The sweeping changes the Air Force is proposing as part of its re-optimization initiative are intended to strengthen the Pentagon’s ability to deal with China’s growing military might. But they have important implications for the American military posture in the Middle East as well, the top ...
The U.S. Air Force has begun using large, quad-jet C-17s to airdrop aid into Gaza, as the U.S. leaders express increasing concern about the humanitarian situation there.
Maj. Gen. Derek C. France has been nominated to become the top U.S. Air Force commander in the Middle East, the Pentagon announced on March 14. If confirmed, he will have to deal with continued unrest in the region that has resulted in multiple rounds ...
Three U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules aircraft conducted airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza alongside two Royal Jordanian Air Force C-130s on March 2. The U.S. aircraft took off from Jordan and dropped 66 bundles—22 per aircraft—with over 38,000 meals ready to eat (MREs). ...
U.S. Air Force F-16 fighters are in the midst of a weeklong training exercise with the Royal Bahraini Air Force, Air Forces Central announced. The exercise, named Ballast Cannon, started Jan. 6 and will last until Jan. 12. In addition to the F-16s, KC-135 tankers ...
More U.S. Air Force F-16s arrived in the Middle East, the service announced Oct. 24, as threats to American forces in the Middle East continue to grow. The New Jersey Air National Guard’s 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron's arrival in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) region ...
The U.S. Air Force continues to bolster its forces in the Middle East after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, as F-15Es from RAF Lakenheath, U.K., arrived in the region Oct. 13.
The KC-10 Extender took another step toward retirement last week, as the venerable tanker finished off its last ever overseas deployment. A KC-10 from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted the aircraft’s final combat sortie from Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 3. The ...
U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters that deployed to the Middle East to deter Iranian aggression in the Persian Gulf and push back against Russian bullying in the skies over Syria have left the region, according to service officials.
A U.S. Air Force F-16 shot down a Turkish government drone on Oct. 5 after it flew within half a kilometer of U.S. forces in Syria. The incident was an extremely rare military engagement between two NATO members, who were already at odds over a ...
An Air Force task force charged with advancing new technologies is considering fielding one-way attack drones in the Middle East, the top USAF commander for the region told reporters Oct. 4. Task Force 99, a small detachment in Air Forces Central (AFCENT), is exploring kinetic ...
After a series of incidents in the skies over Syria, Russian pilots appear to have become less aggressive toward U.S. forces following the arrival of F-35 stealth multirole fighters to the Middle East, according to U.S. officials. Originally tasked to deter Iranian attacks on commercial ...