2023 USAF & USSF Almanac: Weapons & Platforms

Air National Guard MC-130J Briefly Becomes a Bee-130J

Sept. 11, 2024

The Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing had to call in a beekeeper to rescue a swarm of honeybees from an MC-130J late last month.

Raytheon: AMRAAM and JATM Missiles ‘Complementary’ for Future Force Mix

Sept. 10, 2024

The AIM-120 AMRAAM will likely be the complement to the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, a Raytheon executive said. He characterized the JATM as an expensive, "kick-down-the-door" weapon, while he argued that AMRAAM is the more affordable missile to be used in larger quantities.

New Fighter Drones Will Go on Display at AFA Conference

Sept. 10, 2024

The Air Force will display full-scale models of the two competitors for Increment 1 of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program at next week's AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference.

Faster, Better on the Edge: Mercury’s Embedded Advantage

Sept. 10, 2024

Mercury Systems Chief Operating Officer Roger Wells talks with Air & Space Forces Magazine Editor-in-Chief Tobias Naegele about the latest advances, opportunities, and needs for edge computing and how Mercury’s systems can provide processing power for the Air and Space Forces.

USAF-Funded Tilt-Duct Aircraft Makes First Flight, Could Be Future Autonomous Rescue Platform

Sept. 10, 2024

Piasecki Aircraft has conducted the first flight of its autonomous tilt-duct vertical takeoff and landing aircraft demonstrator, which could lead to a combat rescue craft and/or a logistics platform supporting the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment model.

Space Force Studying How It Will Bolster GPS: Vice Chief

Sept. 9, 2024

Despite the Space Force’s “laser-focused” effort to accelerate an initiative to bolster its GPS constellation, the service’s No. 2 officer said the effort is mostly in the study and analysis phase.

First AC-130J Arrives at Kirtland in New Chapter for Gunship Training

Sept. 9, 2024

Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. welcomed an AC-130J Ghostrider late last month. The Air Force wants to consolidate gunship aircrew training, which had previously been split between Kirtland and Hurlburt Field, Fla.

New Air Mobility Boss Promises to Continue Command’s Transformation

Sept. 9, 2024

Gen. John D. Lamontagne took over Sept. 9 as the top officer at Air Mobility Command, promising to continue the organization’s sweeping preparations for the prospect of war in the Pacific that have picked up speed in recent years.

Outgoing AMC Boss Minihan Wishes He Could Give Airmen ‘Predictability’

Sept. 9, 2024

Sept. 9 marked the end of an era as Gen. Mike Minihan, the head of Air Mobility Command, retired after a 34-year career and passed the baton to Gen. John D. Lamontagne at a ceremony at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. During his tenure, Minihan oversaw some of the most…

2023 USAF & USSF Almanac: Weapons & Platforms

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