Daily Report

Oct. 31, 2011

Leg Extension

The Air Force’s nuclear-capable B-2A and B-52H bombers “may emerge as the best means” of extending the United States’ protective nuclear umbrella to friends and allies in coming years, especially as US strategic nuclear force levels come down, said Maj....

No Wavering

The Air Force—and the United States—”remain committed” to providing aircraft capable of delivering nuclear weapons to support NATO’s nuclear mission, said Maj. Gen. William Chambers, who oversees nuclear issues on the Air Staff. “There is nothing currently being considered to...

Vandenberg Launches NPP Weather Satellite

Airmen of the 30th Space Wing and their industry partners successfully launched NASA’s NPOESS Preparatory Project weather satellite into space aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket that lifted off from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. “Team Vandenberg did a phenomenal...

Help for Minot

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley authorized funding for skilled and licensed volunteers to travel to Minot, N.D., to perform home repairs for the nearly 250 airmen who remain displaced there following severe flooding of the Souris River in the summer....

Keeping Busy in the Name of Liberty

The 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, in October surpassed 10,000 total sorties flown and 50,000 total flight hours with its MC-12 Liberty airplanes since its airmen began operating them less than two years ago. October also saw...

Determined Spirits of Deterrence

B-2 bombers from the 509th Bomb Wing salvoed from Whiteman AFB, Mo., in a rapid-launch drill as part of US Strategic Command’s Global Thunder exercise. Most importantly a command and control exercise, the full-scale strategic deterrence drill tested the strategic...

Reapers Begin East Africa Ops

The United States recently began operating unarmed MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft over Somalia from a forward airfield in neighboring Ethiopia, according to press reports. Last year, the Air Force began upgrading Arba Minch Airport in southwestern Ethiopia to support...

Lancers’ Live Shot

A brace of B-1 Lancers fired two JASSM cruise missiles to validate operational tactics and procedures during a Combat Hammer evaluation at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. In addition to testing the reliability, maintainability, loading, and delivery, the evaluation was...

DOD Discloses Fiscal 2011 Intelligence Spending

The Defense Department spent $24 billion on its unclassified and classified intelligence activities in Fiscal 2011, announced Pentagon officials. This military intelligence program topline included the appropriations both in the Pentagon’s base budget and in its overseas contingency operations accounts,...