Daily Report

Air Mobility Command is in “pretty good shape,” according to its commander, Gen. Arthur Lichte. In an address to AFA’s Air & Space Conference Wednesday, Lichte said that because of apparent success with the C-5 re-engining program tests, the continued...

Brady Says: NATO has expanded from 16 nations to 28 in just over decade, but the manpower and equipment assigned to US Air Forces in Europe has been steadily declining since the end of the Cold War. This has created...

Gen. William Fraser III, head of Air Combat Command, said there’s trouble brewing among unmanned aerial systems operators. In a panel discussion with other four-star generals at AFA’s Air & Space Conference Wednesday, he said UAS people are in such...

US Air Forces in Europe is in discussions “at the staff level” about using airspace around Lajes Field in the Portuguese Azores as one means to improve its training options, Gen. Roger Brady, USAFE commander, said Sept. 16 in Washington,...

Air Force Global Strike Command, USAF’s new nuclear-centric major command, will be considered successful by its leadership when each of its airmen truly realizes the importance of their daily tasks in executing the nuclear bomber and ICBM missions successfully, Lt....

The Air Force’s test and support equipment for its ICBM force and nuclear-capable bombers is quite old and needs to be replaced, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, Air Force Global Strike Command boss said Sept. 16. “Quite frankly, we have underinvested...

The Civil Reserve Air Fleet is in good health, now that the various companies participating have consolidated following an unprofitable spate 18 months ago, Air Mobility Command chief Gen. Arthur Lichte said Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference. There...

As long as US Northern Command has a requirement to protect US skies from aerial attack, then the Air National Guard is a “a cost-efficient way” to execute that air sovereignty alert mission, Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, National Guard...

Senior USAF general officers at an AFA Air & Space Conference panel discussion Wednesday were asked what they’d spend “one more dollar” on if they got a budget boost. Their answers ranged from new tankers now and more CV-22s at...

Newly arrived Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Gary North deferred from venturing into the renewed debate on selling modified F-22 Raptors to Japan and other allies, but he mentioned to reporters Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference that he...

Engaging the Enlisted Force: In one of his first major addresses as the service’s new top enlisted airman, CMSAF James Roy tackled subjects ranging from the need to remain focused in combat operations to improving childcare in the Air Force....

China “is still struggling” to develop the indigenous capability to design and build modern military aircraft, China expert Bernard Cole, a professor of international history at the National War College in Washington, D.C., said Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space...

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, secondly, they want to be an East Asian power, meaning that they don't want anything to happen in Asia of which they would disapprove. And concerning issues affecting the world order, the Chinese want their voice to be heard.

USAF and DOD officials remain convinced that there should be a sole engine provider for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter—and that is Pratt & Whitney with its F135 engine. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell reconfirmed that stance Sept. 15 at the...

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Recent tests of the C-5M Galaxy (modified with new engines and avionics) have proved the mod program will yield the desired efficiency and is worth continuing, according to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics VP Lorraine Martin. In...

The Air Force is using C-130J Hercules airlifters at about “200 to 400 more hours per year than planned,” according to Lockheed Martin airlift president Jim Grant. That means the Air Force is burning them up faster than it expected...

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Sept. 13, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 28 33 61 11,346 CAS/Armed Recon 21 82 103 24,781 Airlift 138 138 33,849 Air refueling 54 54 12,161 Total 356 82,137 OIF=Operation Iraqi...