Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) declares that the Pentagon’s QDR “has become a budget-driven exercise, which limits its utility to Congress.” Hunter, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is leading a charge to separate what the Pentagon needs to address...

Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) has gone on record as “strongly opposed” to the President’s 2007 defense budget proposal to terminate C-17 production at 180 aircraft—issuing a statement saying, “If we do not purchase additional transports, we will lack the capability...

Gen. Paul Hester, head of Pacific Air Forces, formally accepted the command’s first C-17 airlifter, which will be assigned to Hickam AFB, Hawaii. The new transport is named Spirit of Hawai’i-Ke Aloha.” He told a crowd at Boeing’s Long Beach...

A senior Republican and senior Democrat on Tuesday each criticized the Administration for continuing to request emergency supplementals to fund the war on terrorism. At the first hearing on the 2007 defense budget proposal, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) complained, “I...

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s written testimony for Tuesday’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing contained the declaration, “The Air Force fleet is aging.” He added: “An aging fleet means increased maintenance costs and flight restrictions. It is important that we recapitalize...

Speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Ryan Henry, the Pentagon’s point man on the just-released QDR, said he’s concerned about the actions of the United States “near peer” competitor—China. The Asian country is continuing to build its military...

Despite the optimism expressed by Airborne Laser Program Director Col. John Daniels, the 2007 defense budget proposal does place the ABL on the endangered species list. It’s down, but not out. The Pentagon plans to axe the second aircraft and...

According to Maj. Gen. Frank Faykes, USAF budget director, the Air Force plans to restructure the Transformational Satellite program into a “block approach” much like fighter aircraft. Lawmakers have cast a wary eye on TSAT, cutting some funding in 2006....

Has USAF Taken “Slow Down” to Heart for Space Radar?: USAF proposes $266 million in 2007 for the Space Radar program. The dollars would fund technology maturation, demonstration, and risk reduction activities. Congress has questioned whether the program is moving...

The 2007 Air Force budget request allots $315 million to the Global Positioning System Block III satellite program, which is to offer higher anti-jam capabilities and improved accuracy and availability and integrity, as well as the capability to deny adversary...

The Space Based Infrared System satellite program survived—barely—its latest cost overrun last year, but it was reduced by two satellites and the Pentagon is seeking a competitor. For 2007, USAF is requesting $673 million to fund development and integration efforts...

The Air Force has demoted a brigadier general to colonel in nonjudicial punishment meted out because it said the officer—Brig. Gen. Richard S. Hassan—engaged in “an unprofessional relationship” and acted in a “sexually harassing” manner with subordinates. The service also cited Hassan for “maltreatment of a subordinate." Hassan, who was the head of the service’s senior leader management office, accepted the reduction in rank and agreed to retire on March 1, instead of facing a court-martial. This is the second such high-profile case of sexual misconduct within the Air Force in the past year. In January 2005, the Air Force demoted its Judge Advocate General, Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Fiscus, to colonel and directed his retirment.

According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, Iran has overtaken Iraq and China as the country most Americans believe represents the greatest danger to the US. Just three months ago, only nine percent of Americans polled felt...

Pacific Air Forces units are participating in Cope Tiger ’06 in Thailand, along with military forces from Thailand and Singapore. The exercise started Feb. 6 and runs through Feb. 18. Some 1,300 personnel—about 300 from PACAF units—are working in “a...

How Does the World View Iran: According to World Public Opinion, a new BBC World Service poll surveying 33 countries indicates that Iran engenders the most negative reactions. Of course, the survey also reveals that America is next up the...

Lakenheath Gets New F-15 Training System: Boeing has turned over a new distributed mission operations capability to RAF Lakenheath, Britain. The F-15C Mission Training Center joins four other F-15C training centers: Eglin AFB, Fla., Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Kadena AB, Japan,...

February 7, 2006 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 12 5 – 17 CAS/Armed Recon 55 20 – 75 Airlift – – 185 185 Air refueling – – 31 31 Total 67 25 216 308 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation...