F-22 Putting on Airs

By John A. Tirpak
The Air Force Scientific Advisory Board has completed its review of the F-22’s on-board oxygen-generating system, and the Air Force will release the public version of the board’s report “shortly,” said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz Thursday. However, “we...

Offboard, not Overboard

By John A. Tirpak
The Air Force’s next bomber likely won’t have extensive intelligence-gathering or electronic-attack systems, and will rely on offboard capabilities for those aspects of its mission, said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz Thursday. Answering questions after a speech to the...

Last Air Force Rescue Personnel Who Served in Iraq Return Home

Airmen from the 66th Rescue Squadron and 763rd Maintenance Squadron returned home to Nellis AFB, Nevada. Arriving via commercial charter on Wednesday, they were the last USAF rescue units to come home from duty in Iraq, a Nellis spokesperson confirmed...

Energy Horizons Released

The Air Force has published its Energy Horizons vision paper (full document; caution, large-sized file.) As we reported earlier this week, Energy Horizons provides a blueprint for the service’s science and technology investment in air, space, cyber, and infrastructure in...

Renewed Resolve in the Baltic

NATO member states agreed to extend the alliance’s Baltic air policing mission, providing fighter cover to member states Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania beyond 2014. “I warmly welcome today’s decision by the North Atlantic Council to further authorize NATO air policing...

Up in Arms

Ellen Tauscher stepped down this week as undersecretary of state for arms control and international security. She’s joined the Atlantic Council as vice chair of the organization’s soon-to-open Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security. On a part-time basis, Tauscher will...

First International Student Graduates Hurlburt Course

The 39th Information Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., graduated its first international student from its signature management course. Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader John Waugh said he gained good ideas and insights from the course, which teaches personnel...

Adding to the Royal Family

The Royal Air Force will purchase an additional C-17, raising Britain’s Globemaster III fleet to eight aircraft, announced British Prime Minister David Cameron. “This latest addition to the RAF fleet will further strengthen the vital air bridge between Britain and...

Russian AWACS Probes Japan

Japanese fighters intercepted a Russian AWACS for the first time near Japan’s northeastern coastline, according to foreign press reports. The A-50 “Mainstay” accompanied a flight of two Tu-95 strategic bombers flanked by a pair of Su-24 reconnaissance aircraft, reported Japan’s...