The Air Force has just redesignated the 83rd Communications Squadron at Langley AFB, Va., as the 83rd Network Operations Squadron, which are part of the 67th Network Warfare Wing located at Lackland AFB, Tex., reports David Hopper. The wing and its subordinate units fall under 8th Air Force, which is spearheading creation of USAF’s Cyber Command—the subject of much interest for communities in California, Louisiana, and Nebraska that would like to capture the new headquarters for their backyards. The 83rd is “not a typical communications squadron,” says 1st Lt. Joseph Hinson and adds, “This name change reflects the fact that we’re operating the Air Force’s largest weapon system—the network.”
The KC-Z4, a blended wing body tanker concept being developed by startup JetZero, could fuel larger groups of aircraft at longer range to hold more targets at risk, company officials say.