Air Force missile pioneers gathered Dec. 16 at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first successfully launched Thor missile. Nearly 30 members of the Thor Association attended the event, toured the Thor’s restored launch pad where many of them once worked, and shared stories. The Thor missile was the Air Force’s first operational intermediate-range ballistic missile. It paved the way for the Delta series of space launch vehicles still in use today. The Thor program went from contract award in December 1955 to initial operational capability in June 1959. “What made Thor unique was the fact that it was operated by a military launch group,” said Frank Trainer, a missile maintenance technician and former Thor member from the base’s 392nd Missile Training Squadron. He added, “It was the first launch solely made by a ‘blue suit’ team.” (Includes Vandenberg report by A1C Steve Bauer)
Navy CCA Program’s Shape Coming into Focus
Oct. 17, 2025
In announcing its Navy Collaborative Combat Aircraft contract, General Atomics has provided some clues as to where the service is heading with its version of an armed, autonomous fighter escort. It will likely be quite different from the Air Force version.
