Behind the Small Bomb:

Oct. 19, 2006

The Air Force sent its first small diameter bomb-equipped warplanes—F-15Es from RAF Lakenheath, England—into action in Southwest Asia earlier this month. Among the people and units making that possible were the munitions experts of the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron, reports Air Force journalist Maj. Anne Knabe. “It’s exciting to be part of this cutting-edge technology,” said A1C Nahtana Williams, a munitions apprentice.

Related Content

B-2 Fleet Remains Grounded, Limiting Participation At Red Flag

Feb. 5, 2023
The B-2 Spirit remains grounded due to safety issues—and the plane’s stand-down is beginning to disrupt planned operations. According to information provided to the media, the stealth strategic bomber from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., was originally scheduled to participate in the latest iteration of…

Chinese Surveillance Balloon Shot Down By F-22 After Crossing the US

Feb. 4, 2023
A U.S. Air Force F-22 shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina on Feb. 4, a week after it first entered U.S. airspace near Alaska. Officials said they took measures to prevent the balloon from gathering sensitive military information and are actively working to recover…

B-1s Join F-22s and S. Korean F-35s, in Latest Bomber Task Force Mission

Feb. 3, 2023
A pair of U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers and F-22 Raptors flew alongside F-35s from the Republic of Korea on Feb. 1, followed by more air drills Feb. 3 with USAF F-22s, Marine Corps F-35Bs, and ROK F-35s. The deployment of the B-1 in particular marks the third such flight of…

Replacing Physical Prototypes with the Digital Twin

Feb. 3, 2023
Since its inception, the digital twin has proven to be a revolutionary design tool for the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry. The ability to develop and test new products using virtual models (digital twins) before producing them physically has saved...

US Gains Access to More Bases in the Philippines

Feb. 2, 2023
The U.S. will be able to rotate troops and build facilities at four new bases in the Philippines, officials from the two countries announced Feb. 1, as they deepen their military cooperation to counter China. 

F-22s Scramble from Nellis in Response to Chinese Spy Balloon Over US

Feb. 2, 2023
The Pentagon is tracking what it says is a Chinese surveillance balloon over the continental United States, it said Feb. 2. The U.S. military scrambled two Air Force F-22 Raptors from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. on Feb. 1 in response to the incident, Air & Space Forces Magazine has…

Air Force Launches New Stealthy Tanker Program, with Delivery Projected for 2040

Feb. 2, 2023
The Air Force has officially launched its Next-Generation Air-Refueling System, a stealthy tanker to begin operations circa 2040. A Request for Information put out to industry said USAF will consider all manner of novel and innovative ideas for the next tanker, but the technologies it will use have to be…

HASC Organizes with 17 New Members—Including a USAFA Grad

Feb. 2, 2023
A month after the new session of Congress began, the House Armed Services Committee formally organized Feb. 2, setting its subcommittee rosters and introducing new members on the panel tasked with overseeing with the Pentagon. 

SASC Announces New Members, Air Force Vet Is Ranking Member

Feb. 1, 2023
The Senate Armed Services Committee released its roster of members for the new session of Congress on Feb. 1, with a new ranking member and three freshmen Senators. All of the newcomers are on the Republican side, as Democrats return the same 13 Senators from the last Congress, led by…