New Mexico lawmakers may be willing to let go of the 20-year-old F-117 stealth fighter—in exchange for another fighter or, perhaps, a UAV—but the same does not apply to their counterparts in Louisiana and North Dakota, which host the Air...

The Air Force may be considering dropping the avionics modernization program it had planned for all but its most elderly C-130 tactical airlifters, according to a Reuters news service report. Reuters quotes defense analyst Loren Thompson, who says the Air Force is “seriously considering” taking the AMP money for older C-130s and putting it toward purchase of new J model C-130s. (Last summer, the Pentagon decided against C-130J termination, as a fiscally imprudent idea.) Award of the initial AMP development work to Boeing came under a cloud during the Darleen Druyun affair. Consequently, USAF plans to re-compete later work, including installation. In the long run, it may be cheaper to buy newer Hercules that already meet international standards than to refit the older fleet.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who championed the fight to save the B-1B bombers at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., from BRAC 2005, obviously is not resting on his laurels. Thune plans to keep emphasizing the worth of Ellsworth. He met with Gen....

Residents of Burlington, Vt., on March 7 will vote on whether the Burlington City Council should use “lawful means to keep the Vermont Air National Guard at home.” The point of ballot question No. 6 is to “to prevent” the...

The C-141 transport tail No. 66-0177—called the “Hanoi Taxi” for flying the first 40 American POWs out of Vietnam in 1973—will be retired and turned over to the National Museum of the US Air Force on May 6. The historic...

The Air National Guard’s 1st Air Force also now is Air Force North, or AFNORTH, in keeping with the Air Force plan to re-vamp numbered Air Forces into warfighting headquarters. The counterpart AFSOUTH, the alternate moniker for 12th Air Force, took its new name earlier this month. Both units are considered provisional until they reach full operational capability.

Air Force Space Command is leading the effort to solicit ideas for a “no warning—national security demands an immediate response” system to satisfy the Pentagon’s prompt global strike requirement. According to the request for information, DOD expects to “deploy a...

The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center gathered a team of contractors to answer a distress call from Air Force Special Operations Command. AFSOC needed more C-130 aircraft to refuel its combat search and rescue and special ops helicopters—right now. According...

It’s called the P5 Combat Training System, and it’s purpose is to provide “rangeless operation and real-time monitoring,” according to officials at Eglin AFB, Fla. The P5 eliminates the guesswork for a range training officer, enabling the RTO to “provide...

Retired Lt. Col. Claude R. Kinsey, who became an ace flying the P-38 during World War II, died Feb. 4, of cancer, the Washington Post reported Thursday. He was 86. Kinsey, who is credited with shooting down seven enemy aircraft...

Arnold Engineering and Development Center in Tennessee is asking contractors to ponder how to create a Space Threat Assessment Testbed, a logical step as Air Force Space Command endeavors to aggressively protect US space assets. According to a request for...

There are two Air Force Research lab people at Kirtland AFB, N.M., whose task is to advance “multiple methods” to design, develop, and produce low-cost rockets. Officials say that the Launch Vehicle Technology program has “fueled” many efforts, some dating...

The Air Force awarded C-130J contractor Lockheed Martin a $68 million contract to deliver three weapon systems trainers—two for the Air Force and one for the Marine Corps. Lockheed says the actual design and manufacture of the WSTs will be...

Air Force Research Lab personnel at Edwards AFB, Calif., recently provided oversight on the third validation test-firing of Aerojet’s Block B solid rocket booster. The test lasted only 90 seconds, but it was the third success in a row, confirming...

Congress has quashed the 2003 provision that would allow new military recruits to serve part of their commitment in the Peace Corps. A band of lawmakers, led by Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), were successful in getting an amendment in the...

February 22, 2006 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 17 5 – 22 CAS/Armed Recon 56 20 – 76 Airlift – – 170 170 Air refueling – – 29 29 Total 73 25 199 297 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation...