Front-line air bases are like any other weapon system: They are only effective if they can function under enemy fire. Air bases at forward locations in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, or other theaters must be able to fend off complex integrated air and missile strikes, rapidly ...
Operational Imperatives
The Air Force is reconsidering how it gains air superiority—and whether it needs a manned sixth-generation fighter to achieve it, acquisition boss Andrew P. Hunter said.
Ground-based battle managers want to compress six C-17 Globemasters’ worth of gear down to a single C-130, thanks to a new system with a fitting name: Tactical Operations Center-Light. The 752nd Operational Support Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base been designated as the “pathfinder” for Air ...
A military exercise earlier this month saw 9th Reconnaissance Wing Airmen do something completely different: command and control fighter and transport aircraft as part of a massive exercise across the western U.S.
The U.S. Air Force’s plan to operate from an expanded network of bases around the Pacific is facing a familiar but fundamental challenge: how to protect those locations from a Chinese missile attack. The Air Force and Army say they are working on a solution.
Northrop Grumman has wrapped up initial flight tests with its EMRIS multi-function sensor system, which could be applied to "crewed or uncrewed" platforms, the company said. The tests were flown on an unidentified government aircraft and demonstrated rapid software reconfiguration in-flight.
The Air Force has ordered its first E-7A Wedgetail battle management and command and control aircraft, announcing Aug. 9 it has agreed to a deal with Boeing worth $2.56 billion for two platforms. The service says the deal is for “operationally representative prototype E-7A weapons ...
Advances in artificial intelligence and software development will be key to two of the Air Force’s top programs: the DAF Battle Network, which connects sensors and shooters around the globe, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft autonomous drones, service acquisition executive Andrew Hunter said Aug. 7
The Air Force has started using a new Boeing pylon—the Load Adaptable Modular (LAM) pylon—which should help streamline testing new weapons, particularly hypersonic weapons, as other kinds of testing consume B-52 test assets.
