Pioneers and Prototypes

Oct. 1, 2012
For decades, experimental aircraft have pushed the envelope. Some led to classic designs, while others became historical footnotes. Here are a few.

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

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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

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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

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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…

Air Force Searching for Savvier Sustainment

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GPAW Will be Next Mass-Produced, Fifth-Gen Ground Attack Munition

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F-22s Intercept Bears, Flankers, and Russian AWACS Off Alaska

Oct. 20, 2020
F-22s intercepted a Russian air package comprised of Tu-95 Bear missile carriers, Su-35 Flankers, and an A-50 Mainstay AWACS-type aircraft off the coast of Alaska on Oct. 19, NORTHCOM reported. The incident was one of an increasing number of Russian sorties into the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone in recent…