The Air Force unveiled the name of its newest fighter jet—the F-15EX Eagle II—during an April 7 ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. ANG Director Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh said during the ceremony the F-15EX’s improvements will be key to its mission of homeland defense. The Air National Guard will be the first to receive the new jet operationally. Lt. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, the military deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, said new approaches in digital engineering will speed up the acquisition timeline. The first two F-15EXs will be delivered within nine months of the contract award, as opposed to the normal 39 months, Richardson said. This is key, given that 10 percent of the fleet is grounded due to structural issues, with 75 percent flying beyond their certified service life, he said.

The Air Force is experimenting with the use of 5G technology to provide mobile, distributed command and control and it eventually hopes to be able to do away altogether with fixed location air operations centers, according to the service’s deputy chief technology officer. "Today’s air operation centers are static, easy targets to hit that are considered a huge ... liability. There’s no resilience there," James “Rob” Beutel said April 7, during a virtual AFCEA DC event.

Northrop Grumman successfully completed the integrated baseline review for the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, which is on track for initial operational capability by 2029. The integrated baseline review sets the cost and schedule baseline, identifies risk, and ensures there are mitigation plans ready for the program. It occurs within 180 days of contract award. The company and the Air Force worked together early in the process to meet the deadline, according to an April 7 Northrop release.

The Air Force has a new chief scientist: Victoria Coleman, who most recently was the director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Coleman started in her role as the 37th chief scientist of the Air Force last week, and was ceremoniously sworn in by Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. on April 6. Coleman served as the leader of DARPA from November 2020 to Inauguration Day in January. She replaced Richard J. Joseph, who served in the role since 2018.

The Taliban targeted Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, with rockets on April 7, and though no casualties were reported, the Pentagon said the attack is a threat to fragile peace discussions in the country. Preliminary reports showed the rockets landed outside the perimeter of the airfield, with no casualties and no damage, Pentagon spokesman John F. Kirby said. Kandahar has served as a key airfield for U.S. forces and has been the headquarters of Train, Advise, Assist Command-South, with American and NATO forces based on the installation.

U.S. and Iraqi officials, during a joint strategic discussion April 7, agreed to start talks on the eventual removal of American combat troops from Iraq as Iraqi Security Forces grow in capacity. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein led the virtual discussion aimed at reaffirming relationships between the two countries, including on security and counterterrorism, among other areas. The sides agreed to further bilateral security coordination, with a light at the end of the tunnel for combat deployments to the country.