One Man’s Opinion

An independent analysis commissioned by engine-maker Pratt & Whitney to look into whether it’s advisable and less expensive to continue with a second engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has determined—more or less as one would expect—it would not...

PACAF Faces Loggie Cut

Brig. Gen. Frank Bruno, Pacific Air Forces director of logistics, told Stars and Stripes that PACAF will eliminate about 1,000 logistics personnel—officer, enlisted, and civilian—as part of the command’s share of the 40,000-personnel reduction the Air Force plans to take...

New Rounds for F-16s

The Air Force is putting new 20 mm cannon rounds in the F-16s deployed to Balad AB, Iraq, improving pilot safety and reducing collateral damage. Viper pilots already have fired the new rounds, strafing an insurgent stronghold east of Baghdad,...

“Well over $600 Million for Cannon”

New Mexico Congressional delegates have asked Appropriations committee leaders for $72.5 million in the Fiscal 2007 Supplemental Appropriations bill to pay for construction projects at Cannon AFB, N.M., to accommodate the shift to an Air Force Special Operations Command base,...

A Counter COIN:

Air University’s Air Force Doctrine Center recently hosted a four-day conference for subject-matter experts to “fast track” the Air Force’s “Irregular Warfare” document, which the service wants to print in June. Service leaders want an Air Force response to the...

Confusing Signs, Not Really

According to The Gallup Poll’s latest world affairs survey, an increasing number of Americans believe the US is spending too much on its military. More than 40 percent of respondents—the highest number in 15 years—said Washington is spending too much...

“Fight the Base”

Support group airmen at Scott AFB, Ill., have a new rallying cry, “Fight the base; recover the base; win the war.” The slogan and concept are the brainchild of Col. Brad Spacy, commander of the 375th Mission Support Group at...

C-130 Hercules to the Rescue

US Southern Command is working with the US Agency for International Development and the US Navy’s Project Handclasp to airlift more than $30,000 of emergency relief supplies to eastern Bolivia, where flooding has devastated the region. Airmen of Air Force...

Instant Situational Awareness

Pilots at the 18th Fighter Squadron, Eielson AFB, Alaska, are using a new helmet featuring the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System, which provides better head protection and improves breathing and radio communication, reports journalist A1C Nora Anton. The camera, embedded...

RRW Program Will Proceed

According to a Defense Department release, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration plans to proceed with its Reliable Replacement Warhead program. Nuclear Weapons Council Chairman Kenneth Krieg, the Pentagon’s top acquisition, technology, and logistics leader, said the program...

New Flag at Memorial:

The Air Force hoisted a special 60th anniversary flag over the new Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Va., on March 1. The logo sported on the flag was designed to “capture” the anniversary theme, “Heritage to Horizons: Commemorating 60 Years...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

March 1-3, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 39 19 58 CAS/Armed Recon 133 109 242 Airlift 425 425 Air refueling 99 99 Total 172 128 524 824 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance