Daily Report

Feb. 22, 2010

Air Force Re-looks F-35 IOC Date

Orlando, February 19, 2010—Air Combat Command is re-examining the standing target date to field USAF’s first combat-ready unit of F-35A strike fighters given the recent changes to the F-35 program, Gen. William Fraser, ACC boss, told reporters at AFA’s Air...

Sky’s the Limit

Air Force Reserve and Air Mobility Command will be slowly ramping up the three new active associations being formed at Keelser AFB, Miss., March ARB, Calif., and Peterson AFB, Colo., says Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, Air Force Reserve chief. “Over...

Switching Jobs?

With the addition of active duty airmen to help operate and maintain Air Force Reserve Command C-130s and KC-135s in California, Colorado, and Mississippi (see above Sky’s the Limit), some Reservists in those units could switch to take on some...

Sending a Signal

Troops in Afghanistan should expect to see immediate improvements in Global Positioning System signal coverage beginning with the first satellite shift even though the entire realignment plan could take about two years, says Gen. Robert Kehler, head of Air Force...

A Handful of Sets

Not all of the US military’s Global Positioning System receivers have been functioning properly after the recent upgrade of the Global Positioning System command and control software, Gen. Robert Kehler, Air Force Space Command boss, told reporters Feb. 18 at...

First Two Production F-35As Nearing Completion

Lockheed Martin officials said Friday at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando that the first two production F-35A strike fighters slated for delivery to the training wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., later this year, are in final assembly at the...

Intelligent Design

Orlando, February 19, 2010—There is “nothing wrong” with the current construct under which it takes Air National Guard units 72 hours’ notice to mobilize in time of need, Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt, ANG director, said at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium....

Replacing Nukes

In remarks at National Defense University last week, Vice President Joe Biden reiterated the Obama Administration’s goal to “take concrete steps toward a world without nuclear weapons.” Achieving that goal requires continued development of capabilities such as an “adaptive missile...

No Pilotless Nuclear Bomber

There’s been some talk that the next-generation strategic bomber family of systems might include an unmanned version, but Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula last week dispelled any thought that such a craft might be nuclear capable. Speaking at an Aviation Week-sponsored...

NSPS Conversions Are Beginning

The Pentagon’s point man for the Congressionally directed conversion of civilian employees from the National Security Personnel System said last week he expected the task to be done a year ahead of schedule for the majority of civilians. The Defense...

Air Sorties in SWA, 021510

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Feb. 15, 2010 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 28 37 65 2,586 CAS/Armed Recon 18 85 103 4,009 Airlift 181 181 7,236 Air refueling 44 44 1,906 Total 393 15,737 OIF=Operation Iraqi...