Price of Doing Business
The Air Force has worked up some numbers on what it will cost to add F-22s to the fleet beyond the three-year multiyear buy of 60 aircraft. Adding one more lot of 20 aircraft would cost $3.81 billion, for a...
It’s Still the Money
The great engine debate received a breath of new life this week when testing failed on the F135 engine destined to power the second F-35 Joint Strike Fighter test aircraft. As the Star-Telegram reports, this is the second time F-135-maker...
Murtha Gets It
Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) has promised to add F-22s, C-17s, and C-130s to the Pentagon’s Fiscal 2009 budget request, Air Force officials said yesterday. Murtha said as much to reporters after a briefing with USAF Chief of Staff Gen. Michael...
On the Horizon
The Air Force has tweaked its long-term strategy to develop a successor capability to its Space Based Infrared System early warning satellites. Gone is the idea of pursuing an Alternative Infrared Satellite System that could be available for launch by...
“Concerned” About USAF People Cuts
Is the Air Force plan to continue drawing down its end strength to some 316,000 airmen as a means to generate savings for recapitalization prudent? That is one of the many questions troubling lawmakers this week as they begin hearings...
There is a Connection
Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, despite a statement earlier this week by a member of his Joint Staff, does believe there is a relationship between the size of the strategic airlift fleet and the expansion of ground forces. Vice...
Space Control
By our count, the Air Force’s Fiscal 2009 spending proposal contains about $405 million for the development and procurement of capabilities to better monitor space for threats, protect friendly assets on orbit, and potentially deny an adversary the use of...
Correction Course:
The new boss of Pacific Air Forces, Gen. Howie Chandler is telling his airmen that the “fairly austere” 2007 budget environment forced the Air Force to do “some things we didn’t necessarily want to do.” He believes the budget situation...
Saving Time and Money:
The 13th Fighter Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan, is the first F-16 unit to complete back-to-back Combat Archer and Combat Hammer weapon system evaluation programs. The 13th FS Vipers first flew Archer at Tyndall AFB, Fla., and went immediately to...
Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism
Feb. 6, 2008 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 25 9 34 949 CAS/Armed Recon 65 33 98 3,007 Airlift 138 138 4,432 Air refueling 42 42 1,429 Total 312 9,817 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance...