DOD’s new unmanned aircraft system strategy paper (DR, 08/12/05) contains a surprise—the US may be flying unmanned “counterair” missions as early as 2020. The study contains a graph (p. 74) showing UASes starting to do the work of F-15s, F-16s, and F-14s in the 2020-25 period. Unmanned systems would complement F/A-22s and F/A-18E/Fs in the 2025-30 period. Unmanned air combat was thought to be much further out than that.
Kendall Sworn in as Air Force Secretary
July 28, 2021
Frank Kendall arrived at the Pentagon and administratively swore in as the 26th Air Force Secretary on July 28, giving the department its first permanent civilian leader since January. The Senate confirmed Kendall two days earlier, following a drawn out confirmation process that included holds from multiple senators. On July…