The “lessons learned” process for the now-complete air operation in Libya is just cranking up, but the most obvious conclusions are already in, and deficit-cutters should take note: quick action and smashing success would have been impossible without forward-based assets...

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta intends to do everything in his power to protect, and possibly even increase, funding for cyber offense and defense, remotely piloted aircraft, and special operations forces. However, that likely means other critical areas, including medical and...

Lt. Gen. Hawk Carlisle told House lawmakers last week that the Air Force intends to modernize between 300 and 350 Block 40 and Block 50 F-16s with new avionics and structural improvements to cover any shortfalls until the F-35 strike...

Gen. Edward Rice is expected to award Lt. Col. Gregory Roberts with the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor during a ceremony at Randolph AFB, Tex., Nov. 10. Roberts served as an air advisor to the Afghan Air Force in July 2010 when floods devastated the region. Brig. Gen. Mohammed Barat, Kabul Air Wing commander, hand-picked Roberts and then-Lt. Col. Bernard Willi, who also received the DFC for his actions last summer, to fly the mission because none of the Afghans were completely familiar with the new Mi-17V5 helicopter. Roberts piloted the helicopter and led a combined US and Afghan rescue of more than 2,000 people in the Nangahar and Kunar provinces, according to a release. "The weather was not too bad at mission notification time, but everyone knew the weather in the mountains surrounding Kabul would be treacherous," said Roberts. The aircrews rescued 380 people by the end of the first day and moved more than 2,000 to safety by the end of the second day, even though the area was known as an insurgent "hotbed," according to the release.

Air Force Reservist Lt. Col. David Piffarerio became the first pilot to exceed 1,000 flight hours in the F-22 Raptor on a recent check ride from JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. “This is a great milestone for the pilots, maintainers and contractors...

Officials at Cannon AFB, N.M., officially activated the 43rd Intelligence Squadron during a ceremony last week. The squadron, which is taking the place of Det. 1, 25th IS, which was inactivated, will train and employ direct support operators specializing in...

The Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin $46.8 million in contract options to upgrade its Atmospheric Warning System radars throughout the US and Canada. The contract covers initial planning and design work to modernize 29 AN/FPS-117 long-range surveillance radars, which...

The Air Force Personnel Center Civilian Force Integration Directorate has developed several podcasts intended to help airmen understand how the recent force shaping measures will affect them. The podcasts will cover everything from voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation...

The Air Force employed ground-based radars and air defense missile systems along with Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Canadian military assets in a force-wide mainland defense exercise, coordinated from command posts at Key West, Fla., and Peterson AFB, Colo. “The...

An F-101 Voodoo recently found a new home outside the Defense Language Institute English Language Center at Lackland AFB, Tex. The aircraft was placed on static display outside DLIELC’s Sebille Hall, named after Maj. Louis Sebille, commander of the 67th...