Det. 1, 13th Air Force, was activated today during a ceremony at Yokota AB, Japan. This new unit is expected to strengthen the US-Japan security alliance; its 50-person detachment will plan, coordinate, and execute air operations in and around Japan. They’ll work with the 613th Air and Space Operations Center in Hawaii, as well as the 5th Air Force at Yokota to coordinate with their Japan Air Self Defense Force counterparts. Col. Michael MacWilliam, who has worked as the 5th Air Force director of operations and plans, is to command the detachment.
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.