Recalibrated STRATCOM Vital to Future

US Strategic Command has seen a significant evolution in its capabilities and responsibilities since the end of the Cold War, and is applying its capabilities on a daily basis across the spectrum, often in support of other commands, Gen. Robert...

New Trainers Can Wait

Replacing the T-38 training fleet is secondary concern to the Air Force’s more pressing procurement needs, according to Air Education and Training Command boss Gen. Edward Rice. “We’ve got some other things on the plate that are very important to...

If It Ain’t BRAC

As Air Force Materiel Command consolidates its acquisition, sustainment, testing, and technology functions from 12 locations to five, it will reduce 1,051 acquisition positions at the management level, said AFMC chief Gen. Donald Hoffman Thursday at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium...

Planning Associations

The Air Force will create active associations with every Air Force Reserve fighter squadron in the coming years as it looks to cut costs and maximize capabilities, said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on Thursday. At the same time,...

The Seven Percent Solution

The F-35 program flew more test flights and achieved more test points in 2011 than what was called for in the strike fighter’s master schedule, said Alan Norman, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 chief test pilot. “We exceeded the 2011 flight test...

North: PLA Modernization Will Take Time

Pacific Air Forces and several partners and allies in the Asia-Pacific region are closely tracking the steadily rising modernization of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and its air forces, said Gen. Gary North, PACAF commander. Meeting with reporters on Thursday...

A Loveable Marriage

The reserve components’ views toward associations have changed dramatically in the last few years because of the need to minimize costs while maximizing capabilities, said their leaders on Thursday. “We have progressed from the days of forced marriages out of...

Unity Needed

The extreme austerity of the new defense budget demands “unity” from the “extended Air Force family,” Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said Thursday. In his keynote address to AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., Schwartz said that while...

The Great Migration

Critical functions that the Air Force has long funded using overseas contingency operations funds will have to “migrate” to the base budget if the service is to remain ready, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said Thursday. “We are in...

Row With Me

“We need our industry partners on board,” with the new budget plan, said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on Thursday at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla. He asked industry to get behind the service’s new budget proposal...

Cope North up Close

Andersen AFB, Guam—From contrail altitudes to near the flat blue floor of the Pacific, there’s an air battle raging morning and afternoon here. It’s called Cope North and its grown into a major trilateral event in the suite of USAF...

Partners

Andersen AFB, Guam—Cope North is putting partnership into practice as a real demonstration of the Asia-Pacific pivot. Japan is a long-time player in Cope North. This year, the Japan Air Self Defense Force brought F-15MJs, F-2 fighters, and E-2C Hawkeye...

Editor’s Note

Air Force Magazine and the Daily Report have entered the Twittersphere. Follow us @AirForceMag. We will be providing regular Twitter updates from AFA’s 28th annual Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday and Friday, so stay tuned! #AWS

Kadena Squadron Recognized as USAF’s Best Fighter Unit

The 67th Fighter Squadron, an F-15 unit under the 18th Wing at Kadena AB, Japan, earned the Raytheon Trophy for 2011, judged the Air Force’s top air superiority squadron during last year. “The 67th Fighter Squadron clearly displayed its superior...

New Lackland Facility Consolidates Pan-American Aviation Training

Senior USAF officials, representatives from six Latin American nations, and leaders from the Inter-America Air Forces Academy opened a new airfield training complex at Lackland AFB, Tex., a part of Joint Base San Antonio. The $19 million IAAFA facility, eight...

Pacific Pride

Invited by the Singaporean government, Pacific Air Forces airmen and machines performed for crowds at the 2012 Singapore Air Show held at Changi International Airport. Flying demos included a C-17 from JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. USAF’s static-display contingent included an...

First F-35A Flight with External Weapons

The Air Force F-35A variant flew for the first time with wing-mounted external weapons, slinging a pair of AIM-9X air-to-air missiles aloft from Edwards AFB, Calif., announced F-35 prime contractor Lockheed Martin. Demonstrating carriage of its six external pylons, AF-1,...

Caring before the Ribbon was Cut

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz dedicated the newest Fisher House alongside charity representatives and base officials at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Lodging a family from Eielson Air Force Base during their daughter’s treatment even before the ribbon cutting, Fisher House...

Jumper to Head SAIC

Retired Gen. John Jumper, former Chief of Staff, will become chief executive officer of SAIC, a large defense contractor headquartered in McLean, Va. The company’s board of directors voted Jumper to succeed current CEO Walter Havenstein, effective on March 1....