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U.S. Air Force News

  • Air Force Tech Report: Chem light replacement

    Chemical illumination has been a useful tool for military operations for years in the form of chem lights or glow sticks. However, glow sticks could be a hindrance to carry around. The Air Force Research Lab has exponentially lightened the load to allow chemical illumination in the form of a crayon,

  • Air Force Tech Report: Pilot Training Next

    The Air Force is searching for new ways to train pilots more efficiently and quickly. Leveraging virtual and augmented reality is a key part of the experimental Pilot Training Next program. It’s an effort that could help streamline the Air Force effort to quickly get qualified pilots in the air.

  • Air Force Tech Report: Ground Based Radar Early Warning System

    The U.S. Air Force maintains seven ground based early warning radar systems capable of detecting attacks and conducting general space surveillance and satellite tracking, located in seven separate locations around the globe, helping U.S. forces stand ready to respond in a moments notice.

  • Air Force Tech Report: Thor Weather System

    FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) – The latest step in a long-running weather prediction arms race is a supercomputer created by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, and used by the 557th Weather Wing to get critical information to warfighters. The Thor Weather System provides accurate

  • Tech Report: MC-12 Liberty

    FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- The MC-12W Liberty provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to ground forces all over the world. In this Air Force Tech Report, learn about the capabilities of the MC-12W.The Air Force Tech Report is a video series that gives viewers a quick look at

  • Tech Report: Flight simulators

    FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- Flight simulators help keep future pilots safe by giving them a realistic flying experience before getting into the cockpit of a real aircraft.

  • Tech Report: Air Force Research Lab

    The Air Force Research Laboratory discovers, develops, and integrates affordable warfighting technologies for the Air Force in air, space and cyberspace. In this Air Force Tech Report, learn about the science and technology of AFRL.

  • Tech Report: Adaptive optics

    Space will soon be a contested environment, and the U.S. Air Force is taking steps to ensure it has the best possible observation and information about what is out there. The Air Force Tech Report is a video series that gives viewers a quick look at current technology the Air Force uses to fly,

  • Tech Report: CV-22 Osprey

    The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. Its mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply

  • Tech Report: High-altitude pressure suits

    Maintaining the atmosphere the human body is accustomed to has been a challenge plaguing high-altitude flight, and the Air Force has spent years developing suits just for it.

  • Tech Report: Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency

    Never leave an Airman behind. In this Air Force Tech Report, we look at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency as they search far and wide for any remains of service members lost during conflicts to ensure closure is brought to their families.

  • Tech Report: Hurricane Hunters

    The Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron use high-tech equipment called a “dropsonde” to aid in the forecasting of hurricanes and other tropical storms.

  • Tech Report: The B-52 Stratofortress

    For the last 60 years, the B-52 Stratofortress has had an incredible career as the U.S. military’s main bomber. Even though it's 60 years old, it still has plenty of years of service left.

  • Tech Report: A-29 Super Tucano

    The A-29 Super Tucano is a turboprop aircraft designed for light attack, counter insurgency and close air support. In January 2016, the U.S. Air Force delivered the first four of 20 A-29s to the Afghan Air Force. The Super Tucano will replace the Mi-35 attack helicopter providing a monumental leap

  • Tech Report: Orbital launch systems

    The Atlas V, Delta IV and Falcon 9 are three rockets used by the Air Force to launch national security payloads into space. For many years, the United Launch Alliance has been the exclusive manufacturer of rockets used by the Air Force for national security; however, in 2015 the Air Force certified

  • Tech Report: Auto GCAS

    While in the air, losing track of the ground could lead to a bad thing. To help prevent a catastrophic incident from happening, the Air Force Research Lab developed the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System.

  • Tech Report: Air Force Prize

    The Air Force is energizing domestic research and development with a $2 million prize for a lightweight, fuel-efficient, small turbine engine. This innovative acquisition approach will advance the technologies needed to support the world's strongest Air Force.

  • Tech Report: The KC-46A Pegasus

    For over 50 years the KC-135 Stratotanker has been the Air Force's premiere in-flight refueling tanker -- but that's all about to change.

  • Tech Report: Adaptive optics

    Space will soon be contested, and the Air Force is taking steps to ensure it has the best possible observation and information about what is out there.

  • Tech Report: The Global Hawk

    It seems the coolest new toys out there involve drones. Check out this week's Tech Report, which highlights one of the most prestigious of them all: the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

  • Tech Report: Dropsonde

    The Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron use a cool piece of tech called a “dropsonde” to help forecast hurricanes and other tropical storms.

  • Tech Report: E-3 Sentry (AWACS)

    The E-3 Sentry (AWACS) is a modified Boeing 707 commercial airframe with a rotating radar dome and serves as an integrated command and control battle management, surveillance, target detection, and tracking platform.

  • Tech Report: GPS

    The Global Positioning System is a constellation of orbiting satellites that provides navigation data to military and civilian users all over the world. The system is operated and controlled by the 50th Space Wing, located at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

  • Tech Report: Aces II

    The ejection seat is the last option for fighter pilots to use when things go wrong in the cockpit and they’re unable to save their jet. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how the seat works.

  • Tech Report: The F-16 Fighting Falcon

    The Air Force Tech Report is a video series that airs every other week and gives viewers a quick look at current technology the Air Force uses to fly, fight and win. This week's report focuses on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has