General Warns of Need to Boost Airlift Capacity | Military.com

General Warns of Need to Boost Airlift Capacity | Military.com: The Air Force projects its muscle through fighter jets, bombers and drones. But without tankers, those aircraft are short on flight time. And without airlift support, the pilots, crew and maintenance units needed to keep them flying stay stateside.

That connection is what Air Mobility Commander Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II wants lawmakers to remember. And it's why the service is working to upgrade its C-5 Galaxy fleet and keep its C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in key condition.

"Just a few years ago, we had 112 C-5s. Today, we have 56," Everhart told congressional staffers during a demonstration day here March 31. The presentation included a tour a C-5, plus two C-17s and a C-130 Hercules.

Sequestration resulted "in moving eight C-5s into backup aircraft inventory … which means we still have the aircraft but lost all manning and funding to operate them," he said.

Now Everhart wants them back, and he's making it his top priority.

"I need them back because there's real world things that we've got to move, and they give me that … added assurance capability," he said.

"Those eight C-5Ms? I was going to buy them back within a two-year period," Everhart said. With budget caps in place and without an appropriations bill, "that's been delayed twice … in two budget cycles."

Managed airborne intel system hits field

Managed airborne intel system hits field: "The Combat Track II system, has been in production since 2004. Over time it's become a real staple for the air mobility users for whom it's primarily intended, program officials noted.

Combat Track II allows crew aboard the air mobility fleet, as well as on some bombers, to maintain full awareness of friendly and potential hostile aircraft positions. It also alerts them to ground threats, including mobile surface-to-air missile sites.

'Combat Track II has continued to be praised by the users and is a critical asset for cockpit situational awareness and threat avoidance in theater,'"

UPDATE 1-Lockheed says F-35 program not in trouble | Reuters

UPDATE 1-Lockheed says F-35 program not in trouble Reuters: "Lockheed Martin on Wednesday said it was continuing work to sharply reduce the costs of the F-35 fighter and did not believe the program was in trouble despite a report that the Pentagon will cut production of 122 airplanes through 2015.
Lockheed spokesman Chris Geisel said the company was running about four to six months late on finishing the final four of 19 developmental aircraft, which in turn prevented completion of all the flight tests planned by the end of 2009.
But he said the gap was narrowing between Pentagon and Lockheed projections about the cost and time required to complete the development program and the company was continuing its drive to lower overall costs on the program."

Gates orders delay in buying Lockheed's F-35 fighter jets | Business | Star-Telegram.com

Gates orders delay in buying Lockheed's F-35 fighter jets Business Star-Telegram.com: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates has directed Pentagon planners to delay purchases of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet to provide additional funding for development and testing.
Gates’ directive would cut planned purchases by 10 jets in fiscal 2011 and a total of 122 planes through 2015, according to a budget document. The cuts amount to 25 percent of the 483 planes originally scheduled in those years.
More than $2.8 billion that was previously budgeted to begin equipping the military with F-35s would instead be used to continue development of the next-generation combat jet."

Travis’ first mass launch a success

Travis’ first mass launch a success: "The 60th and 349th Air Mobility Wings at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted the base's first mass launch of nine aircraft Dec. 21.

Base officials said the Total Force launch effort was an opportunity for operations, maintenance and support personnel to train together on a larger scale than normal.

Travis routinely launches three-ship KC-10A Extender formations, but this was the first time the base launched three Major Weapon Systems in rapid succession.

Although not part of the nine-ship package, base officials said to make the event even more symbolic of the airpower that Travis generates on a daily basis, a Navy E-6B TACAMO aircraft - also stationed at Travis - led the charge. This was followed by nine 60th and 349th AMW aircraft, including six KC-10As, two C-17A GlobeMaster IIIs, a C-5B Galaxy, and a transient Air Force Reserve Command KC-135R Stratotanker from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., completed the push.

In less than 15 minutes, Team Travis launched 11 aircraft with a gross weight exceeding 4.6 million pounds."

Air Force holds off on retiring famed reconnaissance plane | Stars and Stripes

Air Force holds off on retiring famed reconnaissance plane Stars and Stripes: "the high-altitude U-2 reconnaissance plane is so valued for its intelligence-gathering capabilities that, even in an age of high-tech unmanned drones, the old spy plane has found a whole new mission over the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq.
The U-2 reconnaissance plane’s mission is changing. The new mission amounts to a landmark shift in how the venerable aircraft can be used: The U-2 now gives direct support to ground operations, including assisting troops in firefights.
Unmanned drones can “look” — get pictures of the battlefield. But so far, they can’t “listen” — eavesdrop electronically.
The U-2 does both."

Air Force officials issue notice of intent for F-35 basing

Air Force officials issue notice of intent for F-35 basing: "Air Force officials here published the notice of intent in the Federal Register Dec. 30 to prepare an environmental impact statement to assess the potential environmental impacts of a proposal to establish operational F-35 Lightning II aircraft at one or more existing Air Force and Air National Guard installations within the continental United States.

The F-35, the Air Force variant of the joint strike fighter, is the next generation, stealth air-to-ground fighter, designed to complement the F-22 Raptor and replace aging and legacy aircraft.

The proposed basing alternatives include"

86th AW expands U.S. Air Forces Africa support with first Super Hercules flight

86th AW expands U.S. Air Forces Africa support with first Super Hercules flight: "The C-130J is the latest addition to the C-130 fleet, replacing C-130Es. The 86th AW is the first wing outside the U.S. to have the C-130J assigned. The unit began receiving the Super Hercules in April 2009, and in late December took delivery of the 10th and 11th aircraft in the fleet of 14 to be assigned to the 37th AS and 86th AW."

USAFE Airmen retool to enhance tradition of Building Partnerships

USAFE Airmen retool to enhance tradition of Building Partnerships: "The Airmen of U.S. Air Forces in Europe are charting new territory in tackling one of the Air Force's newest core functions: Building Partnerships.

The lesson that international partnerships are essential to success in war and peace is not new. The Office of the Secretary of Defense directed U.S. European Command to develop a theater campaign plan which explicitly places Building Partnerships at the forefront of U.S. military strategy.

To support the combatant commander, USAFE also developed a strategy that includes building partner capacity and cooperative relationships as priority focus areas on par with combating terrorism and force modernization."

MC-12 arrives, heralds activation of 4th ERS

MC-12 arrives, heralds activation of 4th ERS: "The newest aircraft to the Air Force's inventory arrived Dec. 27, 2009, to Bagram Airfield. The MC-12 aircraft, tail number 090623, was the first of an undisclosed number of aircraft for the new 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here.

Following the MC-12's arrival, the 4th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron was activated to carry out MC-12 operations in the Afghan theater of operations."

Unmanned Aerial Systems aid 1st AF mission

Unmanned Aerial Systems aid 1st AF mission: "Unmanned aircraft are currently used by the Air Force for long-endurance, medium and high altitude surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and operate primarily outside the borders of the United States in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

'We're working toward developing standardized policies and procedures―a necessary template―for all services to integrate and gain FAA approval for domestic UAS operations,' said 1st Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Garry Dean."

Thunderbolts receive wing modification

Thunderbolts receive wing modification: "The A-10 Thunderbolt II will continue flying close-ground-support missions for the next two decades because of a reinforcement process wing replacement specialists call 'Hog Up.'

The phrase originated about a decade ago during an upgrade of the aircraft's avionics system, partially because of the A-10's 'Warthog' nickname. Specialists in the 309th Maintenance Wing's Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Hill Air Force Base, Utah, install steel straps and stronger fittings to the wings that give the A-10 an additional 8,000 flying hours"

New U.S. bomber funding seen in 2011

New U.S. bomber funding seen in 2011: "The Pentagon's delayed funding for a new Air Force long-range bomber is likely to be included in its fiscal spending for 2011.
The on-again-off-again program has been in limbo since U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates froze it earlier this year, saying it should be assessed in the Defense Department's Quadrennial Defense Review, which reviews weapons programs every four years.
Initial assessments of that review, officials say, suggest the need for both manned and unmanned long-range strike capabilities."

Multinational wing completes first mission into Iraq

Multinational wing completes first mission into Iraq: "A recent flight into Iraq marks another unit milestone for the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing based at Pápa Air Base, Hungary.

The airlift mission into Iraq was the first by the wing, which comprises 12 member nations, and facilitated the deployment for members of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq.

'Each time we fly a mission into a different area of responsibility, it confirms the 12-nation commitment to support each other's national requirements without regard to whether an individual nation has troops involved in that area,' Col. John Zazworsky, HAW commander, said. 'Like each of our other missions to date, we flew this mission with multinational crew members in all crew positions.'"

C-27J training operations center opens

C-27J training operations center opens: "Air Force, Army and community officials celebrated the opening of a new cargo plane schoolhouse Dec. 9, here.

The C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft Schoolhouse will be used to train pilots of the C-27J, the new cargo plane used to reduce the need for ground convoys in dangerous areas.

After years of development by the Army, the C-27J Spartan program has shifted to the Air Force, but will be a joint program and both Army and Air Force pilots and loadmasters will attend the school."

NASA WISE Delta II launch successful

NASA WISE Delta II launch successful: "Mission planners are celebrating Vandenberg's final launch of the year following the successful launch of a Delta II rocket from Space Launch Complex-2 Dec. 14 at 6:09 a.m.

The rocket carried NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer satellite.

With confirmation of the payload's delivery into orbit and signal acquisition, the launch was pronounced a success.

'This is our final launch of the year,' said Col. David Buck, the 30th Space Wing commander and the launch decision authority for this mission. 'With eight successful Western Range launches for this year, I'd say we have had an outstanding year."

X-51A WaveRider gets first ride aboard B-52

X-51A WaveRider gets first ride aboard B-52: "The X-51A Waverider was carried aloft for the first time Dec. 9 by an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 Stratofortress
over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The test was a key milestone in preparation for the X-51 to light its supersonic combustion ramjet engine and propel the WaverRider at hypersonic speed for about five minutes, before plunging into the Pacific Ocean."

Air Force officials launch satellite to enhance military communications

Air Force officials launch satellite to enhance military communications: "Air Force officials successfully launched a new-generation military communications satellite from here at 8:47 p.m. EST Dec. 5 when a Delta IV rocket carried a Wideband Global SATCOM into space.

WGS satellites are designed to provide high-capacity communications to U.S. military forces and the satellites will augment and eventually replace the Defense Satellite Communication System that has been the Department of Defense's backbone for satellite communications over the last two decades."

US Air Force confirms 'Beast of Kandahar' drone

US Air Force confirms 'Beast of Kandahar' drone: "The US Air Force on Tuesday confirmed for the first time that it is flying a stealth unmanned aircraft known as the 'Beast of Kandahar,' a drone spotted in photos and shrouded in secrecy.
The RQ-170 Sentinel is being developed by Lockheed Martin and is designed 'to provide reconnaissance and surveillance support to forward deployed combat forces,' the air force said in a brief statement.
The 'RQ' prefix for the aircraft indicates an unarmed drone,"

Dover C-5Ms complete test in surge operations

Dover C-5Ms complete test in surge operations: "The C-5M Super Galaxy team has completed another stage of operational test and evaluation with the conclusion of surge operations at Dover AFB. The surge operations consisted of 31 days of delivering essential cargo and flying sorties nonstop, from Dover AFB to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, without refueling to test wartime contingency operations.

'Our maintainers spent the last 12 months training for this big game. Not only are they hitting a home run with regards to operational test and evaluation, but they hit a grand slam during the surge. The C-5M is a strategic airlift revolution -- proven by successful completion of the Dover to Incirlik surge,'"