Defense secretary touts F-35 as heart of future tactical combat aviation

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited the Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter factory here Aug. 31, assessing progress on what he called "the heart of the future of our tactical combat aviation." Secretary Gates walked through the mile-long production facility, getting

United Arab Emirates air force participates in first Red Flag

United Arab Emirates air force pilots and maintainers are participating in the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the first time Aug. 22 through Sept. 5. The UAE airmen spent the previous two weeks at the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International

General says Air Guard facing recapitalization issues

One of the biggest challenges facing the Air National Guard today is replacing its fleet of aircraft that are approaching the end of their service lives, a senior Air National Guard official said July 29. "A big problem we have in the Air National Guard is figuring out how to recapitalize our aging

Obama praises Senate vote on F-22 funding

President Barack Obama praised a Senate vote that struck down $1.75 billion in additional funding in the fiscal 2010 defense budget for more F-22 Raptor fighter jets July 21 here. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates recommended to the president earlier this year to end production of the F-22 at the

Defense Department must end business as usual, Gates says

Defense spending and program priorities cannot be divorced from the very real threats of today and the growing ones of tomorrow, the defense secretary told hundreds of members of the Economics Club of Chicago here July 16. "We stand at a crossroads," Robert M. Gates said. "It is time to draw the

Chief of staff visits with Elmendorf Airmen

The Air Force's top uniformed member spent time with the men and women of Elmendorf Air Force Base July 6. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz received mission briefings from Col. Thomas Bergeson, 3rd Wing commander; visited the 3rd Wing's award-winning hospital; and stopped in at Hangar 1

Air Force leaders adopt 'balanced approach' to budget, workforce revitalization

Air Force senior leaders testified before Congress recently to present the service's $115.6 billion budget plan for fiscal 2010. Along with discussions about the budget, the Air Force officially submitted the 2009 Posture Statement, a document which depicts the "state of the Air Force" and the

Air Force official discusses 21st century ISR challenges

In an environment marked by ever-increasing threats, Airmen must enhance an already-sharp focus on information gathering and sharing, a top Air Force official said during a forum held June 10 in Burlington, Mass. Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for intelligence,

Gates visits Elmendorf, addresses servicemembers

The secretary of Defense held a town hall meeting and visited military members June 1 at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Some of the topics Secretary Robert M. Gates spoke about deployment increases and return dates, Air Force cutbacks, future replacement aircraft and weapon upgrades. "What I'm here for,

AF officials announce Combat Air Forces restructure plan

Following the May 7 roll-out of the fiscal year 2010 budget proposal for the Department of Defense, Air Force officials announced plans to retire legacy fighters to fund a smaller and more capable force and redistribute people for higher priority missions. The Combat Air Forces restructuring plan

Air Force leaders chart way forward for service

The Air Force has made tough choices and some prudent trade-offs to balance the service across the spectrum of capabilities needed for the future, Air Force leaders said.Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz discussed the service's efforts to balance

AFOTEC announces manpower realignment

The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center will begin realigning manpower to improve mission effectiveness. Pending completion of an environmental impact assessment, the realignment will shift personnel from Kirtland AFB to four AFOTEC detachments located in California, Colorado, Florida

Air Force fiscal 2010 budget reflects rebalanced priorities

Air Force officials here May 7 announced that its portion of the president's fiscal 2010 budget reflects a balanced strategy to prevail in today's joint fight and sustain air, space and cyberspace dominance. The two overarching principles guiding next year's budget are rebalancing the Air Force's

'Today's Air Force' features training, Earth Day celebrations

The latest edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how Airmen at Aviano Air Base in Italy prepare for combat, a new model in the C-130 Hercules fleet, and a celebration of Earth Day. Combined training is a way to get to know allies, how they train and how they'll react in certain situations and

F-35 test plane flies over Eglin

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter test aircraft arrived here April 21 to educate the base and local community about the Department of Defense and world's newest fighter.The arrival of the test F-35, called AA-1, kicked off a week full of events to showcase the aircraft at Eglin Air Force

ANG chief discusses air sovereignty missions with Congress

New commitments need to be made to the nation's Airmen and others who defend North America from threats to its air sovereignty, the Air National Guard's senior officer told members of Congress here April 22. Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt, director of the Air National Guard, testified before the House

Moving beyond the F-22

This op-ed piece appeared in the Washington Post on April 13, written by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.The debate over whether to continue production of the F-22 Raptor has been one of the most politically charged and controversial budget

Center team works to connect new fighters, bomber

An airborne networking team here is working to connect low-observable aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II and B-2 Spirit with each other, and with the rest of the force. These aircraft rely on a number of technological advantages to defeat adversaries and

Gates lays out defense budget recommendations

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates laid out his recommendations for the 2010 budget during an April 6 Pentagon press conference . The secretary said he included his experiences in national security to make the decisions. To start, Secretary Gates plans to significantly restructure the Army's Future

Air Force takes combat air acquisitions priorities to Hill

As airpower takes on an increasingly critical role in the joint fight, Air Force and Navy officials testified before the House Appropriations Committee March 25 here to outline the services' top combat air acquisition priorities. Lt. Gen. Mark D. "Shack" Shackelford, the acquisition deputy to the

Airborne networking team works to meet challenges

The mention of an airborne network conveys the sense of one monolithic entity, and someday, if all goes well, that is what it will be. Right now, however, "we have a lot of disparate networks," Mike Therrien, Airborne Networking division chief, told the Hanscom Representatives Association members at

Record of Decision signed on beddown of Joint Strike Fighter

Air Force officials have decided to bed down 59 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and to allow associated construction at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to begin, implementing a BRAC 2005 decision. The decision also imposes temporary operational limitations on JSF flight training activities both to

Decisions loom for Joint Strike Fighter Program

Decisions about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor aircraft programs are expected early in President Barack Obama's administration. The F-35 program manager said Jan. 15 he sees strong support for the F-35 from the services, allied partners and, so far, on Capitol Hill. Based on initial

Air Force officials look at robots for aircraft ground refueling

Air Force Research Laboratory's Materials and Manufacturing Directorate officials here are developing an automated aircraft refueling system for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Successful development and testing of the system will provide a feasible alternative to manual refueling of aircraft. The

Air Force chief of staff visits Arnold

The chief of staff of the Air Force made his first visit to middle Tennessee and to Arnold Engineering Development Center here Nov. 17 to see and learn about developmental testing of current and future weapons systems. Gen. Norton Schwartz's inaugural tour of AEDC started off with a bang, literally,

Chief of staff wraps up Middle East tour at Joint Base Balad

The Air Force chief of staff finished a visit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with a last stop to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Oct. 25 here. Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley learned about Airmen's accomplishments in theater,

F-35 completes air-start test at Edwards

The prototype F-35 Joint Strike Fighter AA-1 completed an air-start test validating the aircraft's ability to shut down and restart its engine in flight Oct. 23 here. This ensures the aircraft, which is called the F-35 Lightning II for the Air Force, can regain power and fly safely in the event of

F-35 environmental impact statement released

Air Force officials have announced that the final environmental impact statement addressing the beddown of the Joint Strike Fighter and 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is available for public review. The publication of the notice of availability in the Federal Register begins a 30-day public

F-35 begins workout

Air Force, Navy officials agree upon F-35 depot workload

Air Force and Navy officials here signed a memo Sept. 16 identifying a new process for allocating F-35 Lightning II depot repair workloads. The new process takes into account service competency and experience in determining workload allocation. "This was truly a joint effort on the part of the Air

F-35 cockpit demonstrator travels to Wright-Patterson

Aeronautical Systems Center personnel connected with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program are "flying" the jet with the Sept. 8 arrival of the F-35 cockpit demonstrator here. The cockpit demonstrator is a traveling, working mock-up of the advanced jet's cockpit, complete with

Chief McKinley talks about Air Force focus areas

"Hold your heads up high," said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley during his enlisted call in the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy high bay here Aug. 13. The chief opened his talk by telling Airmen that despite the bumps and bruises the Air Force has taken

Senate committee reviews Air Force nominees

Senate Armed Services Committee members presented a number of questions and challenges to Air Force civilian and military leader nominees July 22 on Capitol Hill. Michael Donley, the acting secretary of the Air Force, and Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, nominated to become the next chief of staff of the

UPDATED - SECAF salutes Airmen during ceremony

Beneath the spires of the Air Force Memorial erected under his watch, the secretary of the Air Force bid farewell to Airmen June 20, his last day as their senior civilian official. Secretary Michael W. Wynne addressed the crowd of Airmen, civilians and media in a ceremony at the memorial, speaking

Air Force aims to improve electronic warfare capabilities

Controlling the electromagnetic spectrum to deny or attack an adversary -- that is electronic warfare, and the Air Force is in search of ways to maximize that capability. Air Force leaders started the Electronic Warfare Life Cycle Management Group to establish a uniform approach to the research,

Wind tunnel tests contribute to first flight of F-35

The June 11 completion of the first flight of the short takeoff/vertical landing version of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter resonated with Air Force engineers at the Arnold Engineering Development Center here. "A number of us at AEDC can take pride in the part we played in supporting this

Stealth fighter honored at Wright-Patterson

The Air Force-industry team responsible for providing program oversight to the F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter aircraft said farewell during a ceremony March 11 here. More than 350 Airmen, base employees, industry partners and family members gathered for one last close-up look at the F-117, which

Air Force leaders testify about 2009 budget request

The Air Force's top two leaders testified before the House Armed Services Committee about the service's budget request for fiscal 2009 Feb. 27 in Washington. Addressing topics from recapitalization to personnel end strength, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff

$21 million software facility project underway at Robins AFB

Air Force officials held a groundbreaking ceremony here Feb. 19 for a 70,000 square-foot software support facility targeted for occupation by January 2010. The new, $21 million facility will be a two-story building designed to help Robins Air Force Base maintain its place as the Electronic Warfare

'Today's Air Force' features airlift, medical training

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the Air Force's state-of-the-art technology for both air and ground operations. Also featured is a segment on cargo airlift in Southwest Asia. Airmen deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan deliver supplies to dangerous locations and, at the same time,

Air Force snags top national advertising award

The Air Force earned one of the nation's top advertising honors Feb. 7, taking home a Golden Award at the 2008 ADDY Awards ceremony in Dallas. The technology section of the AIRFORCE.com Web site won best in class in the micro-site category, according to Air Force Recruiting Command officials. The

'Today's Air Force' highlights recapitalization, modernization

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the recapitalization and modernization of the Air Force. While the Air Force is undergoing a force-shaping process to reduce and merge its resources, a special focus is on the restructuring and utilization of available assets which are essential

Edwards Airman flies high as first military F-35 pilot

A pilot from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., became the first Air Force and government test pilot to fly the F-35 Lightning II during a test sortie at the Lockheed Martin facility Jan. 30 at Naval Air Station Fort Worth. Lt. Col. James Kromberg, the director of operations for the 461st Flight Test

Squadron commanders, first sergeants meet senior leaders

Squadron commanders and first sergeants had an opportunity to meet with the chief of staff of the Air Force during a conference here Jan. 24 and 25.  Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley called in Airmen from around the Air Force to get a candid perspective from the field while sharing

Center's core mission remains constant during the years

By the time the Air Force Flight Test Center was established here on June 25, 1951, Edwards AFB had already become well known as the place where "the rubber meets the ramp" and the de facto center of American flight research, development, test and evaluation. The turbojet revolution in America had

Air-to-ground missile launched from drone

For the first time, an air-to-ground missile was launched from a full-scale aerial target drone, or FSAT.  The test was performed Jan. 9 by Airmen here with Detachment 1 of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron. The FSAT is an unmanned QF-4 Phantom drone that was operated by remote control from a ground

'Today's Air Force' features the F-22 Raptor

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the F-22 Raptor.  Also featured are an air combat training exercise called "Red Flag" and the F-35 Lightning II. The F-22 reached initial operational capability two years ago, but until recently that operational presence was restricted to the

Air Force leaders testify on strategic, budget initiatives

People, equipment and money were the main topics Oct. 24 when the secretary of the Air Force and the chief of staff testified before the House Armed Services Committee. Secretary Michael W. Wynne and Gen. T. Michael Moseley answered questions from the committee about warfighting resources required

Air Force leaders discuss priorities at summit

Air Force leaders met here Oct. 23 to discuss the future beddown of weapons systems over the next several years, outlining a strategy to address the Air Force's most pressing need: recapitalization and modernization of its aging fleet. The discussion focused on maintaining, evolving and expanding

'Today's Air Force' features the MQ-9 Reaper

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the Air Force's newest unmanned aerial vehicle, the MQ-9 Reaper. Also featured is the ongoing operation that protects America's skies, Noble Eagle. Finally, get an inside look into raising and training military working dogs. The 30-minute, weekly

Chief McKinley visits Robins, discusses Air Force priorities

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley traveled to Robins Air Force Base Oct. 11 and spoke with Airmen throughout the base. Chief McKinley met with several base units and told enlisted Airmen that the Air Force has a vision and that includes helping Airmen be better prepared to win

Researchers fine-tune F-35 pilot-aircraft speech system

When the first F-35 Lightning II rolls out in 2008, communications between pilot and aircraft will enter a new era thanks in part to testing and analysis conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate. The F-35 will be the first U.S. fighter aircraft with a speech

Hill fighter squadron excels with Total Force Integration mission

Being the Air Force's first Total Force Integration fighter association, gives the phrase "one team, one fight" a whole new meaning for Hill Air Force Base's 388th and 419th Fighter Wings. As of July this year, the wings entered Phase III of TFI. Now the 419th FW, a Reserve wing, no longer flies and

Task force readies Eglin for F-35 mission

With the next generation of fighter aircraft slated to arrive here in less than three years, the Eglin Air Force Base F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter Site Activation Task Force is already working to get the base ready. Led by Col. George Ross and consisting of a 12-man, joint-service team,

Celestial Eagle: Historic anti-satellite mission remembered

The F-15 Eagle test pilot settled into the cockpit of the fighter jet at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., awaiting takeoff with a 2,700 pound, 18-foot long missile mounted to the jet's centerline. The mission, dubbed the "Celestial Eagle Flight," called for a nearly vertical ascent to 35,000 feet and

Secretary, chief send Air Force birthday message

The following is a message from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley on the Air Force's 60th birthday Sept. 18. "Sixty years ago today the Air Force became an independent service. Three days before becoming the first secretary of the Air

Financial service center opens doors at Ellsworth

The new Air Force Financial Services Center officially opened its doors Sept. 14 with an assumption of command and ribbon cutting ceremony officiated by Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne. During the assumption of command ceremony, Col. Judy Perry assumed command of the center. "Opening the

USCENTAF commander visits Airmen at Camp Lemonier

The Air Force's role in the stand up of Africa Command and the Airmen's increased presence in support of the humanitarian mission in the Horn of Africa were key topics discussed by the Central Air Forces Commander at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, Aug. 28. Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, also the Air Component

Art exhibit draws crowd to Air Force heritage

A collection of art illustrating Air Force heritage since before the service's beginning through today's expeditionary operations was the spotlight for local military, civic and business leaders during a gathering July 18 in honor of the Air Force's 60th Anniversary. The exhibit, titled "Heritage to

Latest 'Today's Air Force' addresses modernization

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights Air Force initiatives to modernize the force through the introduction of new aircraft and the retirement of designated older models like the F-117 Nighthawk, the world's first stealth aircraft. And learn how Hollywood producers work to maintain a

Air Force's small business programs open doors for veterans

When this a small business manufacturer received its aerospace quality standard certification late last year, the company had no idea how far that accomplishment would take them. The training M2 Global received from the Air Force's Manufacturing Technical Assistance Production Program opened doors

Changes in Air Force to ultimately benefit Airmen

An Air Force-wide plan to reduce the number of Airmen while saving money for equipment upgrades will be difficult, but ultimately, beneficial, said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. During an enlisted call here June 6, Chief McKinley spoke with Airmen about the Air Force

Changes on horizon for Air Force pilots

The Air Force recently announced there are changes forthcoming in aircrew management. A new process called Transformational Aircrew Management Initiatives for the 21st Century, or TAMI-21, is intended to account for force structure changes that have caused imbalances in pilot inventory distribution

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

Edwards team stars in 'Iron Man' superhero movie

Edwards Air Force Base recently became a Hollywood set, as about 150 Airmen, about a dozen Marines and some of the Air Force's new aircraft shared the spotlight with Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow in filming Hollywood's next superhero blockbuster. Director Jon Favreau and his

General discusses ISR at congressional breakfast

At a breakfast on Capitol Hill April 27, the Air Force deputy chief of staff for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance addressed members of Congress, their staffers, and other civilian and Air Force leaders about the future of the ISR mission. The conference, second in a series of Air Force

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

Chief of staff hosts Air Force acquisition summit

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley hosted a meeting of senior Air Force leaders to discuss the service's top acquisition issues and strategies at the Pentagon April 23. "We want our Airmen of tomorrow to inherit an Air Force that provides them the best tools to do the job of defending

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

CSAF discusses construction projects in testimony

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley met with members of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs March 29 to discuss the service's construction efforts. General Moseley said the Air Force is committed to improving base infrastructure

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

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

General speaks on Elmendorf's, Air Force's future

The Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements, visited here Feb. 21 to 23 to discuss the capabilities Alaska provides to the service, recapitalization, joint initiatives and the arrival of the C-17 Globemaster IIIs and F-22 Raptor.Although he is no longer stationed in

Air Force FY 2008 budget includes pay raise, new facilities

In the president's fiscal 2008 budget, released Feb. 5, Air Force leaders are asking Congress for about $110.7 billion. The Air Force budget request, about $6.2 billion more than it received in FY07, is divided into three primary areas: people, readiness and modernization and recapitalization. About

Tanker recapitalization proposal released

Air Force leaders officially released a request for proposal for a replacement tanker aircraft Jan. 30. The RFP is the official invitation to manufacturers to begin making offers to build a replacement for the Air Force's aging "Eisenhower-era" fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers, said Sue Payton, the

Williamsburg Talks join international air forces

Leaders from four international air forces gathered Jan. 18 through 21 in Williamsburg, Va., to discuss issues and share ideas regarding their respective services and discovered they all faced similar challenges. Hosted by Gen. T. Michael Moseley, the Air Force chief of staff, the four-day event

2006 a year of transformation for Airmen

In a year when Air Force operations around the globe helped positively impact countless lives affected by violence, intimidation and natural disaster, 2006 also served as a platform for evaluating how such missions can be accomplished more proficiently by capitalizing on training and technology.

Engineers contribute to F-35 initial flight success

The Dec. 15 initial flight of the new F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, or JSF, came after more than six years of development and testing at Arnold Engineering Development Center here. The flight of the conventional takeoff and landing F-35 variant began at 12:44 p.m. CST at Lockheed Martin in

Senator urges military budget increases

During a farewell speech in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee Dec. 7, Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) said legislators must substantially increase military budgets over the coming decade if the U.S. military is to keep its edge. "There can be no doubt that without a substantial increase in

Reserve to expand associate role with Shaw F-16 unit

As part of the Air Force Total Force Integration initiatives, Air Force Reserve Command is teaming up with Air Combat Command to expand its associate presence with additional F-16 pilots at the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., in fiscal 2008. Air Combat Command's 20th FW flies three

Pressure sensitive paint could save millions of dollars

The Arnold Engineering Development Center has reached a milestone with its pressure sensitive paint system. A recent demonstration test was conducted on the F-35 Lighting II joint strike fighter model installed in the center's 16-foot transonic wind tunnel. PSP applied to a joint strike fighter

President signs 2007 Defense Authorization Act

The fiscal 2007 National Defense Authorization Act provides more than $530 billion to maintain the military in the shape it must be to win the war on terrorism.President Bush signed the bill, officially called the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, during a small

Logistics officers given challenge at conference

The commander of the Air Force Materiel Command took the stage at the Logistics Officer Association National Conference Oct. 10 to tell 1,350 logistics officers to get lean and expect to be in a long war.Gen. Bruce Carlson gave the officers an overview of the enemy and how it exploits Islam and uses

Tanker hits top of the charts for recapitalization priority

The Air Force's new No. 1 procurement priority is the KC-X tanker, replacing the F-22 Raptor. "Our priorities for procurement are the following," said Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley.  "The KC-X, the new tanker, is No. 1. CSAR-X, the new combat rescue helicopter, is No. 2.

Memorial dedication to launch AF's 60th Anniversary observance

The nation's youngest military service kicks off its 60th anniversary observance this weekend with the official dedication of the Air Force Memorial at Arlington, Va. The memorial, composed of three bold and graceful spires soaring skyward to a height of 270 feet, will be dedicated and given to the

ACC declares small diameter bomb initially operational

The Air Combat Command commander declared initial operational capability for the Guided Bomb Unit-39/B Small Diameter Bomb Oct. 2 and the weapon made its combat debut just three days later. Gen. Ronald E. Keys made the IOC announcement six months ahead of schedule, only weeks after it was initially

T-38s at Laughlin mark beginning of transition

Laughlin AFB officials received the first T-38 Talon Oct. 4 from Moody AFB, Ga.  The aircraft's arrival denotes the start of the transition to a new training mission. "This jet marks the beginning of Laughlin's transition to our newly acquired Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals mission," said Col.

Air Force proposes initial Joint Strike Fighter locations

Plans for initiating environmental analyses for proposed locations of the Air Force's newest fighter, the F-35 Lightning II, were announced by Air Force officials Oct. 4. The initial Joint Strike Fighter locations include:-- Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., for primary maintenance and flight training;--

Air Force will get new bomber, upgrades to fighters

The Air Force is looking to get a "next generation" long-range bomber by 2018, according to the commander of Air Combat Command. During the Air Force Association's 2006 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 27, Gen. Ronald E. Keys, the ACC commander, told reporters the

F-35 centerpiece for international partnership

The F-35 Lightning II aircraft brings new capability to the Air Force, but also serves as a centerpiece for international cooperation. During the Air Force Association's 2006 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 26, Brig. Gen. Charles R. Davis, deputy program executive

F-35 Lightning II JSF testing marks program milestone

Arnold Engineering Development Center officials just completed aerodynamic testing on two variants of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to support flight testing of the plane later this year. With this latest test, the AEDC staff surpassed 8,000 hours of JSF testing in the center's

33rd Fighter Wing gains F-35 training mission

Air Force officials announced plans to assign the mission of training new Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and allied F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter pilots and maintainers to the 33rd Fighter Wing here. Final planning for the move is dependent on the results of the ongoing environmental impact

Tyndall spearheads F-22 fighter tactics integration

The 325th Air Control Squadron and 43rd Fighter Squadron here are making significant advances integrating F-22 Raptor fighter tactics with command and control operations, enhancing the capabilities of both. One of the new advances is the ability to send free text messages from command and control

'Lightning II' moniker given to Joint Strike Fighter

The Air Force chief of staff announced Lightning II as the F-35 name during a Joint Strike Fighter Inauguration Ceremony today at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. at Fort Worth, Texas. Gen. T. Michael Moseley made the final decision after an extensive nomination and review process, coordinated

Air Force oversees popular name selections

The popular name of the joint strike fighter F-35 aircraft will be released in early July, while the Air Force is currently proposing popular names for the MQ-9A unmanned aerial vehicle. Military vehicles are traditionally given such names that pay homage to the services' history or its mission, or

F-22 excels at establishing air dominance

Beginning with Lot 7 production of the F-22 Raptor, the Air Force hopes to enter into a cost-saving, multi-year procurement contract with the aircraft and engine manufacturer. According to Maj. Gen. Richard B.H. Lewis, Air Force executive officer for the F-22 program, a multi-year procurement

Testers set sights on joint strike fighter

Allowing a pilot to turn in any direction but still have access to information on the heads-up display at the front of the cockpit is the aim of testing here. Members of the 412th Test Wing completed a project June 20 to help evaluate a helmet-mounted display system for the F-35 joint strike

Balancing capability portfolios key to Air Force success

Every day, news headlines tout successes of the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, but seldom make mention of Air Force contributions. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John D. W. Corley told lawmakers and defense industry insiders on Capitol Hill June 14 that that lack of coverage doesn't mean

Joint Strike Fighter program crucial to future air dominance

Keeping the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program on track is important because the Air Force needs to replace aging aircraft and it is an important complement to the F-22A Raptor aircraft. That Capitol Hill testimony came March 16 from Lt. Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, deputy chief of staff for Air

Team tests in-the-field aircraft decontamination procedures

The Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Test Force pulled an F-16 Fighting Falcon out of a special hangar Feb. 11, marking the culmination of a series of unique tests here. As a surrogate for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the F-16 was used to test Department of Defense chemical and biological