A year after Russia unveiled its T-50 stealth fighter—and less than a month after China flew its own J-20 stealthy prototype—the Air Force Fiscal 2012 budget plan contains no new program to pursue a sixth generation fighter. Air Combat Command officials have said they will wrap up an analysis of alternatives soon on what technologies a sixth generation fighter would need to have, and when it would need to appear. In recent weeks Air Force and Pentagon officials have downplayed the J-20, suggesting that China has a lot of development work to do before attaining a true stealth operational capability. They have pointedly not commented on the T-50’s potential operational status.
One Airman was killed and three others injured in a vehicle mishap at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., on June 29. Additionally, two first responder Airmen sustained injuries responding to the incident. All five injured Airmen have been transported to nearby medical facilities, according to a release from the base.