DefenceTalkThis report seeks to inform the debate over the extent of U.S. military presence overseas by providing a rigorous estimate of the costs associated with maintaining U.S. Air Force installations and units overseas rather than in the United States. The authors describe the various types of expenditures required to maintain bases and military units overseas […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cost-analysis-of-the-us-air-force-overseas-posture-49092/

DefenceTalkThe US Air Force is unable to keep up with a growing demand for pilots capable of operating drones, partly due to a shortage of volunteers, according to a new study. Despite the importance placed on the burgeoning robotic fleet, drone operators face a lack of opportunities for promotion to higher ranks and the military […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-lacks-volunteers-to-operate-drones-48831/

DefenceTalkA B-1B bomber out of South Dakota’s Ellsworth Air Force Base crashed in a remote area of southeastern Montana on Monday but the four crew members survived, Air Force officials said. The two pilots and two weapons system officers ejected from the aircraft before the bomber crashed near Broadus, Mont., said Col. Kevin Kennedy, commander […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-1-bomber-out-of-sd-crashes-in-mont-crew-ejects-48793/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force intercepted for the first time an anti-ship cruise missile surrogate using Raytheon’s Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) cued by JLENS. An affordable, elevated, persistent over-the-horizon sensor system, JLENS uses a powerful integrated radar system to detect, track and target a variety of threats. “Integrating JLENS’ precision detection […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-and-usaf-intercept-cruise-missile-for-first-time-with-jlens-guided-amraam-48707/

DefenceTalkThe largest fleet of F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighters grew to 25 aircraft as the F-35 Integrated Training Center here welcomed two new Air Force F-35A variants of the multi-role fighter to the Emerald Coast, June 5. The expansion gives the 58th Fighter Squadron the ability to fly an expanded schedule and more readily […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fleet-grows-training-increases-for-f-35-48089/

DefenceTalkWith a career that spans across three decades and a warfighting reputation that rivals nearly every aircraft in the Air Force’s arsenal, the B-1 Bomber has established itself as one of the United States’ most crucial assets to maintaining air and ground superiority. This achievement was built on the backs of hundreds, if not thousands, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/after-3-decades-maintainers-keep-b-1-on-top-48032/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin’s Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) Extended Range successfully completed U.S. Air Force Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) flight testing, scoring 20 successes in 21 flights, a success rate of 95 percent. The JASSM-ER missiles demonstrated their effectiveness against a wide variety of operationally representative targets. The missiles were employed in all of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/jassm-extended-range-successfully-completes-iote-flight-testing-47773/

DefenceTalkIn 2006, the C-5 Galaxy underwent a “super” upgrade to further strengthen the airframe’s worldwide airlift capabilities. Test teams here and at Dover Air Force Base, Del., are showing why the recent software upgrade to the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory — now known as the C-5M Super Galaxy — is no small […]https://www.defencetalk.com/c-5m-undergoes-super-upgrade-at-edwards-afb-47728/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force took another step forward with its newest fighter jet when an advanced F-35 Lightning II landed at the service’s lead training base, home to the largest fleet of F-35s worldwide. The new stealth fighter kicks off a major training effort at the F-35 schoolhouse on an aircraft with unmatched capabilities. The F-35 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35-fighter-takes-another-step-forward-47726/

DefenceTalkThe United States’ existing long-range bomber fleet of B-52s, B-1s, and B-2s are at a critical point in their operational life span. With the average age of each airframe being 50, 28, and 20 years old, respectively, military analysts are beginning to question just how long these aircraft can physically last and continue to be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/u-s-air-force-bomber-sustainment-and-modernization-47650/