Revamping the RPA Structure

The Air Force on Thursday outlined steps it will take to improve the health and morale of its remotely piloted aircraft force, including new operating bases and doubling the total number of RPA flying squadrons. The steps, outlined in a...

RPA Plan Requires Political Will

The Air Force will need help implementing its new plan to overhaul the remotely piloted aircraft community, said Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command. “Resourcing these changes is not within ACC’s direct control,” said Carlisle in a Dec....

Another Continuing Resolution

The Senate on Thursday passed a five-day continuing resolution, preventing a government shutdown and extending the deadline to pass a full-year omnibus appropriations bill from Dec. 11 to Dec. 16. The House is expected to approve the measure on Friday....

Nellis on Lockdown

Nellis AFB, Nev., was on lockdown for nearly three hours Dec. 9 after a woman drove up to the main gate and said she had a bomb in the car. Security and law enforcement personnel closed the main gate and...

Keep the Hercs Speaking European

The Air Force issued a $29.6 million radio upgrade contract to bring its legacy C-130 fleet into compliance with European airspace rules, contractor Raytheon announced on Dec. 10. “Our focus is on ensuring Hercules operators can communicate freely, reliably, and...

US Airstrikes Kill ISIS Financial Chief

US airstrikes in recent weeks have killed multiple top ISIS officials, including the group’s top financial official Abu Salah. The group’s “senior extortionist” Abu Mariam, and a leader named Abu Rahman al-Tunisi also were killed in the late November airstrikes,...

McCain Calls For Freeze on ULA Payments

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is calling for a freeze on launch subsidy payments to the United Launch Alliance, in part because he does not believe the explanations the Lockheed Martin and Boeing consortium gave for not competing in the first...

Shall We Play a Game?

Air Force Space Command will start the Schriever Wargame on Dec. 11 at Schriever AFB, Colo. The exercise—set in the year 2025— will explore space issues and “investigate the integration activities of multiple agencies associated with space systems and services,”...

Testing Allied Tankers

An Australian KC-30 tanker is undergoing trials at Edwards AFB, Calif., to certify it to refuel US Air Force and other coalition aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force KC-30 is the first of three international tankers Edwards is evaluating under...