Air warfare and procurement of air combat weapons systems

The C-27 truth vacuum

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

The C-27 truth vacuum

No one seems to have the full picture of the Air Force’s embattled junior airlifter, and Congress is skeptical.

The Air Force numbers game

By Philip Ewing on Monday, March 19th, 2012

The Air Force numbers game

The Air Force stands by its analysis on its embattled junior airlifter as critics question the service’s plans to mothball it.

Pining for Spitfires

By Philip Ewing on Friday, March 16th, 2012

Pining for Spitfires

An editorial laments the comparative speed and economy of building fighters in a bygone era, but it may not be that simple.

The first of the last

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, March 15th, 2012

The first of the last

Boeing has delivered the first aircraft of its final batch of Super Hornets and Growlers — unless something changes.

Second time’s a charm for Eglin F-35

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Second time’s a charm for Eglin F-35

After a scrubbed first test flight, Eglin’s second F-35 sortie goes exactly as intended.

Ohio Guard accuses AF of fudging C-27J figures

By Michael Hoffman on Tuesday, March 13th, 2012

Ohio Guard accuses AF of fudging C-27J figures

An Ohio Guardsman claims the Air Force deliberately inflated C-27J lifecycle costs to justify canceling the fleet.

F-35 boss: We’ll fix the jet — just let us do it

By Philip Ewing on Monday, March 12th, 2012

F-35 boss: We’ll fix the jet — just let us do it

The program boss says everyone just needs to let the process work, and the F-35 will deliver on its onetime promise.

CSA praises doomed C-27J’s role in Afghanistan

By Matthew Cox on Friday, March 9th, 2012

CSA praises doomed C-27J’s role in Afghanistan

Gen. Odierno told senators that the airlifters were working fine, but nonetheless had to go away for money reasons.

Eglin F-35’s first flight cut short

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

Eglin F-35’s first flight cut short

The Air Force makes history, briefly, as its training unit begins flying.

Schwartz: Super Tucano failure risks AF reputation

By Michael Hoffman on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Schwartz: Super Tucano failure risks AF reputation

CSAF says his service’s “institutional reputation” is at stake after negating the Afghanistan Super Tucano contract.

Picking up the pieces

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012

Picking up the pieces

The Air Force’s embarrassment this week could guarantee improvements at the Dover Port Mortuary.

MC-12: Wine ferry to drug hunter

By Michael Hoffman on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

MC-12: Wine ferry to drug hunter

Air Guardsmen will hunt drug cartels in the service’s super secret turboprops bought to fly over Iraq and Afghanistan.

F-22 Raptor “smoking gun” not found

By Michael Hoffman on Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

F-22 Raptor “smoking gun” not found

Fleet wide study finds a host of problems in F-22 oxygen generation system that caused earlier grounding.

The Bone notches 10,000 combat missions

By Philip Ewing on Monday, February 27th, 2012

The Bone notches 10,000 combat missions

The Air Force’s workhorse passed another milestone as its sorties continued over Afghanistan.

AFA: Air Force may get used UH-1Ns from Marines

By John Reed on Friday, February 24th, 2012

AFA: Air Force may get used UH-1Ns from Marines

After plans to replace its venerable UH-1N Hueys, the Air Force’s fleet could actually grow in the coming years.

AFA: Air Force may sell C-27Js, Block 30 Global Hawks

By John Reed on Friday, February 24th, 2012

AFA: Air Force may sell C-27Js, Block 30 Global Hawks

The Air Force could try to deal some of the new small airlifters and UAVs it’s retiring for budget reasons.

AFA: New bomber program ‘underway’

By John Reed on Friday, February 24th, 2012

AFA: New bomber program ‘underway’

The Air Force has kicked off its effort to field a new long range bomber in the 2020s, service officials say.

A year after victory, Boeing says tanker is on track

By Philip Ewing on Friday, February 24th, 2012

A year after victory, Boeing says tanker is on track

The program is trucking along and the Air Force will get its first airplanes on schedule, officials say.

AFA: Eglin’s trainer F-35s could fly in coming weeks

By John Reed on Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

AFA: Eglin’s trainer F-35s could fly in coming weeks

The Air Force’s top training officer says it may not be long before the Panhandle’s training jets are cleared to fly.

AFA: Cutting C-27J was a ‘particularly’ tough choice

By John Reed on Thursday, February 23rd, 2012

AFA: Cutting C-27J was a ‘particularly’ tough choice

CSAF said it was especially tough to mothball the Air Force’s small new airlifters, but it had to be done.