News

Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa G. Dalton, Gen. Anthony Cotton, United States Strategic Command commander; Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander; and Lt. Gen. Andrew Gebara, the Department of the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and integration, participate in the Nuclear Imperative panel at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., Sept 17, 2024. The technology exposition brings together Air Force leadership, industry experts, academia as well as aerospace and cyberspace specialists from around the world to discuss the issues and challenges facing America today. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Trujillo)

Sept. 20, 2024

DoD leaders discuss future of Air Force nuclear deterrent systems

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) — Senior leaders discuss strategic deterrence during a time of Great Power Competition.

A B-21 Raider conducts flight testing, which includes ground testing, taxiing, and flying operations, at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The B-21 will be the backbone of the service’s future bomber force, and will possess the range, access and payload to penetrate the most highly-contested threat environments and hold any target around the globe at risk. The bomber platform is being developed through the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, which utilizes streamlined methods to develop, produce and field critical combat capabilities. (Courtesy photo)

Sept. 19, 2024

Air Force provides B-21 Raider program updates

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) — The B-21 Raider will incrementally replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers to become the backbone of the Air Force’s flexible global strike capability.

May 22, 2024

B-21 Raider continues flight test, production

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) — Following its formal unveiling, Dec. 2, 2022, the B-21 Raider began flight testing here where it continues to make progress toward becoming the backbone of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet.

The recipients of the 2023 Gen. Larry O. Spencer Innovation Award are recognized during a ceremony at the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., May 8, 2024. Established in 2015 and presented annually, the Gen. Larry O. Spencer Innovation award pays tribute to former Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Larry O. Spencer and recognizes individuals and teams driving excellence in innovation within the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Chad Trujillo)

May 13, 2024

Team Minot named DAF 2023 General Larry O. Spencer Award winners

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) — The Department of the Air Force announced the recipients of the 2023 Gen. Larry O. Spencer Innovation Award during a ceremony at the Pentagon, May 8. Members of Team Minot from the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing won the team award for the second year in a row!

July 12, 2023

B-52 Stratofortresses return to Indo-Pacific for BTF missions

Bomber Task Force missions demonstrates the credibility of U.S. forces to address global security environments that are more diverse and uncertain than ever before.

Dec. 2, 2022

B-21 Raider makes public debut, will become backbone of Air Force’s bomber fleet

PALMDALE, Calif. (AFNS) — The U.S. Air Force unveiled its newest bomber aircraft, the B-21 Raider, designed to operate in tomorrow's high-end threat environment.

Enlisted Airmen of Air Education and Training Command induct Gen. Anthony Cotton, Commander, U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command and Commander, Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command, into the AETC Order of the Sword in a ceremony.

April 19, 2022

AETC enlisted Airmen present former AU president, commander Order of the Sword

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) — Gen. Anthony Cotton received the Order of the Sword for his significant contributions to the development of the Air Force enlisted force during an official ceremony at Gunter Annex’s Flag Park April 1, 2022.

Shown is an illustration of the LGM-35A Sentinel launch silo, the Air Force’s newest weapon system known as the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent. The Air Force determined the LGM-35A Sentinel would provide continuity in strategic deterrence and cost less than extending the life of the current intercontinental ballistic missile fleet, comprised of the aging Minuteman III. Replacing the 1970s-era missile modernizes the ground-based leg of the nuclear triad and brings the Minuteman’s more than 50 years of service to a close. (U.S. Air Force illustration)

April 5, 2022

Air Force’s new intercontinental ballistic missile system has a name: Sentinel

WASHINGTON (AFNS) — Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall approved the designation for the system that modernizes the ICBM leg of the Nation’s nuclear triad.

A photo of a B-1B Lancer assigned to the 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron flying over the Arctice Circle, Sept. 25, 2020

Sept. 30, 2020

B-1B Lancers cross Arctic Circle to train with Nordic allies

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) — The 345th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, a total force integration unit comprised of Reserve Airmen from the 307th Bomb Wing and the 7th Bomb Wing, flew B-1B Lancers conducted training with the Norwegian air force, crossing the North Pole to accomplish the mission.

Sept. 23, 2019

Barksdale AFB bomb wings support Cobra Warrior

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) — The exercise featured more than 50 fighter aircraft from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Israel. The large-scale exercise, based out of RAF Waddingham, United Kingdom, had aircraft flying in simultaneously to participate in peer-to-peer scenarios.