Multiple companies who faced off in the Air Force’s light attack experiment will again compete for a similar contract from U.S. Special Operations Command. Textron Aviation, Air Tractor, and Leidos are offering aircraft for a three-phase armed overwatch competition that ends with live-fly demonstrations in November. That demo follows the Air Force's nearly three-year light attack effort that ultimately fell short of a full-fledged buy. SOCOM Acquisition Executive James Smith told reporters May 13 the command is very pleased with industry’s response so far. He declined to say how many proposals SOCOM received.

U.S. Air Forces in Europe will test its Agile Combat Employment concept of operations later this month, moving F-16s forward to another USAFE base where maintainers who typically work with mobility aircraft will apply their skills to fighter support. USAFE commander Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian told Air Force Magazine on May 13 the command recently shared its ACE concept of operations with NATO allies "and a couple key partners," saying successfully implementing the plan requires collective buy-in.

Col. Thomas Falzarano, commander of the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at his home on May 12, the wing announced in a May 13 release. “The cause of death is under investigation, but initial indications are that it was due to natural causes,” the release stated, adding that no signs of COVID-19 were discovered. Falzarano’s deputy, Col. Sam Johnson, is now commanding the wing, the release added. Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond recalled Falzarano as “an incredible leader, mentor, and friend who will be remembered for his warm personality and dedicated service to our nation."

Don’t expect much investment in new fleets of special-operations aircraft as the Pentagon braces for a budget crunch, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command said May 13. “We acknowledge that we are at a strategic inflection point,” Lt. Gen. Jim Slife said during the National Defense Industrial Association’s annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference. “This strategic environment is going to require us to transform ourselves from the AFSOC that we needed into the AFSOC that we will need.” Adding new development programs, and revamping the command into a more digitally savvy, influence operations-focused organization, will be tougher as military funding is expected to decline.

F-15E Strike Eagles and Airmen from RAF Lakenheath’s 492nd Fighter Squadron deployed to the Middle East in early May as part of ongoing combat operations in U.S. Central Command. The undisclosed number of aircraft and personnel from the squadron, nicknamed the “Bolars,” deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at an undisclosed location, U.S. Air Forces in Europe announced. “Last week we sent the 492nd Fighter Squadron and Maintenance team downrange to continue the fight,” 48th Fighter Wing boss Col. William Marshall said in a statement. The wing replaces the 389th Fighter Squadron from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

A new innovation organization has quietly joined the military’s WERX universe. ARCWERX—an innovation organization specifically created for the Air Force's reserve component—looks to leverage the proverbial superpowers hidden within Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve ranks, as well as strategic partnerships, to mold a more effective, ready, and lethal Total Force.

Every vehicle that passes through the U.S. Air Force Academy's North and South gates will now have its license plates scanned in an effort to detect potential risks sooner, but the school says the extra base security isn’t expected to cause regular gate delays. In addition to giving security forces a heads-up if a driver is wanted by law enforcement authorities, the readers can alert them if a car is stolen or involved in the abduction of a minor, a May 12 USAFA release noted.

On March 23, the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will host a virtual Nuclear Deterrence Series event featuring Scowcroft Group Principal Frank Miller. At a time when nuclear modernization programs are accelerating around the world, proposals to recapitalize the U.S. nuclear arsenal are at the forefront of debates over defense spending. Miller will share his insights into the prospects for U.S. nuclear modernization programs and the value of nuclear deterrence in today's competitive security environment. The think tank will post event video on its website and YouTube page after the live event.