The Air Force has decided not to move forward at this time with plans to conduct low-altitude flying training in parts of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico for its special operations forces, announced 27th Special Operations Wing officials at...

The Senate Armed Services Committee is strongly urging the Air Force Secretary to reopen a second weapons storage area for its Air Launched Cruise Missiles. These missiles, carried by B-52H bombers, are a key component of the nation's strategic nuclear deterrent. "A reconstituted second WSA could enhance the resiliency of the bomber force, provide redundancy in a critical national security mission, and reduce operational risk," states the report accompanying the Senate's draft version of the Fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill. The Air Force operates a WSA at Minot AFB, N.D., and had planned, as part of the revitalization of its nuclear enterprise, to reopen the one that it had shuttered at Barksdale AFB, La., in 2007. However, back in February 2011, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told Congress that the Air Force was abandoning that plan due to budget constraints. But SASC members want the Air Force to reconsider that decision. "As the United States reduces its deployed nuclear forces in the coming years, . . . the resiliency and survivability of the nation's enduring strategic nuclear deterrent assumes a new level of importance," states the report, issued the first week of June. (SASC report; caution, large-sized file.)

The Air Force transferred Buckley Annex, the final 70 acres of the former Lowry Air Force Base, to the Denver community during a ceremony. The transfer occurred on June 1. Lowry closed in 1994; areas of the former base have...

The Senate Armed Services Committee has authorized the Air Force to procure two new Space Based Infrared System early warning satellites in Fiscal 2013 under a fixed-priced contract for a total cost of $3.9 billion, according to the report accompanying the Senate's version of next fiscal year's defense policy bill. The two satellites would be the fifth and sixth SBIRS geosynchronous satellites—GEO-5 and GEO-6—that Lockheed Martin builds. The committee also permitted the Air Force to incrementally fund the contract over six years and use "prior-year funds for advance procurement" of GEO-6, states the report. In return, though, the committee expects the Air Force to save "no less than 20 percent" over the life of the contract, according to the report, issued the first week of June. In addition, committee members instructed the Air Force Secretary to submit a report to Congress 30 days after the contract is signed that outlines the contract's specifics, states the report. A second report that details the cost savings is required after 90 days. (SASC report; caution, large-sized file.)

The Marine Corps is concerned that short-term cost savings, rather than modern combat needs, will shape the F-35 strike fighter and its delivery timetable, said Marine Col. Kevin Killea, head of the aviation weapons requirements branch at USMC headquarters, June...

The final F-4 Phantom destined for conversion to a QF-4 aerial target drone recently entered the 309th Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group’s refurbishment line at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., according to the Desert Lightning News, the base newspaper. AMARG workers last...

The Senate Armed Services Committee is "concerned" about the nearly 20 percent drop in funding for cyber-related science and technology research in the Air Force's Fiscal 2013 budget request. The Air Force has asked for $136 million in these areas for next fiscal year, according to the committee report that accompanies the Senate's draft version of the Fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill. The committee is worried that such a significant funding decrease would detrimentally affect cyber research, even though the Air Force intends to increase funding in these areas starting in Fiscal 2014, states the report, publicly released in early June. As such, the committee directed the Air Force to submit a report roughly six months after next fiscal year's defense authorization bill is enacted outlining: its near-, mid-, and far-term S&T priorities for cyber; the "transition strategy" for turning these investments into actual cyber weapon systems; the service's plan to recruit and train a qualified cyber workforce; and how the service will meet its facilities needs to accomplish cyber research. (SASC report; caution, large-sized file.)

The next-generation strategic bomber that Russia is developing would stand little chance against modern air defense networks and should be abandoned, stated Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. “Look at the current level of air defense and anti-missile defense—these aircraft...