Page 79 - Air Combat Command News Today

Congress May Put the Kibosh on Buying Extra F-35 Fighter Jets The active-duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wings conducted an F-35A Combat Power Exercise at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Jan. 6, 2020. (U.S. Air Force photo/R. Nial Bradshaw) 26 Apr 2021 For years, Congress has given the military services the option to buy extra F-35 Joint Strike Fighter stealth jets that were not in the original budget request. But some lawmakers say that practice may be coming to an end. In a joint hearing Apri...

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Battlefield Air Targeting Man-Aided Knowledge team, referred to as BATMAN, lent its effort to the Air and Space Forces’ Small Business Innovation Research program to make a few former Airmen’s dreams come true and potentially deliver a needed survival radio charger to the warfighter. These former Airmen formed Combat Power Solutions, a servicedisabled veteran-owned small business, to develop innovative technology that solves real-life warfighter challe...

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. —  The Air Force Global Strike Command commander ordered a safety stand-down of the B-1B Lancer fleet of 57 March 28.  During a routine inspection of the B-1B drogue chute system, potentially fleet-wide issues were identified with the rigging of the drogue chute. It appears to be a procedural issue and is unrelated to the previous problem with egress system components.  As a precautionary measure, the commander directed a holistic inspection of the entire egre...

US Air Force The US Air Force is seeking upgrades to its fleet of MQ-9 Reaper drones as its mission shifts from anti-extremist operations to dealing with near-peer adversaries like Russia and China. Through the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s MQ-9 Program Office, the increased capabilities will be installed in both new Reapers and those already in service. Since it first flew in February 2001, the capabilities of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper in its many v...

By Leslie Heck, Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs / Published April 23, 2021 The 711 Human Performance Wings Battlefield Air Targeting Man-Aided Knowledge team aided contractor Combat Power Solutions’ Small Business Innovation Research project to develop a much-needed warfighter capability: a portable charging device (shown by itself here in its final prototype) for a radio that is critical during combat survival. (Photo courtesy of Combat Power Solutions, LLC) The...

Airmen assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing push cargo onto a C-130J Super Hercules at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium, April 20, 2021. Airdrop operations were conducted as part of an Agile Combat Employment exercise, testing the 37th Airlift Squadron’s ability to operate from a variety of locations without the familiar support structure found at home station. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor Rhynes) U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Deontae Williams, 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron unilat...

Many have traversed Mobility's Hometown to train, fly, or take part in what local leaders say is the foundation of Air Force rapid global mobility. Several of these Airmen, if asked, are quick to mention one name in particular when asked what gives Altus,

US Air Force upgrading Reapers for near-peer threat By Harry Lye 22 Apr 2021 (Last Updated April 22nd, 2021 14:18) The US Air Force (USAF) is upgrading its Reaper uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) to make them better prepared to face near-peer threats rather than their traditional counter-terrorism mission. Share Article MQ-9 Reaper at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada. Image: US Air Force. The US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center...

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- With global competition heating up, the need to maximize the agility of U.S. Air Force operational command and control has never been more pressing. Fortunately, the USAF’s Operational Command Training Program is a foundational piece of its current C2 training architecture.  The OCTP team is a powerful tool designed to support every Air Component Command around the globe, yet too many operational level leaders are unfamiliar with the program and its value in optimiz...

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s MQ-9 Program Office is moving forward with several fleet enhancement capabilities aimed at increasing the MQ-9 Reaper’s effectiveness against near-peer adversary threats. ,