News

The Spirit of Pennsylvania B-2 Spirit assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, flies over Air Force Operating Location Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, July 17. (Air Force photo by Christian Turner)

Oct. 21, 2024

B-2 bomber undergoes key maintenance overhaul in record time

PALMDALE, Calif. — In a big win for U.S. Air Force readiness, the “Spirit of Nebraska” a B-2 bomber, returned to operations 91 days ahead of schedule, after completing programmed depot maintenance (PDM) at USAF Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., on Oct. 15, 2024.

Oct. 18, 2024

U.S. Strategic Command to Commence Exercise Global Thunder 25

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. — U.S. Strategic Command will commence its annual nuclear command and control exercise, Global Thunder, Oct. 18, 2024. Global Thunder 25 involves personnel throughout the USSTRATCOM enterprise, components and subordinate units. Its purpose is to enhance nuclear readiness and ensure a safe, secure, and effective strategic deterrent force. This annual exercise is not in response to actions by any nation or other actors, or current world events.

Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center Seal, JEC, JEMSO, USSTRATCOM, Maj. Gen. Anthony

Oct. 17, 2024

U.S. Strategic Command Hosts EMS Modeling and Simulation Technical Interchange Meeting

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. — On 10-11 September, U.S. Strategic Command's (USSTRATCOM) Advanced Warfare Capabilities Division (J81) hosted its second technical interchange meeting (TIM) on the topic of electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A).Maj. Gen. AnnMarie Anthony, Director of the Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations Center (JEC),

A U.S. Air Force B1 Bomber flies with South Korean Air Force’s F-15K fighter jets during a celebration to mark 76th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, Tuesday, Oct.1, 2024.

Oct. 4, 2024

B-1s commemorate ROK Armed Forces Day with flyover, CAS training event

SEOUL, South Korea — A U.S. B-1B Lancer participated in a combined flyover with two Republic of Korea Air Force F-16K Slam Eagles as part of the ROK Armed Forces Day celebration over Seongnam’s Seoul Air Base in the Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 1, 2024.

Oct. 4, 2024

Air Force Global Strike Command activates Provisional 95th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — As part of the DAF reoptimatization for Great Power Competition, AFGSC activated the 95th Wing (Provisional) at Offutt AFB, Neb., effective Oct 1. In provisional status, the 95th Wing (P) will immediately begin leading planning efforts to stand-up, receive personnel & use facilities at Offutt starting in 2025.

Members of Minot Air Force base’s 91st Missile Wing and Vandenberg Space Force Base’s 576th Flight Test Squadron, coordinate with other agencies during the simulated electronic launch of a Minuteman III (SELM) at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, Sept. 17, 2024. The teams tested their ability as combat crews to launch from not only the launch control center (LCC) but from an airborne launch control system aboard a Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft, which is capable of remotely launching the fleet of MMIII ICBMs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexander)

Oct. 2, 2024

Proving Credibility: 91st Missile Wing completes simulated test launch

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. — The 91st Missile Wing successfully performed its biennial Simulated Electronic Launch Minuteman test, the first phase of testing for the Minuteman III, at Minot AFB, N.D., on September 17 and 18, 2024.

U.S. Airmen, assigned to the 307th Maintenance Squadron, and a U.S. Air Force civilian employees assemble a B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype during a demonstration of its capabilities at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The new prototype was created in response to a request for a towbar that can meet the speed and readiness requirements inherent in Agile Combat Employment efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)

Sept. 26, 2024

AFGSC tests new B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — AFGSC recently demonstrated a prototype of a potential new B-52 Stratofortress towbar at Barksdale AFB, La. B-52 maintainers from the 307th Bomb Wing and the 2nd Bomb Wing tested the new prototype under real-world conditions during the week leading to the demonstration.

Sept. 23, 2024

Raider Reach exercise tests Ellsworth’s combat readiness

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. — As the sun rose up into the sky ushering in a new day, exercise Raider Reach, a two-week, two-phase exercise involving the entire 28th Bomb Wing, encompassing five groups, 17 squadrons and supporting agencies, and over 4K military and civilian personnel came to a close Sept. 20, 2024.

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.