Daily Report

Aug. 3, 2016

F-35A is Combat Ready

Air Combat Command chief Gen. Hawk Carlisle said Tuesday the F-35 is “combat ready,” and he would have no reservations about sending it into battle. Speaking with reporters at the Pentagon, Carlisle declared Initial Operational Capability for the F-35A, saying...

The F-35’s Limits

There are still some issues to be shaken out of the F-35A, Air Combat Command chief Gen. Hawk Carlisle said Tuesday. Speaking with reporters at the Pentagon about declaring the F-35A’s initial operational capability, Carlisle said the displays are not...

Schoolhouse Toughs

The Air Force’s goal is to ensure that “the vast majority” of F-35s and F-22s—even those dedicated to basic flight training—are at the full operational standard, Air Combat Command chief Gen. Hawk Carlisle told reporters at the Pentagon on Tuesday....

Keep the Numbers Up

While the Air Force’s original plan for the F-35 was to buy about 110 of the fighters per year, that goal has steadily eroded as the service’s budget has been taxed with other needs, and now achieving 60 a year...

AFCENT Boss Talks Priorities

New Air Forces Central Command boss Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian recently visited the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing to meet the airmen and talk about the command’s priorities. Harrigian, who took command July 22, visited the wing Aug. 1 and said...

US Hits al Qaeda in Yemen

US aircraft in July conducted two more strikes in Yemen, targeting al Qaeda operatives in part of an ongoing counter terrorism focus inside the country. A July 8 strike killed one operative, and another on July 16 killed six operatives...

Navy Hornet Crashes, Pilot Ejects

A US Navy pilot was being evaluated for injuries after an F/A-18C Hornet crashed Tuesday near Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev. The Hornet was conducting a routine training flight and was returning to base when it crashed at about 10:45...

Luke Stands Up Third F-35 Squadron

Luke AFB, Ariz., has its third F-35 squadron. Lt. Col. Matthew Vedder took command of the unit – the 63rd Fighter Squadron – Aug. 1 at a ceremony on the base’s flight line. The squadron will train American and Turkish...