The Air Force announced Wednesday that it is institutionalizing the remotely piloted aircraft pilot career field by establishing undergraduate RPA training, or URT. “This change is just another step in solidifying our commitment to, and the importance of, this capability...
The Air Force’s senior leadership began a “Corona Top” summit Wednesday at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. This gathering is one of the service’s tri-annual powwows of senior USAF generals from the unified combatant commands and the service’s own major commands. The...
Air Force Secretary Michael Donley on Tuesday visited Whiteman AFB, Mo., to get a close-up look at the 509th Bomb Wing and B-2 stealth bomber operations. “It’s been a great visit,” he said. This was his first visit to Whiteman...
The 62nd Airlift Wing, a C-17 unit at JB Lewis-McChord, Wash., has received “the highest grade possible” in the nuclear surety inspection held at the base from June 1-7. Col. Thomas Freese, Air Mobility Command’s deputy inspector general, led a...
Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), House Armed Services Committee boss, said Tuesday he’s not pleased with the course of events so far regarding the Obama Administration push to repeal the Pentagon’s “don’t ask-don’t tell” policy. At issue, Skelton told reporters in...
The Air Force intends to put its concept for a future long-range intelligence-reconnaissance-surveillance/strike platform to the test with modifications to the B-1B bomber. “That is what is envisioned for the future arsenal of the Air Force: an aircraft that includes...
The first B-1B bomber is expected to reach the 10,000-hour flying mark sometime in June, according to officials at Tinker AFB, Okla. Tinker is home of the B-1 system program office and site of the bomber’s maintenance and sustainment activities....
Lockheed Martin announced Wednesday that it has finished full-scale static testing of the F-35A, the conventional takeoff and landing version of the F-35 strike fighter. This testing was completed five months ahead of schedule, in less than half the time...
SpaceX says the inaugural flight test of its Falcon 9 rocket on June 4 achieved all of its primary mission objectives and culminated in “a nearly perfect” orbital placement of the rocket’s second stage and mock cargo spacecraft. “This is...
Northrop Grumman announced Tuesday that it has submitted its proposal for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance system. Northrop leads the transatlantic industry team chosen by NATO to supply the system. The contract award is anticipated in October. Matt Copija, Northrop’s...
Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, May 28, 2010 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 27 51 78 9,440 CAS/Armed Recon 22 68 90 13,880 Airlift 165 165 25,353 Air refueling 54 54 6,498 Rescue 18 18 2,594 Total...
