Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne said Thursday that historical 8th Air Force of World War II bombing fame would lead the formation of a new Cyberspace Command—a new major command on a par with Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Command that will preserve “freedom of access and commerce” in cyberspace. Service leaders have been working toward this step for more than a year, explained Wynne in remarks before a Washington technology conference. Wynne called the 67th Network Warfare Wing, under 8th Air Force, “the center of mass for this startup activity.” In 2000, the Air Force added information operations to the mission of 8th Air Force, making it a dual function component under US Strategic Command, as provider of both IO and bomber forces. He added that 8th Air Force would retain its bomber mission.
The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force has unveiled a new electronic warfare drone designed to fly with fighter jets into contested airspace, including alongside its fleet of F-35s. RAF says it plans to develop models that draw on the U.S. Air Force’s approach of mating unmanned systems with crewed platforms.