Don’t Call it “Sixth Gen”

There’s probably a new fighter-like airplane in the Air Force’s future, but it won’t be the sole answer to achieving air superiority, senior service planners said Thursday. Speaking at an AFA-sponsored, Air Force breakfast in Arlington, Va., Lt. Gen. Mike...

In the Year 2025

The Air Force is hoping its new approach to air superiority—one of a system of systems rather than a “silver bullet,” all-in-one platform—will create a new capability as early as 2025, Lt. Gen. Mike Holmes, USAF’s top strategic planner, said...

Stand-In and Stand-Offish Arsenal Planes

So-called “arsenal planes” are part of the “trade studies” determining the right mix of systems and capabilities for Air Superiority 2030, Air Force planners acknowledged at an AFA-sponsored, Air Force breakfast on Thursday. Col. Alex Grynkewich, head of the AS...

Beyond the A-10

A draft requirements document for a “follow-on” close air support airplane is making its way around the Air Force now, top service planner Lt. Gen. Mike Holmes told reporters following at an AFA-sponsored, Air Force breakfast Thursday. The service will...

Another Push for BRAC

The Air Force “needs” another round of base realignment and closure, Miranda Ballentine, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, energy, and the environment, told lawmakers Thursday. Ballentine, speaking before the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Military Construction, Veterans Affairs,...

Facing ISIS in Africa

US forces will continue to go after ISIS targets in Africa that pose an “imminent threat” to US personnel and interests as the group’s presence grows in Libya, said Army Gen. David Rodriguez, commander of US Africa Command, on Thursday....

Changing Tactics in Somalia

Al Shabaab fighters are changing their tactics and mode of operations in the face of growing attacks on their forces, including US airstrikes. Al Shabaab has started training large forces in one site, and then immediately attacking a forward operating...

Crosshairs Back on Al Qaeda

US aircraft have recently returned to targeting al Qaeda and Khorasan Group targets in Syria, temporarily taking attention away from ISIS but still targeting groups that are enemies of the US and allies, a spokesman for the US-led coalition said....

Misawa Surges

Airmen at Misawa AB, Japan, tripled their normal sortie rate during a two-day surge exercise earlier this week. The 35th Fighter Wing rapidly launched its F-16s in a simulated combat environment April 4 and 5, according to a release. Each...

First SAC Heroes Inducted into Hall of Fame

The Strategic Air Command Hall of Fame will induct its first members Thursday evening during a Wings of Freedom gala to be held at the Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland, Neb. Inductees include Gen. Curtis LeMay, who led...