News from the Air Force

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A Watershed Moment

The Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee hailed the participation of Gulf and regional allies in the air campaign in Syria as a "watershed moment" for US security cooperation in the region. Speaking to reporters Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Levin said President Obama waited until he had "significant regional support" before launching the campaign in Syria. "The significant thing for me," said Levin (D-Mich.), is that partner countries are "flying and they are dropping bombs." Levin said he spoke with US Central Command boss Army Gen. Lloyd Austin Wednesday morning to get an update on strikes and was told the participating allies were flying sorties at the very moment. Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia all contributed forces to the initial waves. The participation is visible to the public, not covert, Levin added. "I'm interested in whether they will continue to participate," he said. When asked about Turkey's absence from the coalition, Levin said he has every indication the country would participate in the effort, but the campaign began just days after Turkish diplomats being held hostage in Mosul, Iraq, were freed.

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Don't Forget the Pacific

US Pacific Command boss Adm. Samuel Locklear said the growing air campaign against ISIS extremists in Iraq and Syria should not significantly affect the planned pivot to the Pacific. "It's not like the world just walked away because of the Middle East," Locklear told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday. "Certainly the Joint Force is still a global force and is still capable of pursuing the US interest and the rebalance in the way that" the current national strategy outlines. When asked if the US should reconsider that strategy and shift its focus to the new war against ISIS, Locklear said, "It depends on the size and the complexity of it," though he added, "The Asia-Pacific will remain important to the United States forever. That was the message in the rebalance." Locklear maintained that much of the US' future security will be tied to the Asia-Pacific region, "even with a threat like" ISIS. "We can't walk away from our responsibilities in the Asia-Pacific and as the President mentioned in his speech at the United Nations, we won't."

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F-22s' First Action

F-22 Raptors assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., and deployed to the Arabian Gulf region, took out an ISIS command and control center in Ar Raqqah, Syria, Monday night, marking the first time the fifth generation fighters have been used in combat, confirmed Air Force and Defense Department officials. Joint Staff Director of Operations Army Lt. Gen. William Mayville told reporters Tuesday the F-22s used GPS-aided munitions to target the command and control facility located in northern Syria, about 75 miles from the Turkish border. Mayville displayed before-and-after photos of the target building, explaining that the F-22s were successful in destroying only the one end that targeteers wanted to hit. Mayville said US Central Command's combined air and space operations center chose the platforms used in the attack based on "what was available" in the region. The stealthy F-22s are principally intended for air superiority, but also have an attack capability. Officials familiar with the program told Air Force Magazine the Raptors involved in the strikes dropped 1,000-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions. USAF F-22s are capable of carrying two 1,000-pound JDAMs. Some also are equipped to carry eight Small Diameter Bombs, though officials said the ones operating in the Middle East are not. Mayville said every effort was made to minimize collateral damage in the overnight airstrikes, noting DOD is "unaware" of any civilian casualties resulting from the attacks. Officials declined to release the exact number of F-22s involved in the strikes, citing operational security concerns.

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USAF To Begin Fielding F-16 Collision Avoidance System

The Air Force will begin fielding the automatic ground collision avoidance system for its F-16 fleet this fall, the service recently announced. Operational testing for the new system concluded this past summer at Eglin AFB, Fla. The database tool uses digital terrain data and positioning information to determine if an F-16 is about to crash into the ground, or an impending controlled flight into terrain. If the system determines a collision is imminent, it will automatically roll the aircraft up and pull up to avoid ground impact. The upgrade, which began development back in 2007 between the Air Force, the Defense Department, and NASA, is a significant upgrade for the F-16s safety systems. USAF estimates 75 percent of F-16 fatalities are caused by CFIT, as well as 26 percent of aircraft losses. "This capability is a game-changer. It is a culmination of the hard work and dedication of a diverse industry and government team. I am proud of their exemplary and persistent efforts as we approach the fielding of this potentially lifesaving capability to our warfighters," said Lt. Col. Marc Dauteuil, Headquarters Air Combat Command, F-16 program element monitor.

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Airpower in Action

The US Air Force has conducted nearly three-quarters of the strikes conducted in Iraq and Syria and roughly half of the strikes in Syria so far, said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, assistant deputy chief of staff for operations, plans, and requirements on the Air Staff. USAF aircraft also have conducted 70 percent of the more than 3,800 sorties flown in the two countries; 95 percent of the nearly 1,300 tanker sorties, and more than 700 ISR sorties supporting the operation, Harrigian told reporters on Sept. 29. "We are part of an integrated coalition effort, and this broad coalition has been and will continue to be the cornerstone of the strategy against ISIL," said Harrigian. "From an airman's perspective, we have worked for years to develop relationships across the theater with our fellow airmen, much like our sister services have done. Training with them both in theater and in the states to allow us the flexibility to seamlessly integrate them into the operations that we've been executing."

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Welcome Back 19th Air Force

The 19th Air Force activated under Air Education Training Command on Oct. 1. The new unit, which was inactivated in 2012, was brought back following a Rand study identifying a need for "realigning responsibilities to reinforce proper command relationships and training oversight," according to an Air Force release. The new 19th Air Force will be headquartered at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, and will include 19 training locations, 10 regular Air Force wings, six Guard and Reserve wings, approximately 32,000 personnel, and 1,350 aircraft spanning 29 different models. Maj. Gen. Michael Keltz will be appointed commander of the numbered air force, states a Sept. 29 release. "This restructuring within AETC will move all formal aircrew flying training missions under General Keltz's command," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh. "AETC has a wide range of responsibility when it comes to training and educating airmen. Our flying training mission requires a significant level of coordinated oversight to ensure our airmen in the skies remain the best in the world and 19th Air Force will take on that responsibility."

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A-29 Training Squadron Activated at Moody

The 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB, Ga., which will train Afghan pilots to fly the A-29 Super Tucano, formally stood up on Oct. 1. The squadron is slated to begin training later this month, states a release. The 81st FS is a geographically separated unit of the 14th Flying Training Wing, based at Columbus AFB, Miss., which is responsible for training international airmen. "The unit will begin training a cadre of instructor pilots and maintainers in the A-29 this month, and in February 2015 the 81st FS will begin training the first class of Afghan pilots and maintainers," said Col. James Boster, 14th Operations Group commander. The squadron is expected to train 30 Afghan pilots and 90 maintainers under a requirement from the International Security Assistance Force, which leads the NATO-supported effort to support Afghanistan in its fight against the Taliban insurgency. The A-29 light air support aircraft will replace the Mi-35 attack helicopters, currently flown by the Afghan Air Force. But the Tucanos will be "a monumental leap in capabilities," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Hogan, the A-29 Light Air Support Training Unit commander.

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Martinsburg Gets First C-17

The West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg received its first C-17 transport as part of its transition from operating C-5As to the newer airlifter. The C-17 touched down at Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport on Sept. 25, according to a unit release. That was the same day that the unit flew its final training sortie with the C-5, states a separate release. "The C-17, it's a great airplane," said Col. Shaun Perkowski, 167th AW commander. "I know that [wing] members are excited to be moving to a weapons system with a strong future," he added. The 167th AW is slated to take delivery of its full complement of eight C-17s by July 2015. The wing is scheduled to officially introduce the C-17 in early December and then commence C-17 flying operations in January. It's been operating C-5As since March 2007. Its remaining C-5s are scheduled to depart by May 2015 for retirement in the Air Force's aircraft boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.

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AFGSC Assumes Responsibility for ICBM Parts Funding

In a move to better manage the sustainment of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, Air Force Global Strike Command has taken over responsibility for buying missile systems parts, relieving the missile wing commanders of that budgetary burden. Effective Oct. 1, AFGSC is responsible for the day-to-day funding of the ICBM parts. "What happened before was that wings had to choose between whether or not to buy a missile part or buy something to support their people. That is a choice a wing commander shouldn't have to make," Daryle Fry, ICBM program analyst, said in an AFGSC release. With the change, missile technicians in the wings can order a needed part and the bill will be sent to AFGSC. "Wing commanders can focus more on their people and support structure and 20th Air Force won't have to worry about advocating to command to find funding for parts," Fry said. The new arrangement is expected to last a year before parts funding moves up to Headquarters Air Force, where sustainment of other weapon systems is funded.

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Body of Second Airman Found Off Okinawa

A joint US Air Force and Japanese search team found the body of a second airmen swept out to sea when Typhoon Phanfone struck the northwest coast of Okinawa on Oct. 5. The airman was found "close to the shore, about one and a half miles south of the presumed incident location," according to an Oct. 7 release. The search continues for a third airman considered lost at sea, states the release. Officials recovered the body of SMSgt. James Swartz, an aerospace propulsion superintendent with the Georgia Air National Guard's 116th Air Control Wing, on Oct. 5. Swartz was on temporary duty assignment from Robins AFB, Ga., to Kadena AB, Japan, along with the other two airmen at the time of the storm. The other two airmen have been identified as MSgt. Daniel Paschal, an aerospace propulsion craftsman with the Guard's 116th ACW, and SSgt. Joshua Schoenhoff, an Active Duty instrument and flight control systems specialist with the 461st Air Control Wing at Robins. Officials have not released the identity of the second found airmen, pending next of kin notification. "Our hearts go out to the 116th and 461st members and their families during this time of loss and unknown outcomes," said Col. Kevin Clotfelter, 116th ACW commander, in a release. "Please keep your thoughts and prayers of support directed toward all those affected."

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Body of Third Airman Found Off Coast of Okinawa

The bodies of all three airmen swept out to sea on Oct. 5 when Typhoon Phanfone struck the Japanese island of Okinawa have been recovered. Search crews located the body of MSgt. Daniel Paschal, 34, an aerospace propulsion craftsman with the Georgia Air National Guard's 116th Air Control Wing at Robins AFB, Ga., on Oct 8. He was killed along with SMSgt. James Swartz, 51, an aerospace propulsion superintendent with the 116th ACW, and SSgt. Joshua Schoenhoff, 27, an Active Duty instrument and flight control systems specialist with the 461st ACW also at Robins. All three airmen, who were on temporary duty assignment to Kadena AB, Japan, "were on a northwest Okinawa beach with a group of other airmen following an all-clear message concerning the typhoon that passed through the area the day before," states an Oct. 8 release. A fourth airman, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized with "non-fatal injuries," said Col. Henry Cyr, 461st ACW commander, during an Oct. 8 press conference at Robins. "Our hearts go out to the 116th and the 461st and their families during this time of loss," said Col. Kevin Clotfelter, 116th commander. "Please keep your thoughts and prayers of support directed toward all those affected."

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Getting More BUFF

​A perennial B-52 upgrade idea—re-engining—is being considered again, Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said Thursday. Speaking at an AFA-sponsored, Air Force breakfast in Arlington, Va., Wilson said plans call for the B-52 to remain in service until 2040 "and possibly beyond." Wilson told Air Force Magazine that he's been talking to engine contractors, who say a commercial motor for the B-52 "could save us 25-30 percent on fuel," but an even bigger payback could come from ripple effects in logistics and operations. Some new engines can "stay on-wing for 20 years" producing large savings on depot maintenance, and greater fuel efficiency translates to greater range, reducing the need for tankers, he said. An engine replacement might pay for itself by "the mid-'30s" but make even more sense because Wilson thinks the B-52 will serve longer than that. "We're flying them less," and racking up hours more slowly, he said. There's no money in the coming budget for new engines, but Wilson said he's exploring whether Congress would be willing to allow the Air Force to use some money earmarked for energy-saving upgrades at installations for the project. Right now, the money can't be used for aircraft modifications.

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F-15D Pilot Released from Hospital After Ejecting from Aircraft

​The F-15D pilot who ejected from his aircraft before it crashed during a training mission from RAF Lakenheath, England, on Oct. 8 has been released from the hospital and is "in fine spirits," reported Stars and Stripes. The pilot, who has not been identified but is assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, ejected safely, but the aircraft was destroyed when it crashed in a field north of the base, states a release. The crash, the second of an F-15 in less than two months, is under investigation. Col. Robert Novotny, 48th Fighter Wing commander, thanked the airmen from the wing's aircrew flight equipment shop and the 56th Rescue Squadron for their role in enabling the pilot's escape from his jet and returning him to the base. "When the pilot made the last minute decision of 'I have to save my life,' and reached for the [ejection seat] handles, it worked, and it worked because of the work you guys do," Novotny told the airmen from the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron egress section, which supports the ejection systems.

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Lone Star Falcons Exercise in Chile

​A half dozen Texas Air National Guard F-16Cs flew to Chile for international exercise Salitre alongside air forces from four South American countries at Cerro Moreno AB, Chile. "This exercise provides an opportunity to strengthen our military-to-military relationships with regional partners," said exercise co-director Col. Mike Torrealday in a release. The Texas ANG is paired with the Chilean air force under the Guard's State Partnership Program and 149th Fighter Wing F-16s participated in a mini-exchange as part of the country's largest air show earlier this year. International aircraft flying in the exercise include Argentine A-4 Skyhawks, Brazilian F-5E Tiger IIs and C-130s, Chilean F-16s, and Uruguayan A-37 Dragonflies, according to the exercise homepage. Approximately 80 pilots, maintainers, and support personnel from the 149th Fighter Wing at JBSA-Lackland, Texas, supported by a single Ohio ANG KC-135 deployed for the exercise Oct. 4-18, according to the release.

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Foreign Defense Chiefs Gather at Andrews' Anti-ISIS Forum

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin Dempsey hosted 21 foreign defense chiefs and other officials at JB Andrews, Md., on Tuesday, in an effort to coordinate military and diplomatic efforts against ISIS terrorists in Iraq and Syria. President Barack Obama, who also addressed the meeting, said that despite the lack of quick fixes some important successes have already occurred, including preventing ISIS from taking Irbil, the humanitarian drops at Mt. Sinjar in Iraq, and retaking the Mosul Dam. Obama said the US is concerned about fighting in Iraq's Anbar Province and near the Syrian border town of Kobani, where ISIS militants have trapped Kurdish fighters against the Turkish border on three sides, but he said airstrikes will continue in both these areas. Participating military officials attended the meeting from Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. Other US officials at the meeting included US Central Command chief Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of US Special Operations Command Army Gen. Joseph Votel, and Navy Vice Adm. Frank Pandolfe, the director for the Joint Staff's strategic plans and policy office.

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World War II Airmen's Remains Identified

Defense Department forensic scientists identified the remains of three airmen missing in action since World War II, and officials are returning them to their families for burial with full military honors, announced the Pentagon. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. William P. Cook, 27, of Alameda, Calif.; SSgt. Maurice J. Fevold, 21, of Chicago; and Sgt. Eric M. Honeyman, 21, of Alameda, Calif., went missing on Dec. 23, 1944, along with five other airmen, when enemy anti-aircraft fire brought down their B-26G Marauder near Seffern, Germany, near the border with Belgium, according to DOD's Oct. 10 release. The airmen, who took off from Saint Quentin, France, were on a mission to bomb an enemy-held bridge in Eller, Germany. Fevold's burial took place on Monday in Badger, Iowa. Cook's interment is scheduled for Oct. 25 in Oakland, Calif. The date of Honeyman's burial is still to be determined. Aviation researchers located the B-26 wreckage near Allmuthen, Belgium, in 2006. This led to DOD teams excavating the crash site in 2012 and 2013 and recovering human remains and material evidence, states the release.

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Oklahoma F-16s Involved in Midair Collision

A pair of F-16Cs assigned to the Oklahoma Air National Guard's 138th Fighter Wing collided around 2:30 p.m. Monday during a training sortie near Moline, Kansas, forcing one of the pilots to eject, according to an Oct. 21 release. The pilot who ejected was taken to the hospital at McConnell AFB, Kan., for medical evaluation and has since been released. The second pilot safely recovered the other F-16 involved in the mishap and flew the fighter back to the unit's base in Tulsa. Neither aviator was seriously injured in the accident, wing officials announced. "Our airmen are our most valuable asset because they protect the United States from our adversaries," said Col. David Burgy, commander of the 138th FW. "Fortunately both pilots are going to be all right and have been reunited with their families." Members of the 138th Maintenance Group, also based in Tulsa, Okla., "are assessing the damage to the aircraft that landed there," states the release. Two F-16Cs assigned to the District of Columbia ANG collided in a similar accident off the coast of Virginia last August. Investigators latter attributed that accident to pilot error. Air Force investigators will probe the Oct. 20 incident and publish further details after the conclusion of a formal accident investigation board.

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First F-35A Weapons Loaders Certify

The first weapons load team certified on the F-35A strike fighter completed training at Eglin AFB, Fla., scratching off an initial operating capability requirement for the F-35, officials announced. "Before us, there was no weapons capability" for the F-35A, said SSgt. Zachary Watts, 58th Aircraft Maintenance Unit load team leader, in an Oct. 21 release. "We're making it from an airline into the Air Force," he added. Eglin's F-35 Academic Training Center plans to train and certify 10 weapons crews through the one-week course over the next six months. "Once that happens, each load crew will continually come through every month for proficiency load training," said SMSgt. Jason Sells, 33rd Maintenance Group weapons standardization superintendent. This initial cadre eventually will become trainers to establish weapons capability at the various F-35A operating locations, according to the release. "Anything that we can do to help mature the program to get us ready for IOC, that's our big thing," Sells

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South Korea to Launch Air, Missile Defense System

The US and South Korea will expand intelligence sharing and missile defense cooperation as the South works towards its own air and missile defense system, which is slated for operation by the mid-2020s, said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and his Republic of Korea counterpart Han Min-koo. The operations concept is one of the initiatives the two countries are pursuing to increase ROK capabilities prior to a future transition of operational wartime control to Seoul. The new operations concept will be complemented by closer cooperation between the two nations in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance sharing. Hagel said despite reports the US is working to approve a sale of Terminal High Altitude Air Defense interceptors; no decisions have been approved yet. "All options are being explored," Hagel said during a joint briefing with Han at the Pentagon on Thursday.

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North Korea Investing in Missile Capabilities, Training

The commander of US Forces Korea said the communist regime of Kim Jong Un is focusing on building up "asymmetric capabilities" in its armed forces, including one of the world's largest special operations forces and improving the capability, mobility, and effectiveness of its ballistic missiles. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon on Friday, Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti said there have been 10 missile launches or events detected in the North since he took command of USFK in August 2013. Many of these tests are of close-range and near-range missiles. While some of these launches are done for testing and development purposes, Scaparrotti noted that more are done for messaging purposes for the South and its allies to show North Korea's capability with mobile launch systems. "One of the things we've seen this year is more realistic training of rocket forces, and it has resulted in more of these launches," he added. Asked about the development of a road-mobile KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile and the advancement of the North's nuclear program, Scaparrotti said he believed this missile is a capable launcher and vehicle but he did not know if the capability was mature yet, due to lack of testing. He added the US does not believe the North has tested any miniaturized nuclear warhead device