DefenceTalkA number of United States Air Force (USAF) B-52 Stratofortress Bombers have arrived at RAAF Darwin to participate in Enhanced Air Cooperation. RAAF Base Darwin is hosting the bombers while they take part in training activities with the Australian Defence Force in designated military airspace near RAAF Base Williamtown until early April. Enhanced Air Cooperation […]https://www.defencetalk.com/united-states-air-force-b-52-bombers-arrive-in-darwin-71603/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force will this summer begin testing a laser that will be mounted on an F-15 warplane, an official said Monday. The Pentagon last year awarded a $26 million contract to Lockheed Martin for a laser program called SHiELD (Self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator). The idea is to put a laser system on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/u-s-air-force-to-begin-fighter-mounted-laser-testing-this-summer-71579/

DefenceTalkEIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska: During the F-35 Lightning II’s pre-Initial Operational Test and Evaluation, Airmen from the 3rd Air Support Operations Squadron had the opportunity to work with all three variants of the Joint Strike Fighter. Tactical Air Control Party Airmen coordinate air support with joint and international platforms, making this a unique opportunity […]https://www.defencetalk.com/battlefield-airmen-integrate-with-f-35-improve-air-ground-dominance-71487/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force outlined plans for its bomber fleet in its Fiscal Year 2019 President’s Budget Request February 12, 2018. In line with the service’s bomber vector, the budget request detailed the Air Force plan to update the B-52 Stratofortress fleet and continue modifications to the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets while continuing to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-outlines-future-of-bomber-force-71473/

DefenceTalkMONTE REAL AIR BASE, Portugal: Approximately 50 Airmen and two C-130H3 Hercules assigned to the 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, arrived at Monte Real Air Base, Portugal to participate in Real Thaw 18, a Portuguese-led exercise. The annual two-week exercise includes armed forces from multiple nations participating in training missions aimed at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-c-130s-airmen-deploy-to-portugal-for-real-thaw-18-71432/

DefenceTalkU.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY: If you told Lt. Col. Rob Marshall leadership starts at the top, he’d take you literally. Part mountaineer, part special operations pilot, he’s spent a lot of time living his life at high altitudes. Marshall is by no means the casual adventurer, he’s a world-class mountaineer, having led climbs of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usafa-educator-develops-program-based-on-mountaineering-special-ops-background-71373/

DefenceTalkThe Army and the Air Force are working together to flesh out how to fight a multidomain battle, a senior Air Force commander said today during a presentation at the Brookings Institution here. Air Force Gen. James M. Holmes, commander of Air Combat Command, said he is working closely with Gen. David G. Perkins, commander […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-army-developing-multidomain-doctrine-71163/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force successfully launched the fourth Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Evolved Expendable launch Vehicle from Space Launch Complex 41 here, Jan 19. “The successful launch of SBIRS GEO Flight-4 is the reward for years of hard work put in by our combined government […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-successfully-launches-new-satellite-71150/

DefenceTalkJOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM: Six B-52H Stratofortress bombers and approximately 300 Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, are deploying to Andersen AFB, Guam, in support of U.S. Pacific Command’s Continuous Bomber Presence mission. The Stratofortresses, last deployed to the region in July 2016, will assume responsibility for USPACOM’s CBP operations near the end of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-52-bombers-return-to-pacific-71086/

DefenceTalkThe first Boeing [NYSE: BA] KC-46A tanker that will be delivered to the U.S. Air Force next year successfully completed its first flight and airborne tests today, taking off from Paine Field at 10:32 a.m. PST and landing approximately three-and-one-half hours later. “Today’s flight is another milestone for the Air Force/Boeing team and helps move […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-kc-46a-tanker-for-u-s-air-force-completes-first-flight-70967/