The High Cost of Friendly Skies

Sept. 16, 2005

Maj. Gen. Stephen Lorenz, a top Air Force budget official, says USAF is in the hole by about $800 million this year—all due to fuel increases. The big gas guzzler is Operation Noble Eagle, the domestic air defense activity now ending its fourth year. Noble Eagle now has a total annual price tag of $1.2 billion—or about $100 million per month.

Related Content

Austin Warns of Yearlong CR as China Invests Heavily in Military Technology

Dec. 6, 2021
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III outlined Dec. 4 the vital importance of U.S. defense investment keeping pace with that of China before issuing a statement warning that such competition would suffer “irreparable” damage if Congress opts for a yearlong continuing resolution, a real possibility being discussed by lawmakers after…

China’s Impact on the Evolving US Footprint in CENTCOM

Dec. 6, 2021
The recently completed Global Posture Review directed further analysis to determine the right force mix in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, but one thing is certain, the command’s director of operations said Dec 6: The U.S. footprint won’t look like it has in the past. Through its Belt…

Space Force Focuses on Culture in ‘Intimate’ New Orientation Course

Dec. 6, 2021
The Space Force’s orientation course for people transferring into the new service—civilian and military alike—draws from the “welcoming and intimate” formats that the Air Force’s major commands offer in their chiefs’ orientation courses for chief master sergeants. Space Training and Readiness Command held the first Guardian Orientation Course the week…

Reaper Drone Crashes on Runway at Holloman

Dec. 6, 2021
An MQ-9 Reaper drone was taking off from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., when it crashed on the runway at about 7:55 a.m. Dec. 6. No injuries were reported.

With Russia on Multiple Fronts, DOD Team in Ukraine Assesses Air Defense Needs

Dec. 3, 2021
A Defense Department team on the ground in Ukraine has been assessing what the country needs to protect itself from air, naval, electronic, and cyber warfare threats as Russian troops have gathered on multiple fronts, a senior Ukrainian defense official told Air Force Magazine, describing an emphasis on what assistance…

Raymond Cancels Trip After COVID-19 Contact

Dec. 3, 2021
Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond canceled a trip to California over the weekend after close contact with multiple individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, the Space Force confirmed Dec. 3. Raymond was scheduled to appear at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, Calif., to…

23,000 Airmen and Guardians Unvaccinated as Deadline for Guard and Reserve Passes

Dec. 3, 2021
More than 20,000 Airmen and Guardians across the Total Force remained unvaccinated against COVID-19 as the deadline for the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve passed Dec. 2. Out of more than 500,000 Total Force members, 95.3 percent were at least partially vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, according to data…

Air Force Looking at Ways to Electrify Airfield Operations

Dec. 3, 2021
The Air Force uses billions of gallons of fuel every year, the vast majority of it aviation fuel to power its fleet of aircraft. But as the Defense Department seeks to increase its energy efficiency and secure its power grids, the department’s biggest consumer of fuel is looking at ways…