Stoking the Fire

Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF’s intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance guru, has responded to a New York Times article that apparently intimated that USAF wants to “control the deployment of unmanned airplanes,” explaining—as he is doing a lot lately—that the Air Force simply believes...

Counting the Days

Wyoming elected officials—in a tealeaf reading mode—are casting about for additional missions for F.E. Warren Air Force Base near Cheyenne. The base has been spared from the upcoming cut to the nation’s ICBM force, but the Caspar (Wyo.) Star-Tribune reports...

Phase Checks Don’t Stop in SWA

Air Force F-16 mechanics deployed to Southwest Asia still must perform phase inspections for their Vipers—a four to five day process every 400 flight hours. And, the rate of sorties flown means the inspection time rolls around just that much...

USAF Commits to Iraqi Air Force

The US Air Force activated the 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group and Squadron at New Al Muthana AB, Iraq, on April 22, cementing its intention to facilitate the reconstruction of the Iraqi Air Force. The US airmen assigned to these...

DOD’s “ISR Roadmap” Lacking

The Defense Department’s Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance Integration Roadmap is missing some very important elements. Such was the testimony of Davi D’Ogistino, director of Defense Capabilities and Management Issues for the Government Accountability Office, during an ISR hearing of the House Armed Services...

That’s it in a Nutshell

Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) pointed out last week at a House panel hearing on intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance assets that the difference between the Army and Air Force perspectives about control of unmanned aerial vehicles is one of terminology and tactics. He said,...

“Not Playing Well Together”

Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) showed his frustration with the Army last week during the House Armed Services air and land forces panel hearing on intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance assets, after concluding from a Government Accountability Office interim ISR report, “People perhaps [are] not...

First Space Professionals Finish Pilot Course

The first course in a five-course program developed between Air Force Space Command and the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs will end this month, graduating 20 officer and enlisted space professionals. The initial class, which began in January, undertook...

Face Off

Defense Secretary Robert Gates traveled to Moscow April 22 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials to discuss the planned deployment of US missile defense systems in Eastern Europe. Despite repeated assurances from US officials that...

Composite Cargo Aircraft Goes Forward

The Air Force Research Lab has awarded two contracts for work on the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft to design, develop, and manufacture a technology demonstration aircraft. We reported earlier that the effort had gotten the attention of several contractors, including...

Reservist Receives Bronze:

Air Force Reserve TSgt. David Ewbank has received a Bronze Star for his work as an explosive ordnance disposal technician with a unit of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division in Iraq. Ewbank, who is assigned to the 446th Civil Engineer...

Not Open-Ended:

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters after his visit with Iraqi officials that he had emphasized the US commitment to Iraq “is long-term but it is not a commitment to have our young men and women patrolling Iraq’s streets open-endedly.”...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

April 18-20, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 47 26 73 CAS/Armed Recon 124 110 234 Airlift 455 455 Air refueling 122 122 Total 171 136 577 884 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance Airlift includes Horn...