Sea of Influence

The United States is not engaged in an arms race with China in the area around the South China Sea, but there’s a competition under way for influence and access there, said Gen. Herbert Carlisle, Pacific Air Forces commander. “I...

Expanding Active Associations

The Air Force would be well served to utilize active associations for missions today as well as future activities like F-35 strike fighter and KC-46 tanker operations, said Air Force Reserve Command boss Lt. Gen. James Jackson. “That organizational construct...

Update on BMT Sexual Abuse Investigation

Air Education and Training Command boss Gen. Edward Rice said he expects to brief senior Air Force leadership on the status of the Basic Military Training sexual abuse investigation in late October. “I have just concluded several productive meetings here...

Radar Upgrades Installed on Operational B-2 Fleet

Northrop Grumman completed field installations of the upgraded radar system for the Air Force’s fleet of B-2 stealth bombers, announced the company on Sept. 24. “Every operational B-2 is now equipped with the new radar” as part of the B-2...

China’s Raptor Lookalike

Clearer photos of China’s second stealthy-looking fighter design emerged on the Internet as Defense Secretary Leon Panetta kicked off his diplomatic visit to Beijing last week. The Shenyang F-60—also called the J-21 or J-31—resembles the F-22, but with the intakes...

B-1 Fleet Poised for Battle Station Modification

The first B-1 bomber slated to undergo the Integrated Battle Station modification at Tinker AFB, Okla., touched down earlier this month at the base, announced Tinker officials. The aircraft’s Sept. 13 arrival is “an important milestone for the B-1 program;...

MALD Jammer Moves into Operational Flight Testing

The Air Force and Raytheon began operational testing of the Miniature Air Launched Decoy Jammer and completed four successful flights in four attempts, announced the company on Sept. 24. More MALD-J flight tests are scheduled for the remainder of the...

Armored for the Missile Fields

Security forces at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., received 76 new up-armored Humvees to provide these airmen with better protection as they secure the base’s ICBM fields and defend the base’s Minuteman III missiles during transport. Already some of the new vehicles...