USAF Almanac 2004 Introduction

NGAD, New Weapons, E-3 Replacement Among Air Combat Command’s Top Priorities, Kelly Says

Oct. 25, 2021

The Next-Generation Air Dominance Fighter is Air Combat Command’s top priority, because without it, the Air Force can’t provide the control of the air the whole military depends on to operate, Air Combat Command chief Gen. Mark D. Kelly said. He also named a replacement for the E-3 AWACS, new…

AFRL, Industry to Launch Fourth-Generation Spacecraft Thermal Control

Oct. 25, 2021

The Air Force Research Laboratory will soon have the first operational oscillating heat pipes flying in space, marking the first operational application of fourth-generation spacecraft thermal control. The technology, which was previously tested aboard the secretive X-37B reusable spaceplane, is expected to be used in space for the next 20…

More than 53,000 Afghan Evacuees on US Bases as Pentagon Monitors Readiness

Oct. 25, 2021

More than 53,000 Afghan evacuees remain at eight military bases throughout the continental U.S., but despite the resources needed to support that population, the military’s readiness has not been adversely affected, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said Oct. 25. Kirby did acknowledge the time and effort it is costing…

US Supports ‘Stronger and More Capable’ European Defense, Austin Says

Oct. 22, 2021

The U.S. supports “a stronger and more capable” European defense, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said during an Oct. 22 press conference in Brussels—but that defense should not duplicate the functions and capabilities of the NATO alliance.

New Hampshire Guard Selected as U.S. State Partner to Republic of Cabo Verde

Oct. 22, 2021

The New Hampshire National Guard was chosen to be the state partner for the Republic of Cabo Verde, an archipelago off the northwestern coast of Africa, after a “highly competitive” months-long selection process, the Guard announced Oct. 21. The State Partnership Program launched in 1993, just after the end of…

Discover ‘Weapons & Platforms,’ Air Force Magazine’s New Digital Database

Oct. 22, 2021

Ever wondered when the B-52 bomber made its first flight? What armaments are on the F-35 fighter? Just how many thousands of pounds a C-17 transport can haul? Authoritative answers are now a few clicks away. Air Force Magazine’s new Weapons & Platforms database builds on our annual Air Force…

Kessel Run Signs ‘Historic’ Agreement With ACC. Here’s What It Means

Oct. 22, 2021

As part of a continued overhaul of the Air Force’s approach to software acquisition, the Kessel Run software factory signed a user agreement with Air Combat Command last month. The new agreement is a significant milestone in how the MAJCOM and the software factory will work together under the new…

Austin Visits Romania Ahead of NATO Summit, Hints at Future Black Sea Deployments

Oct. 21, 2021

Walking the flight line occupied by Blackhawk attack helicopters and American troops on rotation at the “MK” air base in Romania, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III highlighted the important strategic value of one of NATO’s newest members Oct. 20 ahead of NATO defense ministerial meetings in Brussels Oct. 21-22.…

Climate Change Likely to Lead to Instability, Increased Risks For Pentagon, Report Says

Oct. 21, 2021

Nearly nine months after President Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the Pentagon to incorporate the implications of climate change in its wargaming, analysis, and simulations, the Defense Department has released its Climate Risk Analysis report. The report, out Oct. 21, “provides a starting point for a shared understanding…

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