Our F-16 burst through the clouds above Spangdahlem Air Base on a crisp early morning in June, one of several Fighting Falcons from the 480th Fighter Squadron operating as an opposition force for a counter-air exercise.
September/October 2024
Vol. 107, No. 9
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgThe Air Force’s ambitious effort to overhaul its organization, deployment model, and...
In a potential fast-moving future conflict, spread widely across the Pacific, the U.S. would depend on mighty Air Force C-5 and C-17 airlifters to move vast amounts of military materiel. But they can’t do the job alone. Air Mobility Command’s 1,145 tankers and cargo aircraft will be augmented—as they have been for 73 years—by the Civil Reserve Air Fleet.
Fighting the Air Base
Front-line air bases are like any other weapon system: They are only effective if they can function under enemy fire. Air bases at forward locations in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, or other theaters must be able to fend off complex integrated air and missile strikes, rapidly reconstitute operational capabilities when damaged, and continue to generate combat effects.
SmallSats: Answering the Call for Space Superiority
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org Small satellites lend themselves to many more applications than simply low-Earth...
Editorial: Relearning Old Lessons
The risk of world war today has never been greater since 1940—and the United States has arguably never been less ready. Waking the nation up to that fact should be a top priority for our national leaders, though precious little has been said or will be said over the remaining days of the 2024 presidential campaign.
Strategy & Policy: A National Defense Strategy Under the Gun
The congressionally appointed Commission on the National Defense Strategy (NDS), after a thorough two-year look, concludes that the strategy is deeply flawed. The bipartisan panel of experts unanimously urged revisions to address emerging threats and advised a steady increase in defense spending to meet growing threats and to ensure a joint force capable of fighting major conflicts in multiple theaters simultaneously.
WORLD: Air
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgB-1 Bombers from Ellsworth to Grand Forks USAF plans to relocate B-1s in...
WORLD: Space
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgSpace Force Payload Launches Historic First By Greg Hadley ASpaceX Falcon 9...
WORLD: Readiness
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgSun, Spades, and Forklifts at Bamboo Eagle By David Roza MOJAVE, Calif....
WORLD: Russia-Ukraine
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgUkraine Unveils Its First F-16 Fighters By Chris Gordon Ukraine’s first F-16s...
WORLD: Personnel
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgChange of Station Easier by 2025 By David Roza The top civilian...
WORLD: Hypersonics/Technology
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgNew B-1 Pylon Creates ‘Hypersonic Testbed’ By John A. Tirpak The Air Force...
Faces of the Force
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org Tell us who you think we should highlight here. Write to...
Letters
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgWe love letters! Write to us at letters@afa.org. To be published, letters...
Verbatim
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgThe Next Fighter Engine Cost is going to be a significant variable....
Outstanding Airmen of the Year
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org The Outstanding Airman Program annually recognizes 12 enlisted members for superior leadership, job...
AFA In Action: 2024 National AFA Thompson/Mallett Teacher of the Year
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.orgThe Air & Space Forces Association named Ty White the 2024 Teacher...
Heroes And Leaders: Claire L. Chennault
Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org A “Tiger” who showed his teeth without biting his tongue. Chennault...
