USAF

Condemns McCain's Lobbying; Calls on Congress to Defund

March 4, 2008 -- PITTSBURGH - The United Steelworkers (USW) today denounced the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) for awarding a contract for the construction of Air Force refueling tankers to the European firm, Airbus, and called for its defunding. The contract is worth up to $100 billion, with its value rising to $408 billion over its lifetime. The USW also decried Sen. John McCain for his role in lobbying the DOD on behalf of the French corporation.    » read more »

March 5, 2008 - WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement before today’s open hearing on the Air Force contract award for the tanker replacement program with Ms. Sue Payton, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition and LTG John “Jack” Hudson, ASC Commander and Program Executive Officer:

“This committee has done everything it could to speed up the decision by the Air Force to put tankers in the Air Force arsenal.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2008 – The Air Force announced today it has selected Northrop Grumman Corp. to build its next-generation air-refueling tanker aircraft.

The contract calls for up to 179 new KC-45A tankers to be built over the next decade or so at a cost of around $35 billion. Tanker aircraft are used to refuel other aircraft while in flight.    » read more »

February 29, 2008 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire today expressed her disappointment that the Department of Defense chose not to award Boeing with the contract to build the next generation of Air Force tankers.

“This is unfortunate news for Boeing and the state of Washington. Boeing and its workers build the best planes in the world. They will continue to enjoy great success with their 787 Dreamliner and other innovative products still to come.    » read more »

2/4/2008 - WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- As part of the president's fiscal 2009 budget, the Air Force officials are requesting Congress' approval for $143.9 billion, nearly more than $9 billion more than in fiscal 2008. Of the $143.9 billion request, $117 billion are funds directly controlled and managed by the Air Force. The remaining $26.9 billion funds the Air Force portions of the defense health program, special operations forces and intelligence programs.    » read more »

1/28/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II performed a show of force in order to deter enemy activities in Baghran. The on-scene joint terminal attack controller confirmed the success of the mission.    » read more »

1/27/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.    » read more »

1/26/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles eliminated enemy combatants using guided bomb unit-38s near Bari Kowt. The on-scene joint terminal attack controller declared the missions were successful.

In Garmsir, a French Mirage-2000 eliminated enemy combatants using a GBU-12. The success of the mission was confirmed by the JTAC.    » read more »

Jan 24, 2008 -- Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. George W. Casey Jr. and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley, along with other senior leaders from both Services, met Jan. 23 at Bolling Air Force Base to discuss issues of mutual interest regarding interdependency and interoperability.

Called the "Warfighter Talks," the day-long event provided a forum where the leaders could talk openly about issues facing both services. The participants discussed how the Army and Air Force can work more interdependently to better accomplish their individual and joint missions.    » read more »

1/13/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles destroyed an enemy compound by dropping guided bomb unit-38s and firing cannon rounds in Bagram. A show of force was also performed to deter any further enemy activities. The joint terminal attack controller confirmed the missions were successful.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2008 – About 60 percent of the Air Force’s F-15 Eagle fighter fleet has been found fit and ready to again defend the skies over the homeland or perform overseas missions, senior U.S. military officers said here today.    » read more »

1/10/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an MQ-1B Predator engaged enemy combatants in Lashkar Gah by firing an AGM-114 Hellfire missile. Coalition forces requested a strike on a particular target in the area. The mission was declared a success by the on-scene joint terminal attack controller.    » read more »

1/9/2008 - LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) -- Air Combat Command officials cleared a portion of the F-15 Eagle A through D model aircraft Jan. 9 for flying status and recommended a limited return to flight for Air Force units worldwide following engineering risk assessments and data received from multiple fleet-wide inspections.

The return to fly order and recommendation applies only to those F-15 aircraft, about 60 percent of the total Air Force F-15 A through D fleet, that have cleared all inspections and have met longeron manufacturing specifications.    » read more »

December 26, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Senior Airman Nicholas D. Eischen, 24, of Sanger, California, died Dec. 24 in Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan in a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 60th Medical Operations Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

The circumstances surrounding the death are under investigation.

Source: DoD

12/20/2007 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper dropped a guided bomb unit-12 on enemy combatants east of Garmsir. Enemy personnel were observed in a known firing position in the area. The strike was reported as successful.    » read more »