Dealing With China

Dealing with China: The F-35 will be the linchpin in deterring China, said defense consultant Edward Timperlake, speaking at AFA’s Air & Space Conference at National Harbor, Md., Monday afternoon. The F-35’s intel sharing capability will provide the “glue” that...

China’s Sense of Self and Place

China's Sense of Self and Place: The top goal of the Chinese national security leadership is to keep the national party in power, said Bernard Cole, international history professor at National Defense University. Speaking at AFA's Air & Space Conference Sept. 16, Cole said that, ...

Mulling Possibilities for New Trainer

Gen. Stephen Lorenz, commander of Air Education and Training Command, told reporters Sept. 15 at AFA’s Air & Space Conference that USAF has just started work to gain Joint Requirements Oversight Council validation of a requirement for a successor to...

What Does Russia Want?

“To be treated as a great power,” according to Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff, adjunct fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations, who spoke at AFA’s Air & Space Conference Sept. 14. He said that if one looks at the statements of...

A Banshee for a B-52

Northrop Grumman expects to enter production in 2010 with its Banshee electronic warfare architecture for the B-52 bomber, following successful flight demonstrations concluded in June, Kevin Weppner, Northrop’s director of business development for RF combat and information systems, told reporters...

Aiding Mexico in Drug War, Smuggling Worry

Dr. Richard Downie, director of the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, a DOD regional center, told attendees at AFA’s Air & Space Conference Sept. 15 that the US has committed $1.4 billion over three years to assist Mexico in its...

Tallying the Cost of the Wars

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have cost the US a total of $904 billion, from 2001 to 2009, according to a new study released Monday by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. CSBA’s Steven Kosiak said he drew...

Africa on Our Minds

Amb. Peter R. Chaveas, director of the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a DOD regional center based on the National Defense University campus, said that the close of the Cold War also brought diminished interest in Africa. However, he said...

It’s Been a “Great Year”

CMSgt. Dick Smith, command chief for the Air National Guard, told attendees Sept. 16 at AFA’s Air & Space Conference that the Air Guard has “had a great year.” He said the Air Guard has almost completed all BRAC 2005...

T-Minus 13

Effective July 1, the nation’s three Minuteman III ICBM wings will revert from their current designation as space wings back to their pre-1997 designation as missile wings. Maj. Laurie Arellano, an Air Force Space Command spokeswoman, confirmed the date to...