‘The United States Needs More Air Force’: Allvin Makes the Case for More Funding

The Air Force’s top officer made a blunt case Nov. 13 for the service to get more funding so the nation can employ more effective airpower—and offered a preview of a coming force design to go with that funding. “I think the United States of America needs more Air Force. I think we need more Air Force,” Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said at the inaugural Airpower Futures Forum hosted by AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

USAF Will Withdraw A-10s from Final Overseas Base in Korea in 2025

Starting in January, the U.S. Air Force will start withdrawing its A-10 aircraft from Osan Air Base, South Korea, the Thunderbolt II’s last overseas location. Meanwhile, the USAF F-16s on the peninsula will continue to receive avionics upgrades as part of the Post Block Integration Team (PoBIT) program.

Radar Sweep

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Trump Chooses Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence

The New York Times

President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday chose Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman who became one of his most enthusiastic backers, to serve as the director of national intelligence. Gabbard, a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve who served in Iraq, has been a longtime critic of the foreign policy establishment.

Trump’s Second Term Could Push Space Force to Take Bolder Stance

SpaceNews

As Donald Trump embarks on his second term, all eyes are on the future of the U.S. Space Force. Created during Trump’s first term, the Space Force has become a focal point of national security strategy, with its mission aimed at countering rising space threats from China and Russia. Now, a sweeping policy agenda known as Project 2025—led by the conservative Heritage Foundation—suggests that Trump’s return could see a pivot toward a more “offensive” Space Force.

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Pete Hegseth Has Said Exactly How He Will Shake Up the Pentagon

The Washington Post

President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Fox News host Pete Hegseth as his nominee for defense secretary would place atop the Pentagon a combat veteran and political ally who has assailed the military as ineffective and “woke,” mused about firing the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and blasted the top brass as having failed to safeguard American strength.

One More Thing

US KC-135 Refuels RMAF Sukhoi Su-30 Fighters in Historic First

The Aviationist

A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 141st Air Refueling Wing, Washington Air National Guard, refueled three Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30MKM aircraft during a historic State Partnership engagement with the Royal Malaysian Air Force at RMAF Subang Air Base, Malaysia, on Nov. 12, 2024. It was probably the very first time a U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueled a Russian-made jet.