A C-17 for the Gipper

The Air Force plans, in January, to name a new-build C-17 the Spirit of Ronald Reagan. The aircraft will be dedicated at ceremonies in California. The first person honored with a C-17 dedication was Bob Hope, in recognition of his many years of entertaining troops overseas. USAF has named other C-17s for noteworthy individuals, such as Medal of Honor recipient Air Force Sgt. John L. Levitow, and for bases, cities, states, regions, and even groups, such as the Spirit of America’s Veterans, and concepts, such as Spirit of Freedom. Look here for a list of approved names for active duty C-17s.

F-16s in “Mass” Customization

The F-16 production line continues to turn out Falcons at a rate of about six per month, according to June Shrewsbury, Lockheed’s vice-president for F-16 programs. There are now five different configurations—bound for nine countries—intermixed on the assembly line. Lean...

New F-16s Are Still Fourth Gen

The two newest F-16 models, which incorporate some of the technologies and lessons learned from the F/A-22 and F-35 programs, are the Block 60 model for the United Arab Emirates and the advanced Block 50/52. Lockheed Martin officials say these...

The Line for Falcons Extends Way Into the Future

Including a “postponed” buy of 80 to Pakistan and 40 for Greece (the Greeks are rethinking their decision), Lockheed sees a firm future market for about 200 new F-16s—possibly many more. Working off the existing backlog will keep the line...

Finding a Mission for Otis?

The National Guard Bureau may share a wish list with Massachusetts Guard officials soon regarding what missions might suit Otis ANGB, Mass., once its F-15s leave as part of the 2005 BRAC realignments. (DR 09/15/05) The Boston Globe reports that...

Hester Says Andersen Not Ready

On a routine visit to Andersen AFB, Guam, Pacific Air Forces commander, Gen. Paul Hester, told reporters that the base is not ready to host some 7,000 Marines that the Pentagon envisions shifting from Okinawa. (DR 11/01/05) Hester wasn’t saying...

ABL Zapped?

ABL Zapped?: The Administration budget axe may have a new target—the Airborne Laser. White House officials tell Reuters news service that the ABL is a “high-risk” program, making its continuation dicey as the Pentagon searches for programs to cut. As...

DOD Intel Gets Formal Direction

DOD Intel Gets Formal Direction: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has approved a detailed set of guidelines for the undersecretary for intelligence, a post created in 2003 and headed by Rummyite Stephen Cambone. The 16-page directive specifies that Cambone is empowered to exercise Rumsfeld’s “authority, direction, and control” over defense intelligence agencies and is DOD’s “primary representative” to the Director of National Intelligence and the Intelligence Community in general. The USD(I) gets to “identify” candidates to serve as directors of DIA, NGA, NSA, and, yes, the NRO. (You may remember that Ronald Sega is the first Air Force Undersecretary to not also hold title as NRO director.) Among a list of “relationships” in the new directive is one for the USD(I) to “work closely” with the DOD Executive Agent for Space (Sega).

One Million Pax and Counting

The forward deployed 386th Air Expeditionary Wing says it has moved one million passengers within Southwest Asia over the past two years—earning its motto of “boots on the ground” and sparing hazardous movements by road convoy. According to Lt. Col....

AFMC Pinches Pennies

In today’s austere funding environment, the Air Force is trying to get savings out of a lot of corners. Air Force Materiel Command officials say the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center team at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., reclaimed in Fiscal 2004...

Russian Missile Tests a Success-ski, But:

All of Russia’s 2005 missile tests were completed successfully, according to a Strategic Missile Force press release quoted by the Russian News & Information Agency. The statement also noted that the Russian missile service had reorganized, forming two missile divisions...

F135 Humming Smoothly:

Pratt & Whitney says its ground-test F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engines have logged more than 4,000 system development and demonstration hours. The F135 jet engine is slated to power the F-35 in flight tests to begin next year.

A Well-Tuned 50-Year-Old ICBM:

The US has one ICBM left—the Minuteman III—and it’s the job of the missile maintainers at Hill AFB, Utah, to see that the Cold War icons remain ready. The base receives the missiles—minus warheads but otherwise in tact—from operational ICBM...

ANG Director Receives Enlisted Honor:

Air National Guard enlisted personnel have awarded the Order of the Sword—the highest accolade from noncommissioned officers—to Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, ANG director. ANG NCOs have only recognized seven other officers with the Sword for their efforts on behalf...

Boeing Starts NATO AWACS Upgrade:

Boeing says its subcontractor EADS has started a series of system enhancements on the first of 17 NATO AWACS aircraft. The upgrades are part of a $1.32 billion mid-term modernization program. (The US Air Force AWACS E-3 aircraft already are...

Tracking Post-Deployment Health—Twice:

The Air Force wants to check the post-deployment health of airmen two times: immediately after they return and after 90 to 180 days have passed. USAF just began implementing the twice-over assessments this month. Airmen fill out a four-page DOD...

A New Acronym Added To SGLI:

The Servicemember’s Group Life Insurance program now covers traumatic injuries—called TSGLI. It automatically provides coverage up to $100,000 for anyone insured by SGLI for a flat monthly premium of $1. It’s also retroactive, by Public Law 109-13, for “qualifying losses”...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

November 30, 2005 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 15 4 – 19 CAS/Armed Recon 59 15 – 74 Airlift – – 150 150 Air refueling – – 36 36 Total 74 19 186 279 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation...