F-35A Makes Red Flag Debut

The F-35A strike fighter deployed to Nellis AFB, Nev., on Jan. 20 for its Red Flag debut, during which it also completed the first large movement since the fifth generation fighter was declared combat ready in August 2016. Pilots and...

AETC Completes First F-35A Live Bomb Load, Release

Two years after the first F-35A weapons load crews were certified, Air Education and Training Command dropped the first two live bombs from the fifth generation aircraft over the range at Eglin AFB, Fla. The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded the...

Aerial Gunner Awarded DFC With Valor

An aerial gunner at Kirtland AFB, N.M., on Jan. 13 received the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor for his role in a 2011 high-risk rescue mission in Afghanistan. MSgt. Gregory Gibbs, 512th Rescue Squadron operations superintendent, was a gunner on...

SBIRS GEO Flight 3 Satellite Begins Transmitting

The third Space Based Infrared System geosynchronous Earth orbit satellite successfully began transmitting data to its grounds station about 37 minutes after it was launched from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., on Friday. Now that the satellite is communicating with the...

Fixing the Fighter Pilot Shortage

The Air Force is taking a three-pronged approach to address the growing shortage of fighter pilots, said Col. Jason Cockrum, the operations, plans, and requirements [AF/A3] director of staff. Speaking at the annual Weapons and Tactics Conference at Nellis AFB,...

Budget Experts See Tough Times Ahead for Modernization

By Wilson Brissett
Military budget experts threw cold water on the idea that the new Trump Administration would increase Pentagon spending to meet modernization requirements. Speaking Monday at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event in Washington, D.C., CSIS senior fellow Andrew...