The Air Force is less than 6,000 airmen short of its goal of reaching an active duty end strength of 330,000 in Fiscal 2010, based on end-of-the year figures for 2008. According to the Air Force Personnel Center, the active duty force comprised 324,633 individuals, including 13,246 pilots, as of Dec. 31. Of the total, 64,494 were officers and 260,139 were enlisted personnel. The average age of an officer was 35, and the average age for an enlisted airman was 29. USAF had a total civilian strength of 141,602 personnel at year’s end. (AFPC release)
The Air Force has selected Collins Aerospace and Shield AI to develop the software Collaborative Combat Aircraft will use to fly missions alongside manned fighters, the service revealed Feb. 12—and drone-maker General Atomics was quick to announce it has already flown its YFQ-42A aircraft with Collins’ system.
