March 27, 2025 In his confirmation hearing, Meink stresses the need for speed, innovation Dr. Troy E. Meink appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his nomination to be the next SecAF.
March 27, 2025 Airmen at 105th AW modernize C-17 fleet with microvanes The 105th Airlift Wing is playing a fundamental role in a modernization initiative that will save the Air Force over $14 million annually.
Feb. 10, 2025 ShOC-N Capstone, Human-Machine Teaming experimentation to optimize the kill chain The 805th Combat Training Squadron, also known as the Shadow Operations Center – Nellis, or ShOC-N, executed its bi-annual capstone event at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
Feb. 7, 2025 DAF announces Spark Tank 2025 finalists DAF leaders announced the finalists of the 2025 Spark Tank competition made up of premier innovation ideas by Airmen and Guardians seeking sponsorship to bring their concepts to life.
Jan. 29, 2025 DAF Safety announces next generation safety reporting The next iteration of digital safety reporting is here with the release of the new SAFEREP App.
Dec. 31, 2024 Navigating change: US Air Force, Space Force surgeon general discusses transformative leadership Lt. Gen. John DeGoes discusses transformative leadership and how it is rooted in purposeful communication, adaptability, and a commitment to the Air Force core values.
Dec. 6, 2024 Around the Air Force: Remote Start System, Engine Cover Prototype, and Fuel Efficiency Technology In this week’s Around the Air Force, a new remote start system for the KC-46A Pegasus, new B-52 engine covers prevent icing and damage in extreme cold, and a program to reduce drag on aircraft increases aerodynamic efficiency and flexibility while reducing fuel costs.
Dec. 4, 2024 AFCEC awards leases for 5G service at all CONUS bases In collaboration with the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the AFCEC Installations Directorate granted 25-year leases to private entities to install commercial broadband networks at DAF installations in the United States.
Nov. 26, 2024 CMSAF Leadership Library: November 2024 Chief Flosi presents the new CMSAF Leadership Library
Nov. 19, 2024 Innovation Lab pioneers remote start system for the KC-46 Pegasus The APRUSS uses remote activation, cutting down on mission response times and enhancing mission efficiency by ensuring the aircraft is ready when crews arrive at the aircraft.
Nov. 15, 2024 Around the Air Force: Allvin Emphasizes Integration, SECAF Highlights Air Mobility Forces, and the Squadron Innovation Fund Marketplace In this week’s look Around the Air Force, CSAF emphasizes integration with allies and partners, SecAF highlights air mobility force’s growing role in GPC, and the new SIF Marketplace revolutionizes how innovation is funded and fostered across the service. (Hosted by Staff Sgt. Milton Hamilton)
Nov. 6, 2024 DAF announces 2024 Spark Tank winner A prototype F-16 Fighting Falcon cockpit collapsible ladder for agile combat employment and contingency operations emerged as the 2024 Spark Tank winner at the Pentagon.
Nov. 1, 2024 Air Force launches new SIF Marketplace to drive innovation across the force The marketplace is a virtual platform designed to empower Airmen to actively develop and support innovative ideas to address operational challenges and improve processes throughout the Air Force.
Sept. 20, 2024 DAF leaders reaffirm commitment to reoptimization for Great Power Competition The 2024 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference, hosted by the Air and Space Forces Association, offered DAF senior leaders an opportunity to share their views on modernization and readiness in response to emerging security threats, while reaffirming the DAF’s commitment to reoptimization.
Sept. 19, 2024 Innovative mobile app streamlines airfield assessment for airborne operations The new mobile application is designed to streamline the process of assessing and certifying airfields for aircraft landings, particularly in austere environments providing real-time data to support rapid decision-making in the field.
Sept. 11, 2024 National Robot Rodeo ropes in emerging EOD technologies With over 25 industry partners in attendance, the goal of this year’s rodeo was to put technologies and prototypes into the hands of bomb experts in the earlier stages of development to test their capabilities, identify issues and evaluate equipment that could make its way to the field.
Aug. 27, 2024 20AF completes first NAF-wide Remote Code Change Twentieth Air Force completed the first-ever NAF-wide Remote Code Change eliminating the need for physical installations by maintenance teams at each launch facility.
Aug. 16, 2024 CSAF visits Team Robins CSAF visited Robins Air Force Base to speak with Airmen and receive mission updates on both legacy platforms and new missions being established at the installation.
July 31, 2024 AFWERX, MTSI evaluate electric vertical takeoff, landing aircraft for military applications Experts from AFWERX have been working with Beavercreek, Ohio-based defense contractor Modern Technology Solutions Inc., to evaluate Pivotal’s BlackFly electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
July 30, 2024 Marines join DAF-MIT AI Accelerator for first time The inclusion of Marines underscores the innovation needs and capabilities of service members across the Department of Defense.
July 26, 2024 AI-powered agile talent identification systems support joint force The launch of an artificial intelligence-powered platform for uncovering and matching talent across the joint force is an important step moving DoD ahead.
July 25, 2024 AFRL aims to accelerate development of software-enabled weapons AFRL and AFWERX held a Collider event at exploring commercial solutions for software-enabled weapons during a two-day conference in Alabama.
July 24, 2024 AFIMSC comptroller app gives time back to Airmen, Guardians The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center’s Financial Management Directorate has a new app that’s saving comptroller customers time and eliminating the frustration of sitting in waiting areas for appointments.
July 24, 2024 BESPIN strengthens software innovation partnership with RSAF During the visit, BESPIN's leadership team engaged with key Republic of Singapore Air Force representatives about projects leveraging technology to address complex challenges and deliver impactful solutions.
July 3, 2024 Mountain Home AFB wins annual installation award The award recognizes the outstanding and innovative efforts of the teams of people who operate and maintain U.S. military installations, selecting one base from each military service, plus the Defense Logistics Agency, each year.
May 16, 2024 DAF e-Learning adds Microsoft Teams app The effort is part of the command’s deliberate development and installation of IT systems that support learning, advanced learning applications and data analytics so Airmen can obtain and exchange information.
May 13, 2024 Modeling, Simulation Summit: Following through with training transformation The third annual 2024 Department of the Air Force Modeling and Simulation Summit was held at the Grand Hyatt River Walk in San Antonio, Texas, May 7-9.
May 7, 2024 AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAF The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center’s Innovation and Improvement Division is transforming the way Airmen do business by integrating cutting-edge data-prep and data-visualization tools across the Department of the Air Force.
May 3, 2024 Allvin: Aligning Air Force’s approach is key to reoptimizing for Great Power Competition Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin discusses the need to solidify the Air Force’s currently splintered approach and unify the fragmented nature of planning and operations.
April 24, 2024 Project Arc: Delivering tailored innovations to 435th AGOW warfighters A Project Arc team integrated with 435th AGOW units and conducted a broad range of technological support and advancements to improve mission accomplishment and solve problems encountered by warfighters in the field.
April 5, 2024 Around the Air Force: Wearable Cooling System, WAGGI Survey, Specialized Drones Tested at Travis AFB In this week’s look around the Air Force, a cooling system combats heat stress for warfighters, a WAGGI survey goes out to thousands of DAF employees, and an autonomous response system is tested for command and control of unmanned vehicles.
March 13, 2024 AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition The colonel met with technologists, startups and venture capitalists at South by Southwest to discuss national and global security challenges and the role AFWERX plays in acquiring the cutting-edge technologies needed to meet them.
March 5, 2024 AFRL’s XQ-67A makes 1st successful flight The XQ-67A is the first of a second generation of autonomous collaborative platforms paving the way for other aircraft “species” to be rapidly replicated on a standard genus chassis.
Feb. 16, 2024 AFWERX showcases innovation at AFA Warfare Symposium; Spark Tank Finalist voting open until March 21 Representatives from each AFWERX division – AFVentures, Prime, Spark, and SpaceWERX – were on hand to discuss how small businesses and start-ups can team up with Airman and Guardian talent to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF.
Jan. 31, 2024 US, allies and partners integrate for dynamic targeting kill-chain automation experiments The 805th CTS, or ShOC-N, executed their annual capstone by experimenting with and developing TTPs for integrated two-way kill-chain automation between the operational and tactical C2 including battle management levels, to create competitive advantages for the U.S., its allies and partners.
Jan. 25, 2024 DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program The PPTE is a competitive, acquisition-focused professional development program designed to grow partnership opportunities and increase communication between government and industry.
Jan. 18, 2024 DAF streamlines awards process myDecs Reimagined, a new application on the myFSS platform, will be a single-page experience and allows ad-hoc routing to any myFSS user. The new application also eliminates the need for multiple screens found in the previous version.
Jan. 8, 2024 CMSAF Leadership Library: January 2024 Chief Bass presents 5 new additions to the CMSAF Leadership Library including Brief: Make a Bigger Impact by Saying Less; We Don't Want YOU, Uncle Sam: Examining the Military Recruiting Crisis with Generation Z; ColdFusion Presents: New Thinking; and more.
Dec. 20, 2023 DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists The Spark Tank team presented the top 15 ideas identified through pairwise voting and subject matter expert evaluations from this year’s pool of submissions. DAF senior leaders convened to review and discuss the merits of each idea, reaching consensus to identify Spark Tank 2024’s six finalists.
Dec. 18, 2023 Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in Hawaii A hackathon is an innovation event commonly employed by technology companies in which teams develop prototypes in response to enterprise challenges associated with data.
Dec. 7, 2023 Restoring an F-35A Lightning II: A collaborative endeavor F-35 maintenance experts here are taking on a seemingly impossible task – stitching two mishap damaged aircraft together into a restored, fully operational F-35A Lighting II.
Dec. 3, 2023 USAFE-AFAFRICA hosts multinational medical knowledge exchange The exchange granted the participants a chance to trade information and experience with one another to further integrate with their unique missions and form best practices.
Nov. 24, 2023 Around the Air Force: Allvin Welcome Ceremony, Spouse Business Benefit, Childcare Subletting Expand In this week’s look around the Air Force, the new Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. David W. Allvin, is welcomed by the force, a new benefit aids spouse-owned small businesses, and a new app helps military families find short-term childcare.
Nov. 19, 2023 US Air Force upgrades eye protection for aircrew Comprised of eight different devices and known as the Block 3 family of products, the eyewear will provide protection from laser threats and introduces a combined laser and ballistic protection capability for the first time.
Nov. 15, 2023 DAF expanding childcare subletting app to all child development centers Kinderspot was the top idea at the 2020 AFIMSC Innovation Rodeo. AFIMSC initially awarded the project $333,000 and secured additional funding for development through a price-matching Small Business Innovation Research contract.
Oct. 30, 2023 Valuable Air Force, dual-use startup connections made at showcase event The new merge of Banshee Innovation Training and Air Force Labs with MassChallenge programs culminated in a showcase event at MassChallenge’s Boston offices Oct. 25.
Oct. 23, 2023 Digital design concept wins AFMC Spark Tank Integrated Capabilities Challenge The AFMC Spark Tank is an annual competition that leverages the inherent innovation of Airmen and Guardians, empowering them to use their problem-solving skills and creativity to solve the service’s most critical needs.
Oct. 20, 2023 Around the Air Force: NATO Exercise Toxic Trip 23, Energy Action Month, Clean Geothermal Energy In this week’s look around the Air Force, Toxic Trip 23 brings together allies and partners in a CBRN exercise, Energy Action Month advances new technology for the joint fight and geothermal prototype facilities deliver clean energy to harness the Earth’s natural heat and power installations.
Sept. 27, 2023 DoD to establish AI Battle Labs in EUCOM, INDOPACOM These multi-classification labs will collect operational theater data — ranging from logistics to cyber — and share it with the DoD enterprise, providing central hubs for digital integration among federal entities, industry, coalition partners and American citizenry.
Sept. 14, 2023 AFWERX 'Spark Street' takes over 2023 Air, Space and Cyber Conference AFWERX showcased the innovation from Spark Cells around the world at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Sept. 11-13. The aisle of four booth spaces at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center was called "Spark Street" where hundreds of
Sept. 3, 2023 Popular AFRL invention supports joint military needs with mobile medical documentation BATDOK is a smartphone application for mobile medical documentation that replaces pen and paper records.
Aug. 30, 2023 AFWERX hosts first in-person Collider event since COVID-19 pandemic More than 20 industry partners attended the first in-person AFWERX Collider event in over three years to solve warfighter problems at Fed Supernova in Austin, Texas.
Aug. 25, 2023 Around the Air Force: NCO Retraining Revamp, Aviator Retention, Quantum Navigation In this week’s look around the Air Force, retraining for career Airmen evolves, a demonstration program aims to keep rated aviators in service and artificial intelligence paired with Earth’s magnetic field may guide navigators in the future. (Hosted by Staff Sgt. Jazmin Granger)
Aug. 24, 2023 New platform IGNITEs defense innovation AFWERX has launched IGNITE, a platform where defense users can search for and easily interact with thousands of small businesses that have secured previous Department of the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research or Small Business Technology Transfer awards.
Aug. 19, 2023 7th MXG leverages new technology The 7th Maintenance Group recently fielded its first-ever wireless communication system during a B-1B Lancer launch, becoming the first B-1B unit to receive and utilize the headsets.
Aug. 16, 2023 DAF selects JetZero to develop blended wing body aircraft prototype The Department of the Air Force selected JetZero for the next phase of a blended wing body prototype aircraft project Aug. 16.
Aug. 16, 2023 Recipients of Harold Brown Award 2021, 2022 honored at Pentagon ceremony Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall hosted an award ceremony at the Pentagon for recipients of the 2021 and 2022 Harold Brown Award, Aug. 8.
Aug. 14, 2023 DoD announces inaugural innovation challenge on talent management The Talent Management Innovation Challenge encourages DoD military and civilian employees at all levels to submit promising talent management ideas with potential to make an impact across the Department in recruiting, retaining, and promoting a diverse force.
Aug. 7, 2023 CMSAF Leadership Library: August 2023 Chief Bass presents four new additions to the CMSAF Leadership Library: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, War Without Rules, Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment and The TechTank Podcast
Aug. 3, 2023 AFRL AI agents successfully pilot XQ-58A Valkyrie uncrewed jet aircraft Test units executed the flight in the Eglin Test and Training Complex. The flight builds upon four years of partnership that began with the Skyborg Vanguard and the Autonomous Aircraft Experimentation (AAx) programs.
July 31, 2023 CSAF Leadership Library: July 2023 Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. presents five new additions to the CSAF Leadership Library.
July 26, 2023 Connected battlespace modernizes fight in Indo-Pacific Utah Air National Guard’s 151st Air Refueling Wing, working with the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Test Center, sent their modified KC-135 Stratotanker to Kadena Air Base for use in the Western Pacific during Northern Edge 23-2.
July 25, 2023 Multi-capable equipment initiative wins 2023 AFIMSC Innovation Rodeo An idea to deliver multi-capable equipment for agile combat employment operations won the 2023 Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center Innovation Rodeo July 21 in San Antonio.
July 16, 2023 Project Arc seeks innovators to solve DAF challenges The program is looking for Airmen and Guardians from all occupations who are obsessed with tech, have a curiosity to tinker and want to solve problems.
June 29, 2023 AFWERX integrates uncrewed traffic management to enhance safety, security AFWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate have installed an Uncrewed Aircraft System Traffic Management, or UTM, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
June 21, 2023 DAF chief scientist, MIT host AI workshop Dr. Victoria Coleman, chief scientist of the Air Force, in collaboration with the Department of the Air Force-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Accelerator, hosted a foundational innovation and technology education workshop June 5-8.
June 21, 2023 MQ-9 Reaper completes first mission using dirt landing zone Air commandos conducted the first MQ-9 landing on a dirt landing zone; providing a glimpse of what is possible as transformation continues throughout the remotely piloted aircraft enterprise.
June 8, 2023 AFMC innovation team revolutionizes stealth fighter fleet An F-35A Lightning II recently took flight with a complement of software applications developed by government and industry providers previously tested on the F-22 Raptor – demonstrating for the first time the ability to use the same tactical software applications on both stealth fighters.
May 31, 2023 Seeing into the future: AF looks to AI for data analysis Tomorrow’s operating environment requires Airmen to have the most accurate and up-to-date intelligence to act quickly in real time, today. Headquarters Air Staff have developed six software programs for career fields using AI to conduct data analysis.
May 26, 2023 MagNav project successfully demonstrates real-time magnetic navigation In a groundbreaking achievement, the DAF-MIT AI Accelerator MagNav project performed real-time magnetic navigation aboard a C-17A Globemaster III in flight, becoming the first organization to successfully demonstrate the technology in real-time on a DoD aircraft.
May 23, 2023 Pacific Air Forces Airmen test Next Generation Aircrew Protection equipment Airmen with the 15th Wing and 154th Fighter Squadron on Hickam Air Force Base tested and trained new CBRN protection techniques on the F-22 Raptor.
May 16, 2023 Cadet team conducts robotics research The cadet-driven research focuses on gathering data and developing solutions to integrate a Ghost Robotics Vision 60 robot into base defense.
May 10, 2023 DAF senior leaders offer dialogue on defense innovation amid strategic competition Air Force Senior Leaders were among speakers at the Ash Carter Exchange on Innovation and National Security May 9.
April 9, 2023 Upgraded F-16 rejoins 8th FW An upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcon returned to 8th Fighter Wing operations after AFLCMC’s Post Block Integration Team provided the aircraft with the first wave of 22 modifications designed to improve lethality to meet the needs of current and future operations.
March 12, 2023 3D printed parts for the C-5M deliver new capabilities Maintainers and engineers from the C-5 System Program Office began to incorporate 3D-printed parts in C-5M Super Galaxy maintenance last month.
March 8, 2023 Spark Tank 2023 finalists take center stage at AFA Warfare Symposium Six Spark Tank finalist teams presented their ideas at the Air and Space Forces Association 2023 Warfare Symposium.
Feb. 21, 2023 Voting open now for Department of the Air Force Spark Tank 2023 finalists Airmen and Guardians may now vote for one of the top six selected ideas in Spark Tank, the Department of the Air Force’s capstone innovation campaign.
Feb. 16, 2023 Vice Chief’s Challenge calls Airmen to operationalize Agile Combat Employment The goal of the DAF 2023 Vice Chief's Challenge is to find innovative responses to challenges affecting Agile Combat Employment.
Feb. 2, 2023 53rd Wing’s MUSTANGS: the future of agile data capture and ACE capability Part of the Crowd-Sourced Flight Data program, MUSTANGS is a mobile vehicle that can download, process, and offload important data from Quick Reaction Instrumentation Package-equipped aircraft without the need for fixed, operational test infrastructure.
Jan. 31, 2023 Department of the Air Force to conduct hackathon The Air Force will conduct its next “BRAVO” hackathon in March, and any U.S. citizen may apply.
Jan. 29, 2023 Innovation Industry Days 2023 fosters partnerships, delivers solutions to I&MS challenges More than 2,000 small business, academic and government officials gathered Jan. 24-26 in San Antonio for Innovation Industry Days.
Jan. 21, 2023 Yokota AB aids Space Systems Command in historic US-Japan space partnership The 374th Mission Support Group and 730th Air Mobility Squadron assisted the USSF Space Systems Command to deliver the first of two payloads on Japan’s Geo-based Quasi-Zenith Satellite System, Jan. 17.
Jan. 14, 2023 AFMC releases 2023 Strategic Plan The AFMC plan directly aligns to the seven DAF Operational Imperatives and focuses on critical organize, train and equip functions and capabilities delivered through an integrated center construct across the materiel lifecycle.
Jan. 9, 2023 ABMS moves forward on cloud-based C2 The DAF’s Advanced Battle Management System program awarded a $112 million contract to Science Applications International Corporation as the ABMS cloud-based command and control software integrator.
Dec. 19, 2022 AFRL launches wearable biomolecular sensors program for DoD, transfers technology to Sensate Biosystems The Air Force Research Laboratory has partnered with the Nano Bio-Materials Consortium and Case Western Reserve University to create wearable sensors that measure biomarkers in Airmen and Guardians.
Dec. 6, 2022 Aerodynamic technologies for mobility aircraft promise high return on investment As part of its effort to increase readiness and capability, the Air Force is working to introduce aerodynamic technologies on mobility aircraft to improve airflow, reduce maintenance issues, increase payload capability, and decrease fuel demand.
Dec. 5, 2022 AFCENT’s innovation Task Force 99 establishes ops, HQ Less than two months following the establishment of Task Force 99, Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) commander, visited the team at their new location for a peek behind the curtain of the command’s innovation powerhouse Dec. 1.
Dec. 4, 2022 AFGSC takes next steps in making Air Force’s first hypersonic weapon Barksdale AFB personnel have successfully taken the first steps toward implementing the Air Force’s first air-launched hypersonic weapon. The Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, is scheduled to be operational as early as fall 2023.
Dec. 3, 2022 New 'Spirit Realm’ B-2 Spirit software factory keeps fleet operational — enabling combat relevancy for years to come A new software factory using the Department of Defense reference design has pushed the aircraft’s evolution further forward.
Nov. 25, 2022 Air, Space Forces transition to AFWERX 3.0 AFWERX will release a series of new initiatives in support of its 3.0 evolution. Air and Space Force leaders will detail new opportunities for stakeholder engagement during a live broadcast Dec. 14.
Nov. 19, 2022 Airmen innovate, ensure HH-60W’s first deployment A team of 41st Rescue Squadron and Rescue Generation Squadron Airmen overcame a shortfall with an innovative solution, ensuring the HH-60W Jolly Green II aircraft's first deployment.
Nov. 12, 2022 Missile wings conduct remote code change with ICU II The 90th, 91st and 341st Missile Wings have begun the process of converting their missile alert and launch facilities to ICU II, a system that allows for a remote code change – and will save the Air Force millions of dollars in resources and labor hours.
Nov. 9, 2022 Autonomous aircraft testing arrives at Eglin AFB The 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin AFB took possession of the first of two government-owned Kratos XQ‑58A Valkyrie, a low-cost, high-performance uncrewed air vehicle.
Nov. 5, 2022 Project Arc team works to make technical Airmen more operationally relevant Project Arc, one of the latest groups aiming to empower Airmen, is working to make technical Airmen more operationally relevant across the Air Force.
Nov. 2, 2022 McConnell AFB completes KC-46 flight with limited crew The 22nd Air Refueling Wing flew a KC-46A Pegasus without a copilot to validate procedures for operating with a limited aircrew for certain potential high-end combat scenarios.
Oct. 31, 2022 DAF-MIT AI Accelerator tackles challenge of cultivating, growing world-class AI workforce This month, the Department of the Air Force-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Artificial Intelligence Accelerator commenced their Lead AI pilot.
Oct. 27, 2022 386th AEW stands up satellite innovation cell The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing stood up Task Force 99.M, the first satellite innovation cell under U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s Task Force 99 at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait.
Oct. 21, 2022 Commentary: Lessons from our past – Claire Chennault on Agile Combat Employment As the Air Force leans into Agile Combat Employment, lessons can be learned from Claire Chennault's Flying Tigers and how they operated in China during WWII.
Oct. 4, 2022 36th EWS conceptualize Reclamation of Electronic Attack Pods program The 36th Electronic Warfare Squadron used their skills and ingenuity to conceptualize the Reclamation of Electronic Attack Pods program for ALQ-184 and ALQ-131 Electronic Attack Pods.
Oct. 2, 2022 AFTC kicks off new digital engineering efforts The office will focus on creating a digital governance structure and facilitate on-going and new digital acquisition transformation activities across the enterprise.