after helping a patient during an emergency trauma situation. Colonel Bradley is

  • Command, control battle lab closes doors after one decade

    The Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Battlelab held its official inactivation ceremony here June 14. The C2ISRB was one of seven battlelabs established by the Air Force in 1997 to address the acquisition system's inability to rapidly field technology and the

  • Airman's Roll Call: Taking environmental responsibility

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Airmen and civilians being responsible for Air Force's environmental role. The Air Force continues to set the example as the nation's top customer for buying energy that comes from environmentally-friendly sources. Airmen should always look for ways they can

  • Air Force Week California concludes with air show

    Amid tumble dives and barrel rolls, vintage aircraft and modern fighters, the California Capital Air Show concluded Air Force Week here June 9 and 10. The event, which took place at Mather Airport, the site of former Mather Air Force Base, drew more than 50,000 people and offered a variety of

  • Journal focuses on developing Airmen, leaders

    The College of Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education at Air University has published and distributed the Summer 2007 English edition of the Air Force's professional journal, Air and Space Power Journal. The journal serves as an open forum for the presentation and stimulation of innovative

  • Air Force saves money through energy-efficient lighting

    With an energy efficiency commitment, Air Force officials pursue leading-edge technologies for energy efficient lighting as part of its energy strategy for the 21st century. The Air Force spends about $1 billion annually for the 77 trillion British thermal units of energy required to run more than

  • Air operations center opens at Tyndall

    First Air Force celebrated the opening of the 601st Air and Space Operations Center here June 1 with a ceremony and tour of the 37,000-square-foot, $30 million combat center. First Air Force, which also serves under the North American Aerospace Defense Command as the continental U.S. NORAD Region,

  • Airmen deliver strategic aid to Lebanese military

    C-17 Globemaster III crews of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron delivered bullets to Beirut as part of a short notice ammunition re-supply tasking in support of the Lebanese military. The 816th EAS, a tenant unit of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing based out of Southwest Asia, was given the

  • Solar energy helps power base

    Solar energy panels in use here are saving base officials money while protecting the environment. The photovoltaic array project became fully operational May 17.The goal of the project is to cut power costs, reduce energy consumption and comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Base civil

  • CSAF's Scope highlights air dominance with F-22, F-35

    The CSAF's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen. Among Gen. T. Michael Moseley's top issues this month is the Air Force's air dominance in the future. Two key parts of the Air Force's future success in air dominance focuses on

  • DOD stands up joint space office

    The Department of Defense stood up the joint service Operationally Responsive Space Office in a ceremony May 21 at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. The ORS Office will be responsible for integrating joint ORS capabilities and for applying ORS resources to the development, acquisition and demonstration

  • Spring 2007 quarterly issue of Airman now online

    In the spring quarterly issue of Airman magazine, read about how the Air Force is making some tough decisions about the Airmen it keeps in the force, so the Air Force chief of staff is traveling around the globe to tell Airmen about that and the issues that will affect their careers. These are just

  • Ramstein Airmen test new communications systems

    Twenty-eight Airmen and civilians from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, tested new communications systems at the U.S. European Command-sponsored exercise, Combined Endeavor, held April 27 through May 10. The 1st Combat Communications Squadron's team from the 86th Airlift Wing is at the Lager Aulenbach

  • Thinking lean, a must for stronger, smaller Air Force

    The U.S. Air Forces in Europe vice commander, Maj. Gen. Marc Rogers, spent time with senior leaders at Incirlik Air Base to discuss the importance of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO21. General Rogers began with a big picture explanation of the Air Force's strong focus on the

  • Air Force research team's 'out of box thinking' earns honors

    Efforts to advance experimentation war gaming within the Air Force and the Defense Department resulted in a team from the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate receiving the Air Force Modeling and Simulation Experimentation Award for 2006. The team, which consists of team

  • Nations at Combined Endeavor combat cyberspace security

    As technology continues its steady advance, controlling cyberspace becomes increasingly critical to securing warfighting capabilities. In order to help prevent future conflicts by integrating and streamlining communications on a global scale, the 13th annual Combined Endeavor exercise April 27 to

  • Air Force secretary sets sights on space

    "Setting the strategic conditions for victory starts right here in (Air Force) Space Command," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne as he visited here May 7.Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, the AFSPC commander, met with the secretary for an office call and several briefings, focusing on the

  • AF releases draft amendment for new helicopter proposals

    Air Force officials here announced May 14 the release of a draft amendment to the combat search and rescue replacement vehicle request for proposal."We're releasing this draft RFP amendment to foster open communications with our partners in industry, the Department of Defense and Congress as we

  • Flight information management initiative saves time, money

    Air Mobility Battlelab members successfully completed an initiative named the Comprehensive Combat Flight Information Management System at the Rockwell Collins International, Inc.'s aviation laboratory in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The CCFIMS initiative combines commercial and government systems to prove

  • Latest 'Today's Air Force' now available

    In this week's edition of "Today's Air Force" see how Airmen are in the fight against terrorism, filling Army "In-Lieu-Of" requirements, and how these Airmen warriors are helping meet the immediate demands of the surge in Iraq. Also, when people think of the Air Force they think of aircraft and

  • 'Week in Photos' features Airmen around the globe

    The "Week In Photos" Web feature provides visitors with photos highlighting Air Force missions around the world. Among this week's photos are: At Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Senior Airman Andrew Caro and Staff Sgt. Dustin Maglinti take aim at a target during a training exercise. They are

  • Charleston test platform for new all-electric vehicle

    Over the next six months four new, energy-saving vehicles can be seen zipping across the base's roads. The Department of Transportation-certified, all-electric, zero-pollution, low-speed vehicles are Miles ZX40 and ZX40S. They are capable of moving at speeds of 25 mph for 50 miles before a recharge

  • Deployed F-22s leave Pacific, return to Langley

    After almost three months in the Pacific, 12 F-22A Raptors departed here May 10 having completed the first overseas deployment for the Air Force's newest air supremacy aircraft. The Raptors and more than 250 Airmen assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., arrived in

  • Charleston C-17 transports NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander

    The Phoenix Mars Lander began its journey to the red planet in May by first flying on board a C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston Air Force Base.An Aircrew from the 16th Airlift Squadron transported the Phoenix Mars Lander, built by Lockheed Martin in association with NASA, from Buckley AFB, Colo.,

  • Shaw to begin one-year hybrid refueler test

    Fuels Airmen here are putting the Air Force's only R-11 Hybrid Electric Aviation Refueler through its paces during a one-year test that began here this month. The test will determine how much the 72,000-pound hybrid reduces emissions and conserves diesel fuel, potentially saving the Air Force money,

  • Air Force officials evaluating KC-X proposals

    The Air Force source selection evaluation team is poring over industry proposals for the KC-X program, the replacement for the Air Force's aging KC-135 Stratotanker strategic refueling aircraft.The evaluation team, made up of a broad spectrum of acquisition and operational professionals, is

  • Airmen's weather watch data enhances military missions

    Sandstorms, which often appear as solid walls of dust as much as 15,000 feet high, can obscure the sun and reduce visibility to zero. A group of weather watching Airmen monitor Southwest Asia's approximately 55-million square-mile area of responsibility, forecasting these storms before they hit;

  • Latest 'Today's Air Force' now available

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how Combat Skills Training prepares Airmen to operate on the streets of Afghanistan and Iraq, and how the Air Force's highly trained Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape, or SERE, instructors provide Airmen the skills to survive alone in a

  • Airman's Creed, military health care on CSAF's Scope

    The CSAF's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen. Among Gen. T. Michael Moseley's top issues are the new Airman's Creed and military health care. General Moseley introduced the new creed to replace all the various specialized

  • F-117 pioneer test pilot passes away at 70

    The Air Force and the F-117A Nighthawk program lost one of its premier test pilots nearly 25 years, to the day, after his near-fatal accident while attempting to take-off on an F-117A's final acceptance test. Retired Lt. Col. Robert 'Bob' Riedenauer, 70, passed away April 23 at his home in Palmdale,

  • Officials react to CSAR-X report

    The Government Accountability Office released its redacted report May 3 regarding the Air Force's Request for Reconsideration on the Combat Search and Rescue Replacement vehicle, the CSAR-X. The report states that GAO officials had "reviewed all of the additional arguments raised by Sikorsky and

  • Space ops critical to air, ground, naval forces

    With the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility spanning 6.5 million square miles and 27 countries, the high ground of space continues to be critical to coalition air, ground and naval forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The Space Coordinating Authority, Combined Forces Air Component Commander

  • Air Force stands up first unmanned aircraft systems wing

    The Air Force's first unmanned aircraft systems wing stood up May 1 at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. As Col. Christopher Chambliss assumed command of the 432nd, a piece of history was revived and a course for the way ahead continued. "This is a monumental day for the Air Force," said Colonel

  • New concept gets latest technologies to warfighters quickly

    The F-22 Raptor and Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle had barely finished their maiden flights and begun serving in the war on terrorism when engineers, developers and testers here were already at work to improve on the capabilities of those aircraft.That concept, referred to as "incremental

  • Backscatter technology leaves bad guys no place to hide

    Members of the 820th Security Forces Group here are set to employ a new high-technology search system in the war on terrorism that will help increase base security that also can deter acts of aggression against coalition forces. Known as the Z backscatter van, the $1.2 million, 13,000-pound,

  • ACC approves Raptor demonstration

    Maj. Paul "Max" Moga and the world's only fifth-generation fighter aircraft may be appearing at an airshow near you this season. Following a 12-minute performance April 27, Air Combat Command officials gave Major Moga and his F-22A Raptor demonstration the official seal of approval. The evaluation

  • Edwards readies for Joint Strike Fighter testing

    All systems are moving toward "go" here as officials prepare for upcoming tests on the next-generation strike fighter, the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. A new mission control room opened its doors earlier this month, equipped so the Integrated Test Force will be able to monitor real-time

  • Officials take step forward toward renewable energy

    The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of North America's largest solar photovoltaic power system took place here April 23. The Nellis solar energy system, once operational, will generate 25 million kilowatt-hours of "clean" electricity for the base. The project is scheduled for completion

  • Air Force officials discuss way forward for new helicopter

    Air Force officials announced here April the way ahead for the replacement combat search and rescue helicopter, the CSAR-X.To foster open communications and a fair and open competition, Air Force officials expect to release a draft Request for Proposal amendment to the CSAR-X offerors in May, and

  • Space professional development program is 1st-of-its-kind

    The first course of a five-course, space certificate pilot program initiated by Air Force Space Command and the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs concludes this month for 20 space professionals. The goal of this "first-of-its-kind" program is to increase the technical foundation of space

  • U.S. must maintain space superiority, General says

    Maintaining superiority in space will go a long way toward protecting U.S. national interests, the commander of the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center said here. "If adversaries are using space in ways that would threaten America or our forces on the battlefield, we have to be able to

  • Satellite-savvy cadets test out of world experiments

    Launched in March from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., the Academy cadet-engineered Falcon Satellite-3 is now undergoing testing 100,000 feet from Earth. In preparation for experiments involving space weather and spacecraft operations, it is no small milestone for the Academy. "This is a

  • Commander challenges technologists for better solutions

    When is technology more than just a piece of equipment or an information system? When a ground troop uses it to make a life-or-death decision in a split-second on the battlefield, or when an admiral sends an aircraft carrier as a show of force to mitigate or avoid conflict. Technology also assists

  • Battlefield technology key to Atlantic Strike V

    As the convoy travels down the dusty path, the lead Humvee's Joint Terminal Attack Controller zeroes in on a potential target 1,500 meters in front of him. He sends the coordinates to the waiting aircraft above. "Target is verified JTAC, expending munitions." The aircraft releases its munitions

  • Air Force awards 10 university research teams $60 million

    The Air Force Office of Scientific Research here announced in April plans to fund 10 awards totaling about $60 million over five years to 29 academic institutions to perform multidisciplinary basic research. The award is the result of the fiscal 2007 competition AFOSR conducted under the Department

  • Fusion system aids war on drugs in Afghanistan

    An effort between the 350th Electronic Systems Group here and one of its small-business partners has yielded a big pay-off for U.S. and coalition forces waging the war on terrorism. An Afghanistan-based fusion center they developed has helped officials seize more than 45 tons of narcotics and

  • PACAF commander stresses importance of space

    With a command that stretches across 16 different time zones, Pacific Air Forces Commander General Paul V. Hester, is a fan of the work space professionals perform in the Pacific. The general spoke to a crowd of military, civilian and industry space professionals during the last day of the 23rd

  • New policy protects Air Force networks

    A new Air Force policy on encrypting and digitally signing e-mails is now in effect to ensure security and reliability of information as the battle for cyberspace dominance continues. Officially called the Air Force Public Key Infrastructure Policy on Encrypting and Digitally Signing E-mails, it is

  • Chilton delivers priorities for future space capabilities

    "Space has become so integrated in the fight, in the way we fight and indeed into our economy and in America," Gen. Kevin P. Chilton told an audience of more than 500 industry leaders, civilians and military members at the 23rd National Space Symposium here today. In his speech, General Chilton, the

  • Chief of Staff speaks on future of space operations

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley delivered a speech to a crowd of more than 400 at the 23rd National Space Symposium here April 11.The general's speech to a group of military, civilian and industry space professionals focused on the important part space plays in the defense of the

  • New mission control room ready for F-35 flight tests

    The newest range mission control room built to test the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was officially commissioned here April 11. Combined with equipment installation and recent room certification, the range control room now provides the F-35 test team with the resources necessary to monitor the

  • Grissom doctors moonlight for NASA

    Two Reserve doctors from Grissom Air Reserve Base have front row seats for space shuttle takeoffs and landings to help astronauts in case of emergencies. Lt. Col. (Dr.) Scott Phillips or Maj. (Dr.) Greg Pinnell, both from the 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron here, work for NASA as part of a

  • Latest 'Today's Air Force' now available

    This week's "Today's Air Force" focuses on Airmen in Afghanistan fighting alongside Soldiers, Sailors and Marines combining unique capabilities to the joint fight; how Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century seeks to decrease waste in daily operations; and the passing of one of the famed

  • GAO clears way to move forward on CSAR-X

    The Government Accounting Office informed Air Force officials March 30 that all other protest issues surrounding the CSAR-X contract award have been denied. In a March 29 decision, the GAO denied all of the additional arguments raised by Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, "finding

  • GPS-driven dropsondes improve airdrop accuracy

    An emerging technology is making airdrops around the world more accurate. Called dropsondes, they not only improve aircrew capabilities, they also keep troops safe downrange. "A dropsonde is merely a meteorological device that we use to collect weather information from the altitude of the plane to

  • Missile defense system protects United States, allies

    The United States has been fielding a missile defense system aimed toward defending itself, its deployed forces and its allies against emerging threats, a top Air Force official said March 28. "We initially turned our attention to North Korea because we felt that that had the higher sense of

  • Joint Warfare Center tests new tools in exercise

    The Joint Warfare Center in Stavanger, Norway, might be half a world away from Afghanistan, but it's where the journey begins for a NATO battle staff headed downrange to fight the war on terrorism. The JWC relies on exercises like Enabler 2007 to prepare those officers for the challenges that await

  • Latest 'Today's Air Force' now available

    This week's "Today's Air Force" includes features focusing on retention, the first Air Force Week of 2007 and what products are used for AF Strategic Communications.The long-format, weekly news show tells Air Force stories in more depth. The program is made up of three segments and each runs

  • Air Force plans to develop revolutionary engine

    Air Force Research Laboratory engineers have outlined a five-year timeline for a new, adaptive engine that will enable pilots to switch from high speed combat maneuvers to long-range persistence mode as effortlessly as a bird in flight. AFRL's Propulsion Directorate recently issued a Broad Agency

  • A-10 modifications speed up to support warfighters

    The Air Force will soon benefit from an A-10 Thunderbolt II milestone achieved here in March. Personnel from the 571st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron completed a precision engagement modification on an A-10 14 days ahead of schedule.The modification gives the A-10 precision weapons capability through

  • 'Week in Photos' highlights Airmen in action

    The "Week In Photos" Web feature on Air Force Link provides visitors with photos that highlight Air Force missions. While in Iraq, Senior Airman David Hallmon inspects unused ammunition at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq. All unserviceable ammo is sent to the explosive ordnance disposal team for detonation.

  • Air Force launches 'E-Mail for Life' initiative

    Air Force Communications Agency officials are launching an initiative called E-Mail for Life, or E4L. The program is projected to save money, jumpstart the consolidation of the service's multiple e-mail systems and provide senior leaders the capability to e-mail every Air Force member directly."The

  • Airborne Laser fires tracking laser, hits target

    The YAL-1A Airborne Laser, a modified Boeing 747-400F, successfully test fired its target illuminator laser March 15 during a five-hour test flight. The mission and test firing represented the Airborne Laser's first in-flight external laser firing, and used the NC-135E "Big Crow" test aircraft to

  • Air Force fosters "warrior ethos" in all Airmen

    Whether it's the recent changes to basic military training, continual preparation for deployments, engaging in combat or new and better uniforms, Air Force leaders are instilling a warrior mindset in Airmen. That warrior ethos -- the foundation of what it means to be an Airman -- traces its roots to

  • New GPS-guided airdrops aid aircrew accuracy

    Mobility aircrews now have a new tool which uses Global Positioning System, or GPS, to help them deliver cargo more accurately and safely in deployed theaters of operation. The Joint Precision Airdrop System, or JPADS, allows airdrops to be conducted from higher altitudes with improved accuracy,

  • March 20 airpower: Versatile A-10s support ground forces

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for March 20. In Afghanistan March 19, a B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-12s and GBU-38s on enemy-occupied buildings near Kajaki Dam. The strike came after coalition forces came under fire from enemy forces in the

  • Air power purchasing process continues to improve

    Air Combat Command's award-winning acceptance team in Marietta, Ga., is setting the precedent on how the Air Force accepts airplanes. Working alongside the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, during production of the F-22A Raptor, ACC's Raptor Acceptance Team is a geographically

  • Air Force officials implement energy initiatives program

    Two installations are going to serve as test bases for the Air Force's new energy initiatives pilot test program. Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and McGuire AFB, N.J., were chosen due to their geographic locations and their operational and facility characteristics. Officials will be looking at

  • 'Week in Photos' highlights Airmen around the world

    The "Week In Photos" Web featured on Air Force Link provides visitors photos that feature the Air Force's missions.Staff Sgt. Irene Noriega assigned to the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., pedals 'til it burns as she participates in a cardiovascular workout spin class March 9 at

  • Oldest GPS satellite being prepared for disposal

    The oldest operational satellite in the GPS constellation has broadcast its signal for more than 16 years, during which time that signal's mission applications -- and the people who make sure the signal is available -- have changed dramatically. When Satellite Vehicle Number 15 launched Oct. 1,

  • New program lets Air Force members speak their minds

    A group of Airmen and Air Force civilians are being invited to become the Air Force's Internal Communication Assessment Group, called the ICAG. Internal communication refers to how the Air Force delivers information to Airmen and Air Force civilians. Senior Air Force leaders want to know Airmen's

  • First MQ-9 Reaper makes its home on Nevada flightline

    The MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle's  younger, yet larger and stronger, brother, the MQ-9 Reaper arrived March 13 at its new home at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The remotely piloted aircraft completed initial testing in California, then flew more than 250 miles in two hours to land here. The

  • Virtual Flag exercise hosted at Pentagon

    The Air Force's C4ISR Visualization Center at the Pentagon, along with the 705th Combat Training Squadron from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., hosted a simulation exercise March 7 to help joint tactical air controllers experience the challenges of calling in air strikes to enemy targets

  • Life-saving turret prototype stems from Airman's death

    Less than 80 days after Airman 1st Class Leebernard Chavis was felled by a sniper's bullet near Baghdad, Airmen in Iraq were testing an improved turret that designers hope will offer service members better protection. Airman Chavis, of Hampton, Va., was killed by enemy gunfire Oct. 14 while

  • Air Force's satellite-loaded Atlas V is 50th launch success

    The Air Force marked its 50th consecutive successful launch March 8 with an Atlas V loaded with six experimental satellites. Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles AFB, Calif., successfully launched the rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., with the 45th Space Wing spacelift

  • Future is bright for Air Force space assets

    The Airmen of Air Force Space Command are tracking a lot more than the man-made space junk that orbits the Earth. Space operators are troubleshooting the way they do business. They're focusing on getting their capabilities -- the ones most Americans know little about -- to the forefront of the

  • 2 Air Force Mentor-Protégé teams capture DOD awards

    Two U.S. Air Force Mentor-Protégé company teams captured Nunn-Perry awards March 7 at the annual Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé Conference here. The awards recognize outstanding efforts by DOD prime contractors, or mentors, and their protégé small businesses. The Air Force mentor-protégé

  • Air Force-funded researcher among top 50 technological leaders

    A researcher funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research is included in the "2006 Scientific American List of 50 Leaders in Science and Technology" for building circuits using light at nanometer scales. Dr. Nader Engheta, professor of electrical and systems engineering and professor of

  • 'Week in Photos' highlights Airmen around the world

    Airmen are deployed around the globe every day to support operations ranging from humanitarian missions and coalition exercises to fighting terrorism with airpower. The "Week In Photos" Web feature on Air Force Link provides visitors photos that feature the Air Force's missions. A brief view of this

  • Secretary Gates: Care for America's returning wounded warriors

    When I was nominated to take this post just over three months ago, I said that the patriots who have volunteered to serve in our armed services have no equal in the world. I made a solemn commitment to the Congress, to the nation, and to you to keep the welfare of men and women in uniform uppermost

  • Air Force cadets conduct research for NASA

    A group of small Pitot tubes, shaped like a hand rake, sit inside one end of a wind tunnel. A miniature space capsule is attached on the other end. It looks similar to what Apollo era astronauts used, but this model plays an important role in the future of human space flight. The Crew Exploration

  • Better intel boosts Air Force munitions drops, sorties flown

    In 2006, the Air Force dropped more than 1,700 munitions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. A year earlier, the Air Force dropped only 176 munitions as part of that same operation. The increase is due to better intelligence, said Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the U.S. Central Command Air Forces

  • Cadets research fuel line bacteria

    Bacteria that can survive on jet fueI is not something one might think about. But, that same microscopic bacteria can bring down a multi-million dollar aircraft. Cadet 1st Class Jonathan Stralka peers at a small tube filled with jet fuel. Inside is the culprit responsible for fouling jet engines

  • F-35 production a step closer after wind tunnel test

    Arnold Engineering Development Center workers completed the last developmental wind tunnel test in February for all Joint Strike Fighter variants, helping put the F-35 Lightning II a step closer to manufacturing. It was the culmination of more than 8,600 hours and $50 million worth of wind tunnel

  • Airmen receive cutting-edge satellite training

    As a satellite systems crew chief, Staff Sgt. Lori Browning has a job that is out of this world. She is currently receiving training on the Space Based Infrared Systems, or SBIRS, that is scheduled to become operational sometime next year. Sergeant Browning is part of the first class that is being

  • New ammo improves pilot safety, reduces collateral damage

    Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots at the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here are employing a new 20mm cannon round in their M61/A1 Gatling guns for the first time, improving pilot safety while reducing collateral damage.Airmen first validated the rounds at a firing range and then employed them in

  • Research of materials for use in extreme environments

    Leading edge scientific discoveries and breakthroughs funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research here could pave the way for new performance capabilities of materials used in extreme environments. Among these latest developments, recently presented at an AFOSR ceramics program review, is

  • New helmet gives pilots the edge

    Aircrews at the 18th Fighter Squadron here recently received an important warfighting upgrade that can help keep them head and shoulders above the rest. Squadron pilots have incorporated a new helmet that features the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, a system which improves breathing and radio

  • Air Force logistics centers support warfighters 24/7

    When aircraft maintainers, half-way around the world, need help fast, round-the-clock support is now available at Air Force Materiel Command's three air logistics centers. The customer support centers, or CSCs, at Tinker AFB, Okla., Robins AFB, Ga., and Hill AFB, Utah, are the product of AFMC's

  • Security Forces train Airmen to protect space resources

    Senior Airman Joshua Newton holds the flashbang up high in the air and his three teammates know what that means without uttering a single word. It is time to breach the room and they all look away as he carefully leans forward and chucks the grenade into the room. As the flashbang goes off

  • Academy cadets prepare to have a blast ... off

    Cadet 1st Class Lauren Viscito dons a white gown, blue booties and a hair net before stepping into a clean room at the academy. She's one of a team of cadets working to get FalconSAT-3 ready for lift off. FalconSAT-3 is part of a group of three small payloads headed to space aboard an Atlas V rocket

  • Fighting in cyberspace means cyber domain dominance

    The Air Force officially announced creation of the new Cyberspace Command late last year. Now, just four months later, the command's leaders are talking about the way ahead. The Air Force's operational Cyberspace Command, also known as 8th Air Force, is commanded by Lt. Gen. Robert J. "Bob" Elder.

  • Air Force officials release 2007 posture statement

    Air Force officials released their annual posture statement which articulates the major elements required for the Air Force to fulfill its mission and its priorities over the course of the next year and into the future. The secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff testified before

  • Test squadron demonstrates Sniper pod capability

    Members of the 419th Flight Test Squadron here recently completed its initial developmental testing of the Sniper pod installed on a B-1B Lancer, designed to increase the aircraft's self-targeting capability. The Sniper pod, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is an advanced targeting pod with

  • AFMC leader discusses command's war contributions

    In the thick of rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and small-arms fire in a battle, the last thing on a warfighter's mind would be thanking members of Air Force Materiel Command for the weapons about to be used. Using better intelligence offered by AFMC's advancements, the warfighter can be sure the

  • 'Week in Photos' highlights Airmen around the world

    Airmen are deployed around the globe every day to support operations ranging from humanitarian missions and coalition exercises to fighting terrorism with airpower. The "Week In Photos" Web exclusive on Air Force Link provides visitors ten photos that feature Airmen at war. It is a brief but