Rollout of First Re-winged Warthog
Boeing and the Air Force rolled out the first re-winged A-10 ground-attack aircraft in a ceremony at Hill AFB, Utah, announced the company on Thursday. “This enhanced wing assembly will give the A-10 new strength and a new foundation for...
No MQ-X
The Air Force will not pursue the notional MQ-X stealthy mid-altitude remotely piloted aircraft that service officials once eyed to perform the MQ-1 Predator/MQ-9 Reaper mission in contested airspace. “At this point, we don’t see a need to invest in...
Aviano, Spangdahlem Losing Units
The Air Force will inactivate the 81st Fighter Squadron, an A-10C unit, at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, and the 603rd Air Control Squadron at Aviano AB, Italy, announced Pentagon officials on Thursday. These moves are part of the broader changes to...
A Non-traditional Study
Although the Air Force just finished a study across its intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance enterprise to assess its information-gathering needs in the next 10 years, it has a few more studies to do in order to get a solid handle on requirements, said...
Top-Shelf Treatment
China’s Vice President Xi Jinping got quite the reception during his visit to Washington, D.C., this week, including a grand ceremony at the Pentagon’s Potomac River entrance with an unprecedented 19-gun salute and greeting from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Xi...
Changing Independent Research and Development Model
Industry might have to look to new models to build defense science and technology business, given that funding is so tight and the old business case is changing, said Jennifer Ricklin, Air Force Research Lab chief technologist. The money available...
For 70 Years, a Parachute Bouquet
Eight C-130Js of the 37th Airlift Squadron celebrated the unit’s 70th birthday with a massive parachute drop not far from the unit’s home at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. “As a modern-day squadron, we stand on the shoulders of giants,” said...
Stiff Upper Lip and a Steady Aim
Testers at Eglin AFB, Fla., successfully fired laser-guided rockets from a Hawker Beechcraft AT-6, announced the company. With these tests, “the AT-6 became the very first fixed-wing aircraft to launch a laser-guided rocket,” according to the company’s release. Derek Hess,...