Photochart of USAF Leadership

U.S., Partner Space Launches on Track as Importance of International Collaboration Grows

May 12, 2021

SMC boss Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, speaking May 12 during a Mitchell Institute Space Power Forum, said strengthening ties with allies is increasingly important in both realizing “big-time” cost savings and speeding up the delivery of operational capability. In April, an SMC team went to Japan and “conducted successful…

Raymond: Expect the Space Force to Provide Tactical ISR

May 12, 2021

The U.S. Space Force will move more into the role of providing space-based tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance—a role typically filled by the intelligence community—with a new ground moving target indicator capability possibly coming soon. USSF Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond said that since small satellites…

Rep. Brown Explains Support for Full F-35 Buy

May 12, 2021

The F-35 has problems, but its operational success and critical role in future conflicts outweigh them, said Rep. Anthony Brown during the McAleese FY2022 Defense Programs Conference on May 12. He urged that the services' 2022 F-35 request—as well as any congressional adds—be supported by House leaders.

House NDAA Vote Not Expected Until After August as Infrastructure Takes Priority

May 12, 2021

The House of Representatives likely won’t get the 2021 defense policy bill on to the floor for a vote until as late as July, as the Biden administration has not yet released its proposed budget and is making a major infrastructure bill its main priority, a key lawmaker said May…

Wittman Calls for $753B Defense Budget As Dems Seek Cuts to Defense

May 12, 2021

The fiscal 2022 Pentagon budget should be $753 billion, $38 more than the Biden administration's proposal of $715 billion, said Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Virginia), ranking member of the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee. Wittman's proposal is an increase from the $731.3 billion Congress approved in total defense…

U.S. Military Needs an EMS Warfare Czar

May 11, 2021

The Pentagon needs an overseer at the highest level for the joint electromagnetic warfare fight to coordinate responses to China and Russia, experts said at a Hudson Institute webinar. The services' fragmented approach can be overcome by the enterprise approach taken by U.S. adversaries, they said. Members of Congress on…

Hill F-35s Deploy to France for ‘Atlantic Trident’

May 11, 2021

F-35s from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, will take part in Atlantic Trident 21, a major France-led air exercise focused on integrating fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft. The F-35s from the 4th Fighter Squadron touched down at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, France, on May 10. The squadron is made up of Active-duty…

Eglin Testers Load Five JASSMs onto an F-15E

May 11, 2021

The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, loaded five AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles onto an F-15E, more than doubling the Strike Eagle's normal JASSM load. The test comes about two months after the wing demonstrated that the Strike Eagle can carry up to 15…

Airlift Continues Out of Afghanistan as Violence Remains

May 11, 2021

U.S. C-17s have now flown 104 loads of materiel out of Afghanistan as the retrograde continues, and U.S. Central Command plans to destroy more than 1,800 pieces of equipment. Between six and 12 percent of the entire retrograde process is complete, CENTCOM said in a May 11 statement.

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