RAF Lakenheath, U.K. On the night of April 13, 2024, U.S. Air Force crews took to the skies in the Middle East, having received word that Iran had launched one-way attack drones and missiles at Israel. In one F-15E in...
January/February 2025
Vol. 108, No. 1
Frank Kendall, the most consequential Air Force Secretary in years, departed the Pentagon in January at the end of an eventful three-and-a-half-year tenure as the 26th Secretary of the Air Force. His most important contribution, he thinks: Raising “a sense...
There are no options over water. And the farther out you go, the longer it takes to get back. The bulk carrier Port Kyushu stretches the length of two football fields, but it looked like a toy against the vast, dark...
A Call for a New NSC-68 and Goldwater-Nichols Reform
It’s time to rethink the factors shaping U.S. defense policy. The United States is presently confronted with the most significant national security challenge since its founding. In the past three years, the global deterrence networks that the United States developed...
The Case for More Money for Space
Creating the Space Force to counter China and Russia answered a rising threat. Now investments are needed to ensure space superiority. The first Space Race began in October 1957 with the Soviet Union’s successful launch of Sputnik, the first man-made...
Editorial: Eyes on the Prize
News coming out of the White House since President Donald J. Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20 is striking in its velocity. The subjects of his Executive Orders and policy memos were unsurprising, fulfilling oft-repeated campaign promises, but the speed, volume, and...
WORLD: National Security/New Admin
More Air Force, a Missile Shield, and the Pentagon’s New Boss Allvin says today’s Air Force is too small. Can he convince Hegseth? By A&SF Magazine Staff A year into his role as Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. David W....
WORLD: Personnel
Patches, Nail Polish, Shaving: Dress and Grooming Standards By Chris Gordon and David Roza Airmen were subject to new uniform, grooming, and appearance standards starting Feb. 1, senior Air Force leaders announced Jan. 29. Among the changes: Duty Identifier Patches...
WORLD: Air
Iranian Threats in the Middle East By Chris Gordon When Lt. Col. Dustin Johnson was ordered to deploy to the Middle East last year, he and his fellow F-22 Raptor pilots prepared for an unusual challenge. As America’s premier air...
WORLD: China
New Chinese Combat Aircraft By John A. Tirpak Imagery of two new, tailless Chinese military aircraft disseminated on social media in December likely reveals a prototype stealth medium bomber and a new lambda-winged technology demonstrator, aerospace experts and former Air...
WORLD: Space
Space Force Testing AI Automation By Greg Hadley ORLANDO, Fla. T he Space Force is flying new command and control software on experimental satellites that automates some functions for ops crews, said Kelly D. Hammett, head of the Space Rapid...
Letters
We love letters! Write to us at letters@afa.org. To be published, letters should be timely, relevant and concise. Include your name and location. Letters may be edited for space and the editors have final say on which are published. Gunning...
Faces of the Force
Senior Master Sergeant Anthóny Colon. Senior Airman Victoria Nuzzi Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Colón was one of seven Airmen to be named among AFCEA’s 40 Under Forty for 2024. Colón, superintendent for the 43rd Aircraft Communications Maintenance Squadron at Creech...
Verbatim
Danger Zone “It’s a different world when China, Russia and the U.S. all have a thousand-plus nuclear weapons in the field. It gets more dangerous as there’s other countries that are proliferating weapons. It gets more dangerous as people think...
AFA in Action: AFA “ENGAGES” in Military Family Readiness
AFA’s United Forces & Families (F2) program has officially launched ENGAGE, a new digital publication series that identifies key readiness opportunities, addresses challenges, and provides resources for military families. The publication, authored by military members and spouses, premiered at AFA’s...
AFA Grant Tackles Child Care Needs at Eglin
The Air & Space Forces Association’s partnership with Operation Child Care Project (OCCP) was on display during a bustling November weekend in the Florida Emerald Coast, marking the beginning of a long-term impact from which military families will benefit. AFA’s...
Heroes and Leaders: William W. Momyer
Mr. Tactical Airpower. William Momyer, known as “Spike,” was an outstanding tactician who was instrumental in developing and implementing air doctrine throughout his career. After graduating from the University of Washington in 1937, he became an aviation cadet and won...
