The Air Force has slowed down the award process for its KC-X tanker replacement program primarily because the service is documenting every step along the way. “We’re focused on taking the time necessary to ensure communication and documentation among possible...

The Pentagon issued a "Plan for Operationally Responsive Space" with no fanfare in April, in response to Congressional direction. We have a copy now. The focus of the plan is on the establishment of the ORS office, which it has placed at Kirtland AFB, N.M., "to enable a quick stand up and to maximize synergy with on-going Air Force efforts in small satellites, launches, and ranges." The plan confirms that the DOD Executive Agent for Space—a position filled by the Undersecretary of the Air Force—will oversee the new office and serve as acquisition executive. The ORS office will comprise 10 to 20 military and civilian positions and will be a joint duty assignment for military personnel. DOD expects to staff the ORS office with "small integrated teams of experienced and diverse backgrounds consisting of warfighters, operators, scientists, engineers, and acquisition specialists."

Air Combat Command plans to declare initial operational capability for the modernized A-10 today during a ceremony at Langley AFB, Va. The “new” Warthog—the A-10C—has received “the most significant modifications” in the 30-year history of the A-10 close air support...

US Northern Command has dispatched personnel from various bases to Texas and Louisiana to prepare for possible landfall by Hurricane Dean, a major storm that appeared to be gaining even more strength. NORTHCOM sent a 17-person team from its Standing...

Defense analyst Loren Thompson of the Lexington Institute has come down on the Pentagon’s side in the matter of whether or not there should be an alternate engine for the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Pentagon has tried twice...

A new study under the auspices of the University of Michigan which looks at Air Force women who have deployed to Iraq has found that about 20 percent of the 1,114 respondents suffer from at least one major symptom of...

A team of scientists working under an Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded effort may have found a “simple, reliable, and cost effective” way to manipulate a laser beam to sustain high data rates under a variety of conditions, reports...

Despite problems with one of its privatized housing contractors, the Air Force is continuing the effort around the force. Vandenberg Air Force Base in California selected GMH Housing to develop, manage, and construct an estimated 867 housing units. At Vandenberg...

ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl finally got his long-sought flight in a high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft. He made the flight—one of the very few civilians to do so—last week, after completing two days of indoctrination and preparation. The Air Force...

Prompted by Congressional concerns over the growing number of homeless veterans in recent years, the Government Accountability Office took a look at low-income veteran housing. And, GAO notes in a new report that the return of more veterans from Iraq...

Aug. 17-18, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 36 22 58 CAS/Armed Recon 138 91 229 Airlift 287 287 Air refueling 122 122 Total 174 113 409 696 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance Airlift includes Horn...