Pentagon’s F-22 Plan Is Not a Recipe for Stability:

Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) believes the Pentagon over the past two years has strayed from its long-run effort to introduce stability in major acquisition efforts by laying out procurement plans for USAF’s new F-22A stealth fighter that “have been anything...

What’s This F-22 Structural Problem?:

A news report about an alleged aft fuselage structural problem on the F-22 has caught the attention of House Armed Services TacAir subcommittee Chairman Curt Weldon. Weldon noted that the Air Force and Lockheed Martin are working to resolve the...

Lone Engine May Look Good in the Short Term:

Rep. Curt Weldon says the cancellation of the Joint Strike Fighter alternate engine is one of the two “most significant issues”—the other is the F-22’s new procurement plan—facing the House Armed Services TacAir subcommittee this year. In Weldon’s view, the...

Leaving Iceland?:

The Bush Administration has informed the Government of Iceland that it plans to draw down this fall four US Air Force F-15 Eagles and USAF rescue helicopter squadron from NAS Keflavik, Iceland, a base that the US has used since...

Allard Vows to Fight Space Command Downgrade:

Rumors have been flying that the Air Force plans to cut, trim, or realign more headquarters elements—particularly major commands and numbered air forces—as it seeks ways to eliminate around 50,000 personnel by 2011. Speculation has run high on a potential...

The JSF Flight is Leaving:

Lockheed Martin officials have laid down the “sign-up-now” or “get-less-later” gauntlet for countries considering buying Joint Strike Fighters. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia is one of the countries that might face increased costs down the line. The Herald...

A New Multipurpose Wing Is Born:

The Air Force officially has redesignated the host unit—the 36th Air Base Wing—at Andersen AFB, Guam, as the 36th Wing. Officials say that the new designation would better reflect the unit’s role overseeing the now-continuous rotation of fighter, bomber, and...

Base Protection UAV Shows Off:

Northrop Grumman has shown off to the Air Force its new KillerBee low-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, which the company says will provide surveillance and force protection for military bases, shipping lanes, borders, or convoys. The demonstration took place at...

US-Japan Team Saves Divers:

A local Okinawa resident and US Marine were lost off the Okinawa coast on March 12, after becoming trapped in the bottom of an 80-foot cliff near a popular dive site on the island. Combining efforts, airmen from Kadena Air...

Eagles and MiGs Fly Wing to Wing:

Pilots from Malaysia and the US have joined forces for Cope Taufan 06—a three-week air-to-air training exercise, designed to sharpen air combat tactics and build closer relations between the Pacific allies. Cope Taufan—Taufan meaning “big storm” in Malaysian—is a biannual...

Dive, Airman, Dive:

USAF has graduated the first airmen from its new Air Force Combat Dive Course, conducted at the Panama City, Fla., Naval Support Activity. The 17 special operations airmen completed more than six weeks of high-risk training, including a final test...

Academy Gives a Tradition a Fresh Face:

New Air Force Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. John Regni, has brought back an old tradition, giving the transition rite of movement from fourth to upper class status a new look. The academy stopped what’s called “recognition week” three years ago...

The Public Changes its Mind on Rumsfeld:

Asked what type of job they think Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is doing, Americans overwhelmingly say his performance is “only fair” to “poor,” according to a recent Harris Poll. The survey also showed that Rumsfeld’s positive rating was at 78...

Intelligence Community Grows:

The Intelligence Community is a formal federal government body comprising organizations with a role in national intelligence. Recently the Drug Enforcement Administration became the 16th member of the community. The other 15 are: Air Force Intelligence, Army Intelligence, CIA, Coast...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

March 16, 2006 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 14 4 18 CAS/Armed Recon 36 20 56 Airlift 195 195 Air refueling 29 29 Total 50 24 224 298 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance