Daily Report

Feb. 2, 2010

Now, the Nuclear Bomber Force

Now, the Nuclear Bomber Force: Air Force Global Strike Command took responsibility Feb. 1 for B-2 and B-52 units from Air Combat Command, two months after taking over the ICBM force from Air Force Space Command. AFGSC now comprises 8th...

Modest Growth

The Obama Administration seeks a baseline budget of $119.6 billion for the Air Force in Fiscal 2011, plus $20.8 billion to fund the service’s share of fighting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This $140.4 billion request represents two percent...

Building on Reform

The Defense Department is asking Congress for $708 billion in Fiscal 2011, a base budget of $548.9 billion and $159.3 to fund military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq next fiscal year. Added to this record-high total is a Fiscal 2010...

Quick “Change of Leadership” for JSF

Quick “Change of Leadership” for JSF: Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Feb. 1 he planned to replace Marine Corps Maj. Gen. David Heinz, the head of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, with a three-star general officer. (Our Feb. 1...

Back to Square One on Long Range Strike

Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy, confirmed during Monday’s 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review rollout briefing what other senior officials have said recently that the Gates Pentagon plans a portfolio approach rather than a single Next Generation Bomber platform (killed...

Improved Ramp, Tents Aid Hectic SAR Pace

USAF airmen are improving ramp conditions for combat search and rescue forces that operate out of bare base Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, where the CSAR operations tempo is very high and likely to remain so as US and...

USAF Has a New Boot

The Air Force has selected a new maintenance specialty boot, one that is full-grain leather but with rubber toe and heel caps, to replace the current suede version worn with the Airman Battle Uniform. The Air Force Uniform Office at...

Shootout Something of a Bust

According to the Missile Defense Agency, the Jan. 31 major test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System, in which an interceptor fired from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., was to intercept a ballistic missile target launched from the Kwajalein Atoll in the...

Air Sorties from SWA 020210

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Jan. 27, 2010 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 34 9 43 1,530 CAS/Armed Recon 22 6 28 2,401 Airlift 166 166 4,250 Air refueling 35 35 1,145 Total 272 9,326 OIF=Operation Iraqi...