F-15s, F-16s and C-130s arrive in Poland for an Agile Combat Employment exercise

F-15s, F-16s, C-130s Deploy for Exercise in Poland

USAF F-15s, F-16s, and C-130s are training in Poland in an agile combat employment exercise that comes as Russia has executed a massive buildup on the border with neighboring Ukraine, though U.S. officials say the exercise was long-planned. F-15Es from the 492nd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, England; F-16s from the 480th Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; and C-130s from the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, arrived in Poland for the ACE event on April 19. After the event, the F-15Es will remain to train with the Polish air force.
Ingenuity

NASA Aircraft Makes First Controlled, Powered Flight On Mars

“Ingenuity,” a four-pound helicopter carried to Mars on NASA's “Perseverance” lander/rover, made the first powered, controlled flight on another planet April 19, achieving an altitude of 10 feet. Four more flights, going as high as 50 meters high and 600 meters away, are planned in the next two weeks. The technology demo may have Earthbound applications for operations in extremely thin air, such as in very high mountains.
Bass and Brown

New Enlisted Force Development Strategy Coming Soon

The Air Force will unveil a new enlisted force development strategy this summer to try to help Airmen get the most out of their Air Force careers, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass said April 19, in a virtual chat with Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. “It’s really about talent management. … It’s about us thinking differently about how we manage that talent.”
B-52 Guam

Task Force of B-52s Deploy To Andersen

Four B-52s deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on April 17 in the latest Pacific bomber task force mission. The B-52s, from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., will train with joint services and allied nations during the deployment, according to a Pacific Air Forces release.
Senior Airman Cassidy B. Basney

Outstanding: Meet Senior Airman Cassidy B. Basney

Senior Airman Cassidy B. Basney, with the 50th Operations Support Squadron, 50th Space Wing, is among the Space Force's first-ever 12 Outstanding Airmen, Guardians, and Civilians of the year announced April 13. The Air Force Association will shine a spotlight on each of the 12 winners over the next few weeks.

Radar Sweep

Three Industry Teams Demonstrate Capability to Destroy Small Drones at Yuma

Defense News

Three vendors demonstrated capabilities to destroy small drones using low-collateral effects interceptors at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz., earlier this month as part of a bigger Pentagon effort to develop enduring systems capable of combating the growing and evolving threat, an Army official told Defense News in an April 15 interview.

PODCAST: Decision-Making at the Speed of Sound

Mitchell Institute Aerospace Advantage podcast

The Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies released episode 19 of its Aerospace Advantage podcast—From the F-4 to the F-35: Decision-Making at the Speed of Sound. Although generations of combat aircraft may share similarities, their abilities to harness an information advantage are vastly different. Retired Maj. Gen. Larry "Stutz" Stutzriem, Heather "Lucky" Penney, and Justin "Hasard" Lee discuss this evolution from their personal perspectives via the F-4, F-16, and F-35.

Taiwan Says Seeking Long-Range Cruise Missiles from US

Reuters

Taiwan is seeking to acquire long-range, air-launched cruise missiles from the United States, a defence official said, as the Chinese-claimed island bolsters its forces in the face of increasing pressure from Beijing.

PODCAST: Why DOD Appointments Are Moving Slowly and the Fallout Quitting Afghanistan

DEFAERO REPORT Daily Podcast

Interesting insight and commentary on the state of Pentagon nominations by former chairman of the Defense Business Board Michael Bayer, and retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro and chairman of the National Defense Industrial Association. Then former Pentagon Comptroller Dov Zakheim, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Michael Herson, President and CEO, American Defense International; and Lisa Curtis, former National Security Council senior director of south and Central Asia and now with the Center for a New American Security discuss the second-order effects of President Biden’s decision to exit Afghanistan by 9/11.

One More Thing

‘Stargazer’—Last Flying L-1011 Tri-Star in the World

Aerotech News

“Stargazer” is an L-1011 commercial transport aircraft, formerly with Air Canada, modified to serve as the launch platform for Orbital’s air-launched Pegasus rocket, as well as a platform for airborne research projects.