Air Combat Command last week stood down the F-22 fleet indefinitely over reports about potential malfunctions with the aircraft’s onboard oxygen-generation system that provides the pilot with breathable air in flight. “The safety of our airmen is paramount and we...

The Air Force and its industry partners successfully launched, GEO-1, the first Space Based Infrared System geosynchronous satellite, into orbit from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V booster carried the Lockheed Martin-built missile warning satellite aloft....

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told hundreds of airmen at Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C., there’s the possibility that Osama bin Laden’s death “could be a game changer” in Afghanistan. “Bin Laden and [Taliban leader] Mullah Omar had a very close personal relationship....

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz last week visited Little Rock AFB, Ark., to meet with airmen and see first-hand the damage caused by the recent tornado. “You have 20 aircraft downrange and 1,000 people deployed, and you took care...

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz last week announced several leadership changes. Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, commander of 8th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic) at Barksdale AFB, La., will move to a new position as special assistant to...

Specially modified Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command C-130s wrapped up their aerial firefighting mission in Texas last week. Two C-130s from the California ANG’s 146th Airlift Wing and two from AFRC’s 302nd AW at Peterson AFB, Colo.,...

Preparations already are underway between the Obama Administration and Russian government for the next round of nuclear weapons reductions now that the New Start agreement has entered force. However, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), said he's concerned that the Administration intends to move forward unilaterally with more cuts to the detriment of the nation's security. "The United States Senate did not consent to a goal of disarmament" in supporting New START ratification, said Sessions during last week's hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee's strategic forces panel. He added, "The United States Senate has also not agreed to or been consulted on unilateral nuclear reductions." James Miller, principle deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, said in response the Administration intends to conduct a review to identify options for further reductions. But he assured that the Administration intends to move forward together with Russia in further cuts and address Russia's far larger stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons. (For more from Miller's May 4 testimony, see Off to a Good New START.) (Miller prepared remarks)

The United States and Russia will still possess 90 percent to 95 percent of the world's nuclear weapons even after the two nations implement the reductions mandated under the New START accord, James Miller, the Defense Department's principal deputy undersecretary for policy, told Senate lawmakers last week. Nonetheless, the Obama Administration will factor China in future decisions on additional US nuclear cuts, especially if the Chinese remain so secretive about their nuclear intentions, he said. "Our ability to go forward, certainly, beyond any next round [of nuclear reductions with Russia] will depend, in significant measure, on what China does," said Miller in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee's panel on strategic forces May 4. The Chinese are thought to have roughly 400 nuclear warheads, according to unclassified estimates. Miller said the United States has no indication that the Chinese seek nuclear parity. Rather, it appears they appear to be acting consistent with their stated doctrine of "wanting to have the ability to deliver in a second strike a relatively limited number of nuclear weapons." Still, "we would like to understand more about their doctrine" since the "uncertainty grows" with them, he said. (Miller written statement)

Airmen at Tinker AFB, Okla., working with Pratt & Whitney mechanics, recently completed repairs on the first F117 engine at the base’s new F117 maintenance shop. The Pratt-manufactured engine powers the C-17 transport; four reside on each C-17. Members of...