Fighting for Reaper

The Defense Department Inspector General said the Air Force has not justified its plan to procure 401 MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft, and “risks spending” some $8.8 billion on 46 Reapers “it may not need,” according to a report from the...

US to Reduce Air Support in Afghanistan

Air support is one of the weaknesses of the Afghan National Security Forces, and it could get worse by year’s end, after US and coalition forces sharply reduce their presence, said Army Gen. John Campbell, commander of the International Security...

A-29 Training Squadron Activated at Moody

The 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., which will train Afghan pilots to fly the A-29 Super Tucano, formally stood up on Oct. 1. The squadron is slated to begin training later this month, states a release. The 81st...

Afghanistan Security Strong, US Commander Says

The new top commander in Afghanistan on Thursday expressed his confidence in the Afghan National Security Forces’ ability to defend their country against the Taliban, endorsed the planned drawdown of coalition forces, and repeatedly stressed the difference in support for...

NATO Moving Forward on Munitions Stocks

In an attempt to address supply issues that emerged during the 2011 Libya air campaign, NATO has developed a plan to jointly acquire large volumes of air-to-ground munitions, said the head of the NATO Military Committee Danish Army Gen. Knud...

Retooling NATO

NATO’s militaries must fundamentally retool, rearm, and become more responsive in order to reassure its members and partners in the aftermath of the Ukraine crisis, NATO’s military committee chief said Thursday. Echoing comments from Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Philip Breedlove,...

Stopping Waste in Afghanistan

The international commander for Afghanistan said Thursday he is working with coalition and Afghan officials to reduce what a US watchdog has described as the rampant corruption and waste of US development funds in the poverty-stricken nation. John Sopko, the...