Forty years since the Air Force first started thinking about replacing the eight engines on the B-52, the job is finally underway. The re-engining is the centerpiece of an upgrade that will keep the Stratofortress operationally relevant for another 20 to 30 years. Two new F130 engines have been built and if development and testing proceeds as planned, the first re-engined B-52s will be operational in about five years. Two new F130 engines have been built and if development and testing proceeds as planned, the first re-engined B-52s will be operational in about five years.
April 2022
Vol. 105, No. 4
F-35 simulators overcome policy and technical roadblocks to finally communicate effectively with allies' systems.
The Air Force’s competition for innovative Airmen with big ideas is coming into its own. In the first few years, hundreds of ideas poured in from “intrapreneurs”—a hybrid term describing entrepreneurs from inside the organization.
Making the Kessel Run
How a handful of Airmen brought DevOps to USAF, then used it to save more than 123,000 lives.
Beyond Pixie Dust
A framework for understanding and developing autonomy in unmanned aircraft. The Air Force is rapidly evolving new concepts for teaming manned fighters and bombers with autonomous unmanned aircraft to perform strikes, counter-air, electronic warfare, and other missions.
Editorial: Something to Fight For
We find ourselves today on the other side of the deterrence challenge, intimidated by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats of possible nuclear war. Putin’s willingness to break norms others take for granted are destabilizing.
Q&A: Two Chiefs, One Fight
The keynote addresses from the Air Force and Space Force chiefs are highlights of AFA’s major conferences, and the 2022 AFA Warfare Symposium was no exception. But this year’s event featured a unique twist: Air Force Chief Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond shared the stage in a conversation moderated by one of their forerunners, Gen. John P. Jumper, who was the 17th Air Force Chief from 2001-2005. This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Find the full video and a complete transcript at www.AirForceMag.com/AWS22.
Strategy & Policy: Fast-Tracking the Wedgetail
The E-7 was developed by Boeing for the export market. It’s hosted on a 737-700 airframe, and rather than a rotating radome—the iconic, flying-saucer-like feature of the E-3—the Wedgetail uses a large blade-like structure on its back, housing an active electronically scanned array radar.
Prioritizing Ethics and Human Dignity in War
War is hell. Recognizing that, yet still embracing your own and others' humanity, is vital.
Letters
We love letters! Write to us at letters@afa.org. To be published, letters should be timely, relevant and concise. Include your name and location. Letters may be edited for space and the editors have final say on which are published.
Betting on Unmanned Bomber, Fighter ‘Families’
SECAF Frank Kendall believes the future is unmanned—mostly.
USAF’S Big Goals Meet Tech Challenges
The Air Force and the Secretary of Defense should determine the highest priority areas, Schmidt said, and allow innovators to experiment and pursue cutting-edge technologies.
Modernizing the Triad
The U.S. can’t afford to postpone modernization in a tri-polar nuclear world.
Replacing Aging ISR
It’s time for military tech to catch up with military needs. The call was for a new intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability.
Resilience or Bust
For the Space Force, year three is about defining a defense space architecture.
Verbatim
A collection of quotes on air power, space power, and national security issues.
Faces of the Force
Tell us who you think we should highlight here. Write to afmag@afa.org.
Namesakes: Seymour Johnson
Rare is the USAF base that bears the name of a naval officer. There have been only three.
