Airmen from the 432nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron perform maintenance on an MQ-9 Reaper in preparation to support Red Flag 16-3 at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., July 20, 2016. The exercise also incorporated aircraft platforms from U.S. military services and coalition partners in a variety of training scenarios.
F-35 on Track for Initial Operational Capability
The F-35A Lightning II is on track to declare initial operational capability (IOC) between August and December. IOC is the first step Air Combat Command will take in bringing the F-35 online as the latest fifth-generation multirole fighter. In IOC configuration, the aircraft will be able to penetrate areas with developed air defenses, provide close…
Global Hawk Gets Innovative ISR Payload Adapter
Using a cooperative research and development agreement, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, partnering with Northrop Grumman and Air Combat Command, has developed an innovative solution to the tricky problem of how to connect existing and future information gathering sensor capabilities, not currently designed for the Block 30 RQ-4 Global Hawk high altitude long…
Photos of the Day: U.S. Air Force Showcases Tactical Air & Ground Maneuvers
An F-16 Fighting Falcon releases a flare over Grand Bay Bombing and Gunnery Range at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., March 4, 2016. Multiple aircraft within Air Combat Command conducted joint aerial training that showcased tactical air and ground maneuvers as well as weapons capabilities. An F-15E Strike Eagle flies during a training exercise March…
French, Indian leaders bid to shore up fighter jet deal
The leaders of India and France were looking to shore up a troubled multi-billion dollar fighter jet deal and make a new push on solar energy as they gathered in New Delhi for talks Monday. After beginning a three-day visit to India in the northern city of Chandigarh on Sunday, French President Francois Hollande has…
Photo of the Day: Osprey Refueled from the Sky
An MC-130H Combat Talon refuels a CV-22B Osprey during the honorary commanders change of command ceremony on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Sept. 25, 2015. The honorary commander program allows local community leaders frequent opportunities to visit Hurlburt Field and learn about the mission, participate in base functions and to express their views on issues of mutual…
USAF Releases Blueprint for UAV ‘Remote Aircrews’
Air Combat Command officials announced the results of their study into the remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) community in an attempt to normalize operations and ensure long-term mission success. Initial recommendations from the command’s ongoing Culture and Process Improvement Program (CPIP) were derived from nearly 2,500 inputs from Airmen across the RPA community as well as…
Photos of the Day: Airmen Inspect Gear, Parachutes for Safety
Staff Sgt. Anthony Tyler, a 20th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment specialist, inspects the visor of a pilot’s helmet at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Oct. 21, 2015. Tyler has to inspect the visor for scratches and damage to ensure the pilots vision isn’t obscured during flight. Senior Airman Kyle Burroughs, a 20th Operations…
US Air Force Tries to Bend the Cost Curve
“Bending the Cost Curve,” one of the 13 “Make Every Dollar Count” cost initiatives launched by the Air Force, includes a growing and evolving set of more than 20 acquisition reform activities. These activities are focused on finding ways the Air Force can be more effective at how it spends money to get better capabilities…
Radar Upgrades Ensure Situation Awareness
A Battle Management program to improve Air Force long-range radar systems recently reached full operational capability when all long-range sites were certified and deemed effective. The AN/FPS-117 is a 3-D radar system that provides advanced warning and air traffic surveillance. The Essential Parts Replacement Program replaces four major subassemblies: maintenance and control system, beacon system,…
First F-35 Pilot Fitted with New-Gen Rockwell Custom Helmet
The world’s most advanced aircraft is getting a new helmet to match. Luke Air Force Base issued its first Generation III F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System to Norwegian Air Force Maj. Morten Hanche, 62nd Fighter Squadron training pilot Oct. 16, 2015. The new system, built and issued by Rockwell Collins at the Pilot Fit Facility,…
F-22 Pilot’s Journey into the History Books
Watch Lt. Col. Clayton Percle, 525th Fighter Squadron commander at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, talk about his life-long love of fighter planes, triumph over adversity and the flight that made him the first U.S. Air Force active-duty pilot to break 1,000 flight hours in the F-22 Raptor.
Fly Amongst the Solo Thunderbird
Take a look inside Thunderbird 5’s cockpit as he performs various maneuvers throughout the 2014 show season. For more photos and videos visit, www.afthunderbirds.com.
Air Force Funds Research on Electrical Accumulator for Fighter Aircraft
Higher, better, faster and stronger – all are the goals of aerospace systems designers, in particular researchers from the Air Force who are providing the next generation of advanced aircraft to its warfighters. To meet these challenges, the Air Force recently provided follow-on funding for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) effort that supports the…
Misawa Launches First Global Hawk
The RQ-4 Global Hawk made its first operational flight out of Misawa Air Base on June 6. The flight marked two milestones: the first time an RQ-4 mission has flown out of Japan, and the first operational mission flown out of a jointly-used civilian and military airfield. According to detachment officials, combining and coordinating civilian Japanese…
DDR Design Poised to Serve as Open Systems Architecture Pathfinder
Mounted on an experimental aircraft known as the Proteus, the Air Force’s Dismount Detection Radar, or DDR, pod underwent its first test flight above the Mojave Airport Civilian Flight Test Center in California, April 22. “Not only were we able to test the system ahead of schedule, but within a couple of hours, we could…
Air Force tests new surveillance capability
The Air Force successfully completed the first Maritime Modes program risk reduction flight April 14, 2014, as the service moves toward providing a new air-sea battle surveillance capability. The test flight, which took place in the airspace above the Navy’s Point Mugu sea range in California, consisted of an 11 and a half hour sortie…
Photo of the Day: Manpower Moves 5,000-Pound Engine
Maintainers push a KC-135 Stratotanker engine into place Jan. 24, 2014, at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. Each engine weighs approximately 5,000 pounds and takes several Airmen and an engine trailer to move. Due to their weight, engine trailers and manpower are the easiest method for transporting engines across hangar floors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman…
Harvesting the Wind at Cape Cod Air Force Station
It’s not just the leaves that are changing at Cape Cod Air Force Station. The Air Force station is also changing the way it gets electricity as two new giant wind turbines are being installed at the 6th Space Warning Squadron. The new wind turbines can produce up to 3.2 megawatts of power combined. When…
Photo of the Day: Heart of the Spirit
Staff Sgt. Eric Barnes and Airman 1st Class Lester Popham close an inlet bell mouth for a B-2 Spirit engine inside the test cell Feb. 13, 2013, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The inlet bell mouth distributes and guides air into the motor to allow the engine to run smoothly in the test cell.…
Photo of the Day: Rendezvous Point
A KC-10 Extender refuels an F-22 Raptor during Exercise Razor Talon Feb. 7, 2013, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. Razor Talon is an Atlantic Coast monthly large force exercise and joint-unit training opportunity to employ cutting edge operational concepts such as Air-Sea battle and maritime air support. The KC-10 is assigned to the…
Photo of the Day: Nevada Recon
An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft soars over Nevada after a refueling mission during exercise Green Flag-West 13-02 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Nov. 1, 2012. The aircraft is assigned to the 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis) For more information…
Photo of the Day: Lancer Over Vegas
A B1-B Lancer aircraft takes off at night toward the Las Vegas Strip during exercise Green Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Oct. 30, 2012. The aircraft is assigned to the 34th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. (U.S. Air Force photo/Val Gempis) For more information visit www.aif.mil.