The First New Iraqi Air Base

March 9, 2006

US Air Force personnel helped other coalition and Iraqi airmen to officially open the Al Muthana Air Base near Bagdhad Airport on March 7. Maj. Gen. Kamal Barzanjy, Iraqi Air Force Chief of Staff, called the ceremony, which included a static display of two of the IAF’s C-130s and Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters, “important for Iraqis.” He went on: “It is important for them to see tangible results and cooperation.” USAF airmen have been training IAF personnel to operate and maintain the C-130 transports.

Related Content

Citing Wildfires, Western Senators Lobby for Nevada C-130 Upgrades

Oct. 22, 2020
Four Democratic senators are pushing the Air Force to send eight C-130J aircraft to the Nevada Air National Guard to bolster firefighting missions as the American West continues to suffer from devastating wildfires. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris of California—the…

Eielson F-35s Get Arctic Survival Kits

Oct. 22, 2020
Arctic survival kits are the newest feature on the Air Force's F-35A Joint Strike Fighters at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-35 was not designed to carry sleeping bags and other equipment to protect pilots if they need to eject into the brutal Arctic temperatures, which regularly dip to…

USAF Asks Airmen for Input on Women’s Hair Regulations

Oct. 22, 2020
The Air Force Women’s Initiative Team has launched a survey to get female Airmen’s feedback on whether and how USAF should change its rules for how women can wear their hair while in uniform. The Women’s Initiative Team will use the data “to educate Air Force General Officers on what…

Virtual Events: Sokolski on Mitchell’s Nuclear Deterrence Forum, and More

Oct. 21, 2020
On Oct. 22, the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will host a Nuclear Deterrence Forum featuring Henry Sokolski, executive director of the Nonproliferation Policy Education Center. The think tank will post event video on its website and YouTube page after the live event. Register here.

Russia, China Push STRATCOM to Reconsider Strategic Deterrence

Oct. 21, 2020
Adversaries such as Russia and China have “blurred the lines” when it comes to conventional and nuclear conflict, forcing the U.S. to rethink the way it approaches strategic deterrence. U.S. Strategic Command boss Adm. Charles “Chas” A. Richard said his command is conducting an “exhaustive assessment” of the current threat…

Space Force Launches New Operations Branch

Oct. 21, 2020
The Space Force on Oct. 21 formally stood up its Space Operations Command, the largest organization to run satellites, radars, and other combat assets for regional military commanders around the world. Lt. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting will run SpOC at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. He has held similar positions…

Russia Intercepts USAF B-1 Bombers Over Bering Sea

Oct. 21, 2020
Russian aircraft intercepted two B-1 bombers over the Bering Sea on Oct. 20, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Twitter. The USAF aircraft never entered Russia's sovereign airspace, and the Russian planes followed “international airspace rules,” the ministry added. Pacific Air Forces on Oct. 21 confirmed that two of its…

Contentious Corona Debates Push Budget Decisions

Oct. 21, 2020
Although the Air Force expected to finalize a lot of its budget and force-design decisions at the top-level Corona meeting earlier this month, debate and competition for resources will push decisions to a later time, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr said Oct. 21. Brown said major commands…

Top Lawmakers Look to Start Talks on 2021 Defense Policy Bill

Oct. 21, 2020
Leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees are tentatively scheduling a “Big Four” meeting for Oct. 26 to begin hashing out an agreement on the 2021 defense policy bill, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) told reporters. The Big Four refers to the top Democrats…