“The last 10 years have demonstrated the full potential of the National Guard,” Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, said Tuesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference. McKinley noted that most of the Air Guard units with new BRAC 2005-induced missions have successfully made the transition. He said that “four or five years ago,” he would have said the Adjutants General would have “fought to the death” to retain their old missions, but today, from North Dakota to California, ANG units are succeeding at cutting-edge missions and new associate unit constructs. On current force structure deliberations, McKinley said the Guard will have to “deal with what we have,” but he believes the Air Guard’s unique capabilities and low operating cost are weighty considerations during a time of severe resource constraints.
The Air Force conducted its first successful test of the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, on May 14, snapping a streak of three consecutive failed tests and giving the beleaguered hypersonics program a much needed boost. Off the coast of Southern California, the AGM-183A ARRW separated from the wing…