Building on recent comments by senior Air Force generals, Secretary Michael Donley said last week the Air Force has all but decided to execute a service life extension for some of its F-16 fighters. “We are committing resources in that direction in [the forthcoming future years defense plan],” he told attendees at his Air Force Association-sponsored Air Force Breakfast Series presentation in Arlington, Va. He added, “More to follow on that, but I think that question is more of a ‘How much?’ and ‘When?’ and ‘What kind?’ rather than if.” Driving the F-16 SLEP is the Defense Department’s decision to extend the F-35 strike fighter’s development into 2016 and the likely delay resulting from that in when the Air Force’s first combat-ready F-35A unit will be available. (For more from Donley’s speech, see Birthing the Bomber and Revamping Space Acquisition)
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s last three F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft's era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
