Daily Report

June 21, 2010

USAF Voices Global Hawk Frustrations

The Air Force is “not happy with the learning curve” on the RQ-4 Global Hawk program, David Van Buren, USAF’s acquisition executive, told reporters Friday during a meeting in the Pentagon. On both the government and contractor side, the program...

F-22 in Closeout Negotiations

The Air Force is negotiating with Lockheed Martin on the cost and pace of shutting down the F-22 production line, says David Van Buren, the service’s acquisition executive. During a June 18 media roundtable, Van Buren said the Air Force...

PAK-FA Better than Raptor, Putin Boasts

: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said last week Russia’s fifth generation PAK-FA fighter will be better than the Air Force’s F-22, which is the only 5th-gen fighter currently in service. “This machine will be superior to our main competitor,...

RPA Unit Hits Major Milestone

The 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, which has been operating the Air Force’s remotely piloted aircraft in Afghanistan from Kandahar Airfield since 2005, eclipsed 250,000 total flight hours at the end of May. Members of the unit fly MQ-1 Predators and...

Donley Tours Vandenberg

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley visited Vandenberg AFB, Calif., June 15-16 to tour the base’s facilities and meet with airmen of the 30th Space Wing. Among his stops was the Joint Space Operations Center, the US military’s hub for managing...

No Rush to START

: Defense Secretary Robert Gates said last week it is in the United States’ best interest to wait as long as possible before implementing the nuclear force structure changes that would be necessary under the New START arms control agreement...

Airmen Test C-27J for Aeromedical Evacuations

: More than 20 airmen took part in tests at Scott AFB, Ill., June 8-9 to assess the ability of medical personnel to evacuate ambulatory and littered patients quickly and safely from the C-27J. These activities were part of the...

Tinker Maintainers Finish First E-6B Refurbishment

Member of the 566th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Tinker AFB, Okla., on June 15 completed work on the first of 16 Navy E-6 command and control aircraft they are refurbishing under a service life extension program. The unit, a component...

C-17 Flies Mine-Hunting Dolphins Cross-Country

Airmen with the 58th Airlift Squadron at Altus AFB, Okla., in mid-June transported four Navy mine-hunting dolphins back home from Norfolk, Va. to Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego aboard one of Altus’ C-17s. The four bottlenose dolphins were...

Training Wing Commander Earns Bronze Star

Col. Russ Mack, commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance AFB. Okla., on June 17 received a Bronze Star medal for his meritorious service in Afghanistan from December 2008 to May 2009. During this period, Mack was vice...

Air Sorties in SWA 06131410

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, June 13-14, 2010 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 48 109 157 10,758 CAS/Armed Recon 36 160 196 15,511 Airlift 348 348 28,280 Air refueling 96 96 7,240 Rescue 59 59 3,041 Total...