The Air Force now plans to increase the number of Predator unmanned aerial vehicle combat air patrols it will provide to US Central Command area of operations a year earlier than envisioned by DOD. The Defense Department expected USAF to...

The Space and Missile Systems Center has released the final request for proposals for the next generation of Global Positioning System satellites. The RFP was overdue, but a GPS Wing spokesperson at SMC said they needed a “few delays” to...

Congress could take up the issue of foreign sales of the Air Force's new F-22A stealth fighter, in particular to Pacific ally Japan. A recent Congressional Research Service report notes that such sales are currently prohibited, but offers pros and cons for lawmakers who may want to "again consider repealing this ban." Last year, House appropriators had approved foreign sales, but conferees stripped the provision from the 2007 defense appropriations bill. As CRS notes, selling the new fighter to Japan would benefit US industry, especially since the budget-strapped Air Force has been forced to cut its buy to only 183 Raptors. Air Force leaders maintain the service needs at least 381, but the money isn't there and the end of the production line is looming. The Air Force recently deployed 12 F-22s to the Pacific region, giving the Japanese Air Self Defense Force a close-up look at the new fighter—certainly whetting their appetite. CRS acknowledges that Japan traditionally has safeguarded imported technology, but that the potential exists for an "inadvertent leak." Selling to Japan might also prompt other allies to expect the same consideration.

An Air Force F-16 crashed at Balad AB, Iraq during its takeoff at 4:55 p.m. July 15 (Baghdad time). The pilot ejected safely. The Viper was slated for a close air support mission at the time of the accident, which...

Although winds mounted at times to 105 mph, Typhoon Man-Yi, the first of the season for the Japanese island of Okinawa, Kadena Air Base sustained relatively little damage. Kadena had put its fighter aircraft in shelters and sent larger aircraft...

US Air Forces in Europe worked with the Polish Air Force to host the first Building Partnership Event in Europe last week. The seminar-type wargame, part of the Air Force-sponsored Unified Engagement series, comprised USAFE, Polish, and eight other countries....

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) has proposed opening two miles of waterfront property on the Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan for public recreational use, such as fishing, hiking, and biking. The Detroit Free Press reports that Levin, chairman of...

Construction company workers digging a trench for a water pipeline in North Monterey County in California came across a piece of wreckage believed to be that of a military aircraft from the 1940s. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports that the...

The Air Force has released the latest promotions results for colonel, showing roughly the same percentage of line officers selected this year as last year. For line officer promotion in the zone to colonel, USAF selected 459 officers from a...

July 11, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 16 10 26 CAS/Armed Recon 50 31 81 Airlift 170 170 Air refueling 46 46 Total 66 41 216 323 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance Airlift includes Horn...