March 19, 2003

U.S. Northern Command plans to sign an agreement with its European and Pacific counterparts to enhance coordination and close security seams in the Arctic, a strategically vital region that spans all three commands. The agreement comes at an important moment in NORTHCOM's evolution, as its mission grows more complex.

The Air Force has invested $87.4 million to upgrade the F-16 Fighting Falcon's electronic warfare capabilities, bolstering the fighter's self-protection against increasingly advanced threats. Bringing the total program value to $1.92 billion, the move is expected to jump-start fielding by funding low-rate initial production of the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic…

One of the Air Force and Navy’s most common air-to-air missiles is falling short of a key readiness metric, and the services are ramping up stocks of a vital air-to-ground missile, according to recent Pentagon reports.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington D.C. has been filled with signs of American airpower: U.S. Air Force B-1 and B-2 bombers and F-22 fighters have all performed flyovers Sept. 23-24.

The Air Force is slashing all civilian positions at its premier research institute for Chinese military aviation, prompting concern among experts who say it will dilute the service’s focus on the Pentagon’s most significant long-term adversary.