Air Force officials announced plans to stand-up four new active duty associate fighter squadrons as a money saving measure. The new units, which will share aircraft and equipment with existing Air Force Reserve Command fighter squadrons, will be established at Barksdale AFB, La.; Homestead ARB, Fla.; NAS JRB Fort Worth, Tex.; and Whiteman AFB, Mo. “We partner active duty and Reserve airmen together and create a powerful synergy that is cost-effective and results in a force that performs both daily operations as well as strategic surges,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, Air Force Reserve chief. AFRC squadrons at Barksdale and Whiteman will continue A-10 operations, with the addition of 128 active duty airmen, and F-16 units at Homestead and Fort Worth will gain 168 active posts. While some AFRC personnel will be cut, units will be granted “time to adjust,” said Stenner. (Pentagon release)
The Space Force's first planned satellite launch to begin a new missile warning constellation in medium-Earth orbit has slipped from late 2026 to spring 2027 as a key component remains unproven. But the service is making progress and moving forward with plans for new batches of satellites, the Guardian in charge…