Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) on Thursday announced legislation called the Fair Defense Competition Act that would force the Defense Department to factor World Trade Organization decisions in its military acquisitions. Specifically, Brownback said it “would...

EADS North America on Thursday came out against the Fair Defense Competition Act calling this legislation “the Boeing bill.” EADS officials called it “is one more attempt to avoid competing on the merits of the tanker.” They continued, “Unlike EADS...

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said Wednesday it’s still too early for the Pentagon to act on the World Trade Organization’s March ruling against European aircraft maker Airbus as it relates to the KC-X tanker competition. His words came the...

In its mark-up of the Fiscal 2011 defense authorization bill Thursday, the House Armed Services Committee’s air and land forces panel added funds to keep alive the F-35 competitive engine program, the General Electric-Rolls Royce F-136, defying the Pentagon’s determination...

The House Armed Services Committee’s strategic forces panel on Wednesday reduced the President’s $9.9 billion request for national security space programs in Fiscal 2011 by $182.2 million during its markup of the defense authorization bill. The biggest loser was the...

The Air Force is not looking to lease remotely piloted aircraft, not even temporarily, the service leadership said Wednesday. “We intend to keep this capability over a longer term,” so it makes more sense—and is probably ultimately less expensive—to buy...

Today’s Global Positioning System satellite constellation, with 30 spacecraft currently on orbit, is “healthy, stable, and robust” and providing military and civil users worldwide with “the best GPS performance ever,” Col. Dave Madden, GPS Wing commander at Los Angeles AFB,...

The Air Force has begun construction of the new 38,000 square foot cyber command center at Lackland AFB, Tex., to house the 68th Network Warfare Squadron and the 710th Information Operations Flight. Both units are currently located at Brooks City-Base, Tex., which is closing per BRAC 2005. The new facility, with offices for about 400 personnel, is scheduled for completion in the fall. "This building will be the first of its kind in the nation, as well as the first step in the new warfare—cyber warfare," said Col. Bradford Shwedo, 68th NWS boss. Lackland is headquarters for 24th Air Force, USAF's new cyber operations arm organized under Air Force Space Command. (For more on 24th AF, read Battling the Phantom Menace from the April 2010 issue of Air Force Magazine.) (AFCEE release)

Officials with the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, are scheduled to break ground Saturday on a Fisher House. Although there are numerous Fisher Houses in the continental US, the “Fisher House of Alaska” will be the first one built...

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, May 9, 2010 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 25 45 70 8,023 CAS/Armed Recon 20 85 105 11,996 Airlift 193 193 22,029 Air refueling 49 49 5,539 Rescue 32 32 1,953 Total...