The Air Force is poised to start its future capabilities wargame on Sunday. The biennial event, which will run about one week, is meant to examine warfighting scenarios circa 2028 to generate strategic-level insights that will help the service shape...

Maj. Gen. Roger Burg, commander of 20th Air Force, which oversees USAF’s ICBM forces, on Wednesday removed Col. Christopher Ayres from his post as commander of the 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, N.D. Ayres was relieved “due to loss of confidence in his ability to command,” according to a release from Air Force Space Command headquarters. He was not relieved for any alleged misconduct or wrongdoing, but recent incidents, including an Aug. 31 accident involving a vehicle transporting Minuteman III ICBM components, contributed to the loss of confidence, AFSPC said. Ayres took command of the wing in May 2008. “We must have complete confidence in our leadership as we continue the revitalization of the nuclear enterprise,” said AFSPC boss Gen. Robert Kehler, who approved of the decision.

Efforts are moving forward to merge Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, and the Army’s nearby Ft. Richardson into a joint installation called Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson before the end of next year. The Anchorage Daily News reported Tuesday that the vice chiefs of...

A C-17 loaded with supplies for troops in Afghanistan flew a new route from Ramstein AB, Germany, to Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan on Oct. 7, becoming the first Air Force transport to traverse Russian airspace under a new transit agreement signed...

Mountain Roundup, an air combat training exercise starts Thursday at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and runs through Oct. 30. The 366th Fighter Wing is hosting the event that includes Air Force F-15 and F-15E fighters, HC-130 combat-rescue tankers, and AT-38C...

The Air Force demonstrated the quieter engines and faster climb-out capability of its new C-5M Super Galaxy transport to members of the combined noise abatement committee at Ramstein AB, Germany, on Sept. 30. The committee comprises host-nation representatives and USAF...

Boeing announced Tuesday that is has completed a series of flight tests of its A160 Hummingbird unmanned helicopter fitted with a foliage-penetrating radar called FORESTER. Overall, there were 20 flights between Aug. 31 and Oct. 8 at Ft. Stewart, Ga.,...

The Air Force will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the rank of chief master sergeant on Dec. 1 with a special ceremony at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on the grounds of Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. “This...

Veterans Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki has added three illnesses to the list of those ailments presumed to have been caused by a Vietnam War veteran’s exposure to the herbicide Agent Orange. They are Parkinson’s disease, ischemic heart disease, and B-cell...

The 98th Air Force Virtual Uniform Board has decided that the service’s new sage green fleece may only be worn over the airman battle uniform top when worn as an outer garment. It may not be worn solely over a...

Oct. 10, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 24 30 54 12,909 CAS/Armed Recon 20 82 102 27,529 Airlift 144 144 37,593 Air refueling 45 45 13,607 Total 345 91,638 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance...