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Data Points
June 12, 2008—AFNORTH has amassed nearly 185,000 flying hours under Noble Eagle. |
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In More Depth
You Own the PhilosophyFor Michael Wynne, there remains the imperative for USAF to maintain a technological edge over potential adversaries. The Seven Deadly SinsGAO sided with Boeing in seven areas of its protest against the multi-billion-dollar KC-X contract award to Northrop Grumman. |
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The Document File
USAF Posture Statement
Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff February 2008 |
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Testimony
May 14, 2008Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley Director, ANG Senate Appropriations, Defense Statement May 14, 2008
Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley Cmdr., AFRC Senate Appropriations, Defense Statement April 23, 2008
Col. Gary C. Martin Chief, TMA Dental Care Branch House Armed Services, Oversight Statement |
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Daily ReportWednesday July 09, 2008
Tanker Tension: Pentago n acquisition boss John Young and USAF’s acquisition executive Sue Payton are expected to appear tomorrow in front of the House Armed Services Committee to discuss the path forward for theKC-X tanker program. So far, we haven’t heard anything concrete, but, in the meantime, some lawmakers have been making tanker-related news. For example, the Press-Register of Mobile, Ala., reported July 7 that Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) has joined other members of the Alabama Congressional delegation (hint: Northrop Grumman supporters) in condemning a bill introduced by members of the Kansas Congressional delegation (hint: Boeing supporters) that would force USAF to recompete the program or award the multi-billion-dollar contract to Boeing outright. "This approach is irresponsible, short-sighted and harmful to both the warfighter and the nation," Shelby told Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a July 2 letter, according to the newspaper. Taking the Challenge: Two specially modified airborne warning and control system aircraft are participating in the Empire Challenge 2008 joint military exercise that began on Monday to demonstrate new network-centric capabilities for the platform, lead contractor Boeing announced yesterday. Among the new features on the two AWACS platforms, which are assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker AFB, Okla., are the high-speed tactical targeting network technology system to link them with other airborne assets for quick data exchange, and the Inmarsat beyond-line-of-sight communications capability so that onboard battle managers can communicate with their counterparts on the ground, the company said. Further, AWACS operators will have a second display at their consoles on which they will be able to track friendly forces, receive updates on air tasking orders and time-critical targets, and engage in secure Internet chat rooms. The demonstration will also allow USAF officials to preview the Block 40/45 mission system upgrade that is in development, Boeing said. Empire Challenge runs through Aug. 1 at China Lake, Calif. No Let-up In Firefighting Support: On July 7, Air National Guardsmen and Air Force Reservists of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group entered their 12th day of firefighting support in California. On July 6 alone, airborne assets from the group, which include eight specially modified C-130 transports, carried out 69 airdrops, delivering more than 100,300 gallons of fire retardant and water on the wildfires in an effort to control them. From the start of the aerial operations on June 26, the 302nd AEG has dispensed close to 850,000 gallons of fire retardant and water in 746 airdrops across the state. The group operates from McClellan Airfield near Sacramento. (McClellan report by SSgt. Luke Johnson) Best Enlisted Personnel Recognized: The Air Force Personnel Center yesterday announced the names of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2008. They are: SMSgt. Donna Goodno, San Diego ANGS, Calif.; MSgt. Carla Curry, Randolph AFB, Tex.; MSgt. George Price Jr., Patrick AFB, Fla.; TSgt. James Caughron, McConnell AFB, Kan.; TSgt. Earl Covel Jr., Ft. Lewis, Wash.; TSgt. Jason Hughes, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; TSgt. Tammy Shaw, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; TSgt. James Weltin, Patrick AFB, Fla.; SSgt. Eric Eberhard, Hill AFB, Utah; SrA. Mary Bullock, Hurlburt Field, Fla.; SrA. Alicia Goetschel, RAF Mildenhall, Britain; and SrA. Shawn Ryan, Sheppard AFB, Tex. The Air Force Association will honor them at its Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C., in September. It’s Official: What we reported in June as being on the horizon is now done deal: The Air Force’s three ICBM wings have formally reverted to their pre-1997 designation as missile wings to more accurately reflect their function. Accordingly, the 90th Space Wing at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., 91st Space Wing at Minot AFB, N.D., and 341st Space Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Mont., are now known as the 90th Missile Wing, 91st Missile Wing, and 341st Missile Wing, respectively, as of July 1. "Someone said a long time ago, history gives you perspective, but heritage gives you pride," Gen. Robert Kehler, AFSPC commander, said on the designation changes recently. Gen. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff, announced the change on June 6. It was one of many that the Air Force is undertaking to re-emphasize the importance of its nuclear mission. (Includes Peterson report by Ed White) New Policy for Cluster Bombs: The United States intends to apply more stringent standards to the cluster munitions that it keeps on hand such that by 2018 it will only employ those types that contain bomblets with a dud rate of less than one percent, according to press reports. The Associated Press reported July 7 that Defense Secretary Robert Gates has signed a three-page memo that outlines these changes, which are meant to lessen the danger to civilians posed by bomblets still unexploded after impact. Such bomblets have remained capable of detonating for years afterwards. By next June, DOD will also begin to reduce its inventory of cluster bombs that do not meet these new safety requirements, according to AP. At the same time, US policy continues to be against the wholesale elimination of these munitions, AP reported. They are viewed as effective against armored columns and mass troop formations. The US did not attend a meeting in Dublin in May at which 111 nations agreed to adopt a treaty to ban cluster munitions and eliminate stockpiles within eight years, the Voice of America reported yesterday. China, Russia, Israel, India, and Pakistan also have not joined this movement. Magnum Goes on Display: The MH-53 Pave Low helicopter that was the lead command-and-control platform for the daring Son Tay raid into North Vietnam in November 1970 went on permanent display July 7 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, the museum reported yesterday. This airframe, dubbed “Magnum” because its tail number shared the same last three digits as the famous 357 gun, flew for 38 years, including stints in Bosnia and Iraq, in addition to Vietnam. Its final combat mission before retirement was in Iraq on March 28. Strike Aircraft Busy in Southwest Asia: Coalition aircraft flew 50 close air support missions in Afghanistan and 56 in Iraq on July 6, Air Forces Central said in a release. In Afghanistan, for example, A-10s fired cannon rounds and dropped general-purpose 500-pound bombs onto anti-government forces in the vicinity of Nagalam. And a B-1B bomber attacked enemy fighting positions in the same area with 500-pound and 2,000-pound joint direct attack munitions. Further, an F-15E struck enemy forces in the vicinity of Shkin with a 500-pound laser-guided bomb and 500-pound JDAMs. Another F-15E unleashed cannon rounds on enemy fighting positions near Molla Ashraf, AFCENT said. Missile Milestone: Raytheon has delivered the 3,000th AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile that it is building for the US military and coalition partners, the company said in a release yesterday. The Navy is the lead service for the missile program and already operates the sophisticated dogfighting asset on its F/A-18s. But the Air Force is also buying the AIM-9X to replace earlier versions of the Sidewinder. The new missile is already carried by F-16C/D fighters and F-15C/D models, an Air Combat Command spokeswoman confirmed yesterday. And USAF has said it has plans to integrate AIM-9X on the F-22 and F-15E fighters. In Fiscal 2009, USAF intends to procure 275 AIM-9X missiles. Air Sorties in War on Terrorism, Southwest Asia:
July 6, 2008
| Sortie Type |
OIF |
OEF |
OIF/OEF |
Total |
YTD |
| ISR |
26 |
13 |
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39 |
5,762 |
| CAS/Armed Recon |
56 |
50 |
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106 |
17,051 |
| Airlift |
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137 |
137 |
23,622 |
| Air refueling |
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53 |
53 |
8,098 |
| Total |
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335 |
54,533 | OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom
OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom
ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
YTD = Year to Date
Airlift includes Horn of Africa data |
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Verbatim
Fifth-Generation Apples and Oranges
“I think the notion of the F-22 as being common and similar to the F-35, we need to get rid of that. The F-35 is a very different airplane. It has similar characteristics but it’s a different airplane. ... It complements the F-22, but the F-22 is clearly an air superiority and air dominance weapon. The F-35 is a multinational, multirole, ground-to-air versatile airplane.”
—Michael Wynne, speaking to reporters on his final day in office as Air Force Secretary, June 20, 2008. |
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Verbatim
Call for Accountability
“The GAO’s decision in the tanker protest reveals serious errors in the Air Force’s handling of this critically important competition. We now need not only a new full, fair, and open competition in compliance with the GAO recommendations, but also a thorough review of—and accountability for—the process that produced such a flawed result.”
—Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on GAO’s decision to uphold a protest by Boeing in the Air Force KC-X tanker competition, June 18, 2008. |
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