Civil Reserve Air Fleet Activated for the First Time

Aug. 17, 1990

For the first time since it was authorized in 1952, the Civil Reserve Air Fleet is activated to increase the availability of airlift to the Middle East.

Related

AETC Qualifies First T-7 Red Hawk Instructor Pilots

June 5, 2026
Air Education and Training Command has ticked off another box on the long checklist it must complete to start training student pilots on the new T-7A Red Hawk: qualifying its first instructor pilots.

Air Force, Space Force Seek 6,000 Civilian Hires in Wake of DOGE Cuts

June 5, 2026
The Air Force and Space Force are seeking to add more than 6,000 civilian personnel to their ranks in fiscal 2027, a sharp reversal from a year ago when they were looking to slash around 5,700 positions as part of the Trump administration’s push to shrink the federal civilian workforce.

Iran Severely Damaged US Air Ops Center in Qatar Soon After War Began

June 5, 2026
The command center that has run America’s air campaigns in the Middle East for over two decades took a direct hit during the U.S. war with Iran and was severely damaged, a senior U.S. official and other people informed about the attack told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Air Force Vice Chief: Demand for New Airplanes ‘Outstripping’ Production

June 4, 2026
The Air Force is seeking to buy around 108 new aircraft in fiscal 2027—though really, officials wish they could get more. The issue isn’t just more money, according to the service’s No. 2 officer; contractors just aren't able to produce enough aircraft at the present moment, Gen. John Lamontagne said…

Lawmakers Push Space Force to Seek More Commercial Integration

June 4, 2026
House lawmakers want the Space Force to buy more technology and services from commercial companies, evidenced in a handful of amendments approved as part of the House Armed Services Committee’s version of the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. 

KC-46’s New Remote Vision System Completes Initial ‘Non-Contact’ Testing

June 4, 2026
Boeing has completed initial flight testing on its redesigned Remote Vision System for the KC-46 tanker, the defense giant announced June 4. The new system, dubbed RVS 2.0, is meant to replace the original camera and video system boom operators use to refuel other aircraft, which has faced issues for…

Now Is the Time to Boost CCA Investment

June 3, 2026
The Air Force wants about $1 billion to move Collaborative Combat Aircraft into production in fiscal 2027 and accelerate the introduction of this game-changing technology. Congress should support that objective.