Eagles Go To Aggressor Role

F-15C Eagles will form the “enemy” force of the 65th Aggressor Squadron, which USAF plans to reinvigorate Jan. 12 at Nellis AFB, Nev., after a 17-year absence. The Air Force is stepping up its “enemy” fleet to “provide realistic adversary training,” said Gen. Michael Moseley, USAF Chief of Staff, in a letter to the field. Previously the 65th flew F-5E fighters. The other adversary unit, the 64th Aggressor Squadron flies F-16s. USAF plans to start up the 65th with nine F-15s, adding another 15 as the aircraft become available—primarily from Air National Guard units that are losing their aircraft under BRAC 2005.

Just How Many New Predator Units?

The Air Force just designated the Air National Guard’s 163rd Air Refueling Wing at March ARB, Calif., as the lucky winner of a new Predator unit. Since many ANG units that will lose their aircraft by virtue of BRAC are...

Is U-2 Handwriting On the Wall?

Is U-2 Handwriting On the Wall?: At least two news reports claim the Pentagon has decided to speed the retirement of USAF’s high-flying U-2 reconnaissance aircraft as one more step to ease budget woes. Gen. Michael Moseley, USAF Chief of...

High Hopes for Cannon Too Soon?

According to the Portales (N.M.) News-Tribune, William Anderson, the new assistant Air Force secretary for installations, environment, and logistics, said this week that USAF has not identified a possible mission for Cannon AFB, N.M. He claims people “have read [a...

No Night Flying at Aviano

Airmen at Aviano AB, Italy, get little chance to practice their skills at night flying because the Italians insist the base keeps its F-16s in their nests from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to the Stars and Stripes. The...

Viper to Get New Nav System

Viper to Get New Nav System: The Air Force has chosen Northrop Grumman’s LN-260 fiber optic gyro inertial navigation system for an avionics upgrade for the F-16 Multinational Fighter Program. Northrop officials say that tests conducted earlier this year demonstrated...

Gipper C-17 Goes to Reserves

The Spirit of Ronald Reagan will arrive at March ARB, Calif., Jan. 13, feted during a ceremony featuring former First Lady Nancy Reagan. The new airlifter will be the eighth C-17 delivered to Air Force Reserve Command’s 452nd Air Mobility...

CENTAF Reviews Air Ops for 2005

The pace of air operations in Southwest Asia in 2005 was brisk, according to year-end statistics just released by US Central Command Air Forces. More than 75,000 USAF airmen at 12 deployed locations in the theater took part in historic...

Iraq’s Kingpin

With the increasing demand for close air support for troops on the ground, the airmen with the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron at Balad AB, Iraq, work to make certain the right aircraft are over the target areas. USAF journalist...

He’s Not Acting Anymore:

President Bush on Jan. 4 took advantage of the congressional recess to officially appoint Gordon England to be the Deputy Secretary of Defense. England’s nomination has been stalled in the Senate since March. The recess appointment lasts until January 2007....

The Day’s Not Over for ABL:

Despite budgetary setbacks, the industry team for the Air Force’s Airborne Laser program continues progress in testing the weapon. Northrop Grumman has completed power and duration testing of ABL’s megawatt-class chemical laser, otherwise known as COIL for Chemical Oxygen Iodine...

SWA Air Strikes:

US Air Force F-15s and F-16s performed air strikes in the vicinity of Salman Pak, Iraq, on Jan. 4, according to CENTAF. The F-15s fired two precision-guided munitions against an enemy weapons cache, while the F-16s launched two PGMs, destroying...

What’s the Beef About Tour Lengths?:

The Joint Chiefs of Staff have been considering just how long deployments should be for active duty members. Right now, each service employs different approaches. And, that has bothered Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. In his view, they should be the...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

January 4, 2006 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 11 7 – 18 CAS/Armed Recon 52 18 – 70 Airlift – – 190 190 Air refueling – – 30 30 Total 63 25 220 308 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation...