AFA/AEF Almanac

Sept. 1, 2003
A compilation of facts and figures about the Air Force Association and the Aerospace Education Foundation.

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HASC’s Smith: U.S. Should Abandon Quest for Military Preeminence

April 22, 2021
The U.S. military needs to wake up to the fact that global dominance is no longer a viable strategy for national defense, because pursuing that unrealizable goal is making the country less safe, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said April 22. Emerging defense technologies like swarms of…

Strike Options Should Compete on Cost Effectiveness, Study Says

April 22, 2021
The proliferation of long-range strike options under development across all the U.S. armed forces should prompt a comprehensive review by civilian leaders, a new report by two influential think tanks concludes. Titled “Understanding the Long-Range Strike Debate,” the report by AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and the Hudson Institute…

CENTCOM Looks to Help Afghans Maintain Aircraft After Withdrawal

April 22, 2021
U.S. Central Command is searching for “innovative” ways to help the Afghan Air Force turn wrenches on their planes after U.S. and coalition forces withdraw from the country, though the command’s boss acknowledges it’s not going to be easy. “The U.S. contractors will come out as we come out. That…

HASC Won’t Plus Up F-35 Request in Fiscal 2022 Budget

April 22, 2021
House Armed Services leaders say they'll move to block adding more F-35s than requested in the fiscal 2022 budget, in hopes of letting the overtaxed sustainment system for the fighter “catch up” to the fleet already in place. Without action on sustainment costs, the Air Force would only be able…

USAF Releases New Airpower Doctrine

April 22, 2021
The Air Force on April 22 released a new doctrine that outlines the basic tenants of airpower, how and why the service fights, and reiterates the Air Force core values of “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.” In an email to retired and active general…

After Leaving Somalia, U.S. Troops Now ‘Commuting to Work’ From Other Nations

April 22, 2021
Since U.S. forces withdrew from Somalia earlier this year, they have been “commuting to work” via aircraft to help train Somali troops, but without a ground presence there is limited intelligence understanding, the head of U.S. Africa Command told lawmakers. In December 2020, former President Donald J. Trump ordered U.S.…

Air Force to Upgrade MQ-9’s Mission and Capabilities for Near-Peer Fight

April 21, 2021
The Air Force is upgrading some 70 MQ-9 Reapers to a new configuration that will keep the type capable and relevant to the near-peer fight for another 15 years. It awarded General Atomics a $272.3 million contract to enhance the Reaper's weapons, electric power, connectivity, and resistance to jamming, among…

JADC2 Strategy in Final Stages, With Unclassified Version Coming

April 21, 2021
The Pentagon’s overarching joint all-domain command and control strategy, a document outlining the entire Defense Department’s effort to link sensors and shooters together, will be presented to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III in the coming days, with a public version expected to follow. USMC Lt. Gen. Dennis A. Crall,…