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NATO Air Policing operations — U.S. Air Force News

Sept. 7, 2023
USAFE-AFAFRICA demonstrates breakthrough mobile MQ-9A satellite launch, recovery package

The SLR-P offers a compact, "wallet-sized" innovation poised to launch and recover the MQ-9A at strategic theater locations situated in some of the most rugged, remote outposts in Europe.
May 14, 2021
Around the Air Force: Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Proposal, Skyborg ACS Test Flight, Testing Lead Wing Capability

Today’s look Around the Air Force highlights the Air Force’s Budget Proposal to Congress for the Fiscal Year 2022, the first testing of Skyborg’s autonomy core system, or ACS, and airmen put the Lead Wing Concept into action during exercise ROCKI 21-02. (Hosted by Tech. Sgt. Shandresha Mitchell)
May 6, 2021
Skyborg autonomy core system has successful first flight

Termed Milestone 1 of the Autonomous Attritable Aircraft Experimentation, or AAAx, campaign, the autonomy core system performed a series of foundational behaviors necessary to characterize safe system operation.
July 15, 2020
JB San Antonio environmental program takes off with UAS technology

The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center’s Unmanned Aerial System project was initiated in late 2019. Then, in March of this year, the Air Force presented a $3 million Small Business Innovation Research Program award for the project.
June 17, 2019
AFRL XQ-58A UAV completes second successful flight

The Air Force Research Laboratory developed a low-cost unmanned air vehicle together with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. The joint effort falls within AFRL’s Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology portfolio, which has the goal to break the escalating cost trajectory of tactically
March 27, 2019
Skyborg program seeks industry input for artificial intelligence initiative

The Air Force office of Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation at the Air Force Research Laboratory is working on fielding a prototype Autonomous, Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle as an Early Operational Capability as early as 2023.
Sept. 14, 2018
188th Wing activates UPAD for Hurricane Florence Response

The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Wing activated its Unclassified Processing, Assessment and Dissemination capability in response to Hurricane Florence September 13, providing imagery, geospatial, and assessment support to incident commanders in affected areas.
July 5, 2017
Yesterday's Air Force: RPAs

This episode of Yesterday's Air Force looks at the history of Remotely Piloted Aircraft. RPAs are not a new war-fighting technology, in fact their development goes back to the early 20th century. Roger Connor with the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum takes us through their evolution.
June 2, 2017
Application window opens for enlisted RPA pilot selection board

Airmen interested in becoming enlisted remotely piloted aircraft pilots have until Nov. 15, 2017, to submit completed application packages, including physical exams, to the Air Force Personnel Center.
May 5, 2017
Academy cadets compete in UAS competition

The Air Force Academy took second place to the Naval Academy at the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency sponsored unmanned aerial systems Swarm Competition, April 23-25 at Camp Roberts, California.
Feb. 17, 2016
It’s a bird, it’s a plane … it’s a drone

Due to popularity and past holiday sales, the amount of drones has soared. The Federal Aviation Administration estimated more than one million drones were sold during the year-end holiday season. With that many new drones added to existing numbers, federal, state and local officials are concerned
Nov. 13, 2015
Global Hawk reaches new milestone, helps in fight against ISIL

As the morning sun beat down on its nearly 131-foot wingspan, the EQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft descended from its 60,000-foot perch for the 500th time, coming to rest at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Nov. 11.
April 2, 2015
Reaper deploys live weapons on maritime training target

An MQ-9 Reaper successfully hit a sea-going target with an AGM-114 Hellfire missile during a joint service training exercise over the Gulf of Mexico on March 17.
Nov. 10, 2014
ISR aircraft hones in on strategic agility

Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities have been in high demand from combatant commanders. In order to meet this new operational demand, Air Force officials answered the call back in 2008 by rapidly acquiring and deploying the MC-12W Liberty.
Oct. 21, 2014
ISR: A critical capability for 21st century warfare

The progressive adaptations and breakthroughs made in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance arena have changed the way wars are fought, and the way commanders think about the battlespace.
Sept. 27, 2014
U.S. military, partner nations conduct airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq and Syria

U.S. and partner nation military forces continued to attack ISIL terrorists in Syria Sept. 26 and 27, using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft to conduct seven airstrikes. Separately, U.S. military forces used attack aircraft to conduct three airstrikes against ISIL in Iraq.
Aug. 14, 2014
New 'urban beat cop' surveillance system to keep military operators out of harm’s way

In an urban (non-combat) environment, information is typically collected by local law enforcement officers who are “walking their beat,” officers can become familiar with areas of the city by observing, interpreting and understanding what they see on a daily basis.
June 24, 2014
Undermanned but not overwhelmed: AGE maintainers meet mission requirements

Doing more with less is something that the Airmen of the 432nd Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment have mastered. The growth of responsibilities, however, has been no match for the short-staffed crew.
May 22, 2014
DOD sends UAV, 80 Airmen to help Nigerian search

The Defense Department's addition of an unmanned aerial vehicle and 80 Air Force troops to U.S. efforts supporting Nigeria's search for over 200 missing schoolgirls has turned the mission into an air operation. The UAV system and Air Force personnel were deployed not to Nigeria but to neighboring
Nov. 8, 2013
From aerodromes to Reaper, RPAs push limits of technology

The RPA actually got its start as early as 1896, when something called aerodromes at the time, were used to test the capabilities of new flying devices and to test if it was even possible for a heavier-than-air craft to achieve sustained flight. In May 1896, Dr. Samuel Langley proved that mechanical

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