Obama: We Will Prevail Over ISIS

The United States is “hitting ISIL harder than ever,” President Obama told reporters Dec. 14 in the Pentagon briefing room. “Coalition aircraft—our fighters, bombers, and drones—have been increasing the pace of airstrikes—nearly 9,000 as of today,” Obama said, noting that...

Long-Range Reaper Goes to War

The MQ-9 extended-range Reaper debuted in combat over Afghanistan, launching from Kandahar Airfield earlier this month, officials announced. Maintainers and General Atomics contractors retrofit roughly half of the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron’s MQ-9s at Kandahar a month after receiving the...

Vietnam Vets to Receive Silver Stars

Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh will present the Silver Star to two Vietnam veterans on Dec. 17, the Air Force announced. CMSgt. Ronald Brodeur and Sgt. Eric Roberts II were part of a helicopter crew shot down in Duc...

2,500th Herc

The 2,500th C-130 airframe produced on Lockheed Martin’s production line at Marietta, Ga., was delivered to the 71st Rescue Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., last week, the company announced. “The Hercules is a global asset and versatile workhorse that is...

Twenty Super Galaxies Left to Go

Lockheed Martin redelivered the 32nd C-5M Super Galaxy upgraded on its conversion line at Marietta, Ga., completing 2015 Galaxy deliveries a week ahead of schedule on Dec. 9, the company announced. Former C-5B, serial number 86-0016, was ferried from Marietta...

Airman Dies After Operation Christmas Drop

An airman assigned to the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota AB, Japan, died Dec. 13 after finishing a training mission at Andersen AFB, Guam, according to an Air Force release. The airman was found unresponsive during post-flight inspections; the cause...

AFA Urges Congress to Fund LRSO Missile

The Air Force Association on Dec. 14 sent a letter to senior leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees urging congress to “stay on track” and fund the nuclear-armed Long-Range Standoff missile, which will eventually replace the air-launched...