2024 USAF & USSF Almanac: Air Force Wings

Kendall Tours Seven Eastern European Countries, Praising NATO Air Defense

Aug. 30, 2024

Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.

Northrop Touts Value of Digital Engineering as It Announces First Flight of Model 437

Aug. 30, 2024

The Northrop Grumman/Scaled Composites Model 437 Vanguard made its first flight Aug. 29. The rapid-prototype jet, which may be aimed at the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft Increment II program, demonstrates the maturity of the company's "digital ecosystem," Northrop said.

Watchdog: Air Force Must Get Better at Holding Contractors Accountable for Bad Spare Parts

Aug. 30, 2024

The Air Force lacks proper guidance and controls for getting contractors to pay it back for defective spare parts, leaving the service with millions of dollars’ worth of broken equipment and sometimes paying even more money to repair it, according to the the Department of Defense Inspector General.

New Reports: Two Osprey Mishaps in One Week

Aug. 29, 2024

The Air Force released accident investigation board reports into two CV-22 Osprey mishaps that took place in the span of five days last summer, both involving aircraft and crew from the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M.

Lockheed Delivers ‘More Robust’ Software for New F-35s—But Not Full TR-3 Yet

Aug. 29, 2024

Lockheed Martin is delivering F-35 Tech Refresh 3 software which will allow pilots to train on more of their jets' advanced capabilities; an improvement over those delivered just a few weeks ago. But the software is still less than it should be, and the company is having some payments withheld…

Ukrainian F-16 Crashes in Combat, Killing Pilot

Aug. 29, 2024

A Ukrainian Air Force pilot was killed when his F-16 fighter crashed Aug. 26, Ukraine’s military announced Aug. 29. The incident occurred during a massive Russian missile and drone attack that day that saw Ukraine’s F-16s make their combat debut. But the mission came at a high cost.

Connecting the Dots on China’s Airspace Violation

Aug. 29, 2024

When China’s air force and coast guard engaged recently in apparently provocative actions in the East and South China Seas, most Western media framed the events as evidence of Beijing’s aggressive and potentially destabilizing behavior. While aggressive is often an apt term for People’s Liberation Army (PLA) operations, important details…

What Happens When Recon Airmen Command and Control a Fighter Exercise?

Aug. 28, 2024

A military exercise earlier this month saw 9th Reconnaissance Wing Airmen do something completely different: command and control fighter and transport aircraft as part of a massive exercise across the western U.S.

Study Contracts for CCA Engines Will Help Air Force Explore the ‘Art of the Possible’

Aug. 28, 2024

The Air Force will soon award study contracts for prototype engines to power Collaborative Combat Aircraft. But the service insists it is leaving the door open to a wide range of options and thrust classes.

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