Daily Report

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on Tuesday called on House lawmakers to “carefully consider” initiatives in the Air Force’s proposed Fiscal 2013 budget that touch upon personnel issues. Though acknowledging some may be controversial, such changes are essential to...

The Air Force is building toward 65 orbits of MQ-9 Reapers—even though these remotely piloted aircraft cannot survive in contested airspace—because it needs them for relatively benign skies. So said Lt. Gen. Hawk Carlisle, Air Staff lead for operations, plans,...

Unidentifiable portions of remains from some 9/11 victims at the Pentagon and at Shanksville, Pa., were cremated and subsequently placed in a Virginia landfill, according to the report from the independent panel that examined Air Force mortuary operations at Dover...

Secretary Michael Donley said Tuesday that Air Force would institute changes to Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover AFB, Del., based on the recommendations of the Defense Health Board independent panel chaired by retired Army Gen. John Abizaid. Among...

Aeronautical Systems Center officials at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, on Tuesday issued the military flight release that will allow the F-35A strike fighter to begin initial operations at Eglin AFB, Fla., according to a Wright-Patt release. “The Air Force, [F-35] program...

The Air Force announced on Tuesday that it would "set aside the contract" awarded to Sierra Nevada in December to supply 20 Light Air Support aircraft for the Afghan air force. "The Air Force's intent is to terminate the contract, effective March 2," service spokeswoman Jennifer Cassidy told to the Daily Report. "While we pursue perfection, we sometimes fall short, and when we do, we will take corrective action," said Secretary Michael Donley. He added, "Since the acquisition is still in litigation, I can only say that the Air Force senior acquisition executive, David Van Buren is not satisfied with the quality of the documentation supporting the award decision." Air Force Materiel Command boss Gen. Donald Hoffman has also initiated a commander directed investigation into this matter, said service officials. "We are disappointed by this decision," said Sierra Nevada's Taco Gilbert, in a company statement. Sierra Nevada had been under a stop-work order since early January due to Hawker Beechcraft's federal lawsuit against the Air Force over the exclusion of its AT-6 as the LAS platform. "We commend the Air Force for this decision," said Bill Boisture, Hawker Beechcraft chairman, in a release. The company said the Air Force would "reinstate" the AT-6 for consideration.

Air National Guard Director Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt and Air Force Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner sat behind Secretary Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz in a show of unity during Tuesday’s House Armed Services Committee...

The Air Force is working on “an assessment” of the number of fighter aircraft it needs to meet the national defense strategy, said Lt. Gen. Hawk Carlisle, deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements, on Tuesday. Speaking to...

A B-1 bomber flew the 10,000th combat mission for the aircraft type, announced officials with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. The historic flight on Feb. 26 started from an undisclosed air base in Southwest Asia and supported operations in Afghanistan,...

The Air Force recently reshuffled close air support assets in Afghanistan to meet anticipated demand. “This movement postures close air support to best support the campaign plans in the long and short term,” said Col. Kevin Blanchard, vice commander of...

The 90th Missile Wing installed a network of remotely controlled machine guns to defend locations vital to the Minuteman III ICBM mission at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. Mounted in an armored turret, the Remote Targeting Engagement System’s 7.62 mm M-240...