Enlisted Drone Pilots Coming

Enlisted airmen will now be able to fly unarmed RQ-4 Global Hawks in the Air Force, the service announced Dec. 17. The decision is the latest step intended to alleviate strain on the undermanned remotely piloted aircraft community. “Our enlisted...

Vietnam Vets Awarded Silver Stars

The Air Force on Dec. 17 presented Silver Stars to two retired airmen for actions in Vietnam, righting a wrong that lasted for nearly 50 years. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh presented the awards to retired CMSgt....

Potential RD-180 Replacement Passes Initial Review

Aerojet Rocketdyne’s developmental AR1 rocket engine designed to replace the Russian-built RD-180 to launch military satellites passed its first major design review this week, the company announced. “We have achieved every milestone in our AR1 schedule to be ready” to...

Congress Eyes F-35 Logistics System

Congress has included a provision in the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill requiring Secretary of Defense Ash Carter to keep defense committees updated on the progress of the logistics system for the F-35. Carter must submit a report by May...

Accelerating Next-Gen JSTARS Production

Congress is asking the Defense Secretary and Secretary of the Air Force to look at the acquisition process for the next generation JSTARS program, in hopes of shrinking the development phase and speeding up production and delivery. “Delays by the...

Fourth, Fifth Generation Aircraft Train at Tyndall

F-22s and F-35s are training together with T-38s, F-15Es, and F-16s, at Tyndall AFB, Fla., in an exercise aimed at bridging the gap between fifth generation aircraft and the Air Force’s legacy fleet. In addition to the fighters, B-52s and...

Hanoi Taxi Takes Cover

The C-141C Starlifter that flew the last US prisoners of war home from Vietnam moved indoors for the first time at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, on Wednesday. Hanoi Taxi moved into the...

Schriever Wargame Ends

The 2015 Schriever Wargame wrapped up Dec. 17 at Schriever AFB, Colo. This year’s wargame was set in 2025, and the scenario was against a peer competitor in space and cyber—as opposed to a near-peer competitor, like in previous years,...

Three More MQ-9s for France

The French air force is purchasing three additional MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft to augment its existing fleet, French acquisition officials announced. France is looking to purchase 16 Reapers under a possible $1.2 billion foreign military sale requested in 2013,...