U.S. Air Force, NATO. B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers. Arrival in the UK. - YouTube

Members of the 69th Exepeditionary Bomb Squadron out of Minot Air Force Basa,North Dakota are executing Bomber Task Force Mission 24-3 in the European Theatre of Operations under U.S. European Commnand (USEUCOM).Deployed under Air Force Global Strike Command,they will be providing assurance,interoperability training and deterrence,while sowing doubt in the minds of potential adversaries because of the unpredictability of such deployments,the Air Force said.Two Boeing B-52H Stratofortress nuclear-capable strategic bombers arrived at RAF Fairford on 20 May 2024,and a third arrived the following day.*Boeing (BA)

NASA Remembers Legendary Astronaut Thomas Stafford

He was 93.He participated in Gemini VI,Gemini IX,Apollo 10,and the Apollo-Soyuz Rendevous in Space with Russian Cosmonauts,which ended the space race.An Air Force General Officer,he had flown more than 100 types of aircraft.

Deterrence and Defence:F-35As Fully Certified to Carry Out Nuclear Mission

According to Air Force Magazine,the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is now fully certified to carry out nuclear strike missions with the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb.The B61-12 has a variable yield ranging from tactical nuclear strike at 0.3 kilotonnes to strategic nuclear strike at 50 kilotonnes,which is several times more powerful than the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs.Included on the B61-12 are a satellite and inertial navigation module,as well as a tail section enabling flight precision.Certification is a two-step process:nuclear design certification and operational certification.The nuclear design certification was completed on 4 October 2021,after completing the first full weapon certification and nuclear design certification.The aim is to ascertain whether the weapon can be credibly delivered.To find that out,two F-35As dropped Joint Test Assemblies (JTAs),or mockups of the B61-12,at the Tonopah Test Range,Nevada.The first operational certification was completed on 12 October 2023.Said Air Combat Command Deputy Director for Strategic Deterrence LTCOL Douglas A. Kabel:It makes our potential adversaries think more about their game plan before enacting it.It can get closer to (referring to the F-35A stealth fighter),further inside,a combat area that may otherwise be impossible for non-stealth assets.*The F-35A is the first stealth fighter to be certified for the nuclear mission.*The operational certification involves training and certification of maintenance and air crews at Wing locations where the F-35A nuclear mission is based.Approval means that the US or NATO Allies have a fighter that can strike targets with tactical nuclear weapons inside hostile territory without being detected.*The B61-12 can also be carried by B-2 Spirit strategic bombers;F-15E Strike Eagle fighters;F-16 C/D Fighting Falcon fighters;and Pannavia Tornado multirole fighters of Germany and Italy.Both Germany and Italy are transitioning to F-35As.F-35As have two special switches to enable the nuclear mission:a nuclear consent switch in the cockpit;and a mission select switch in the F-35A internal weapon bay,which can carry two B61-12s.Now that the F-35A has been fully certified,the aircraft is a Dual-Capable Aircraft (DCA) eligible for both NATO conventional and nuclear strike missions.The nuclear strike capability is overseen by the NATO Nuclear Committee as part of the nuclear sharing programme,which is a dual key arrangement regarding the B61-12 agreed by the US and NATO Allies Belgium,Germany,the Netherlands,Turkey,which have nuclear bomb storage on their air bases,and soon to be the UK once again at RAF Lakenheath,England,once the operational certification is obtained-operational certification is an air base by air base process.The bombs were removed from RAF Lakenheath in 2008 as the Cold War was deemed over.Ironically,Russia invaded the Republic of Georgia that same year,seizing the regions of Ingushetia and South Ossetia by force.Reportedly projects are underway to create a surety dormitory,or B61-12 storage facility,and a ballistic-sheathed facility for Air Force Security Forces.The surety dormitory is slated for completion by February 2026,according to public records.Two US Air Force F-35A squadrons are forward deployed to RAF Lakenheath and would be eligible to carry out the nuclear mission,pending operational certification.*As a matter of policy,air bases will neither confirm or deny the presence of nuclear weapons.Only the F-35A varient of the Lightning II has been certified for the nuclear mission at this point.*Lockheed Martin (LMT)

USAF. U-2 Dragon Lady high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft prepares for flight

From maintenance by Airmen and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works contractors to launch and recovery,a legendary aircraft completes a mission.The CIA has its own U-2 fleet.*Lockheed Martin (LMT)

Nightwatch Aircraft:Air Force Moves Ahead to Replace Doomsday Planes

As of this writing,only one defence contractor,the privately held Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC),remains in the running for an 8.3 billion dollar contract to replace the current fleet of four US Air Force E-4B Nightwatch aircraft,often called the Doomsday planes because of their ability to withstand the radiological and electromagnetic effects of a nuclear war or other catostrophic circumstances.The future fleet of Nightwatch aircraft is called the Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) project.These aircraft also serve as the personal aircraft of the Secretary of Defense and shadow the President of the United States when he travels in an AN-25 Air Force One plane.Boeing withdrew from consideration on the grounds of the expense to the contractor involved in fixed price contracts.Fixed price contracts require the contractor to absorb cost overruns themselves.Boeing is already in the hole for the NASA CST-100 Starliner spacecraft and the replacement of the AN-25 Air Force One planes,to the tune of 1.3 billion dollars.* The E-4B is considered part of the nuclear deterrence force,as it provides Command and Control of all nuclear forces,including low frequency communication with ballistic missile submarines.The main mission of the SAOC is to provide a robust and survivable platform for the President of the United States and other senior leaders,via the National Command Authority mechanism,to initiate nuclear strikes and assure Continuity of Government while directing other major military operations,or respond to significant contingencies such as large-scale natural disasters.* The E-4B must be a large,four-engine airliner derivative,so are expected to be unused or lightly used Boeing 747-8 jumbo jets.They must be powerful enough to fulfill the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) function;the nuclear command role;communications and security;as well as the essential redundancies.For its part,SNC recently held a ribbon cutting for one of a planned four maintenance,repair and overhaul hangers with attached painting facilities at its new Dayton,Ohio complex.The exact requirements for the SAOC are classified.SNC does have specialties in data and communications modifications to existing aircraft.It can perform post-production modifications without access to sensitive proprietary data from the original manufacturers.SNC has already identified appropriate aircraft for the project through X-ray screening.A competitive contract award by the Air Force is expected in early 2024.*The fleet will consist of an initial 8-10 aircraft,although it could be expanded to reinstate the Cold War Operation Looking Glass role in light of the hypersonic weapons threat posed by Russia and China,with an estimated warning time of only fifteen minutes.In Looking Glass,one of the aircraft is aloft 24/7/365 under the command of a general officer.*The Nightwatch aircraft are considered Weapons Systems.SNC has provided the Air Force with an Airlift/Tanker Open Missions Systems kit (ATOMS) kit.It uses existing antennas and cables to provide line-of-sight and beyond data connections to networks such as Link 16,giving aircraft more situational awareness.Such connectivity for a mobile fleet is considered essential by the Air Force.

Images of US Air Force's new B-21 Raider stealth bomber on its first flight on 10 November 2023

A brief film of the undisclosed first flight is followed by stills and earlier footage of the unveiling.The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider was escorted by a Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.A Reuters journalist was monitoring the activity at the Palmdale,California Plant 42 facility in the Mojave Desert.Plant 42 is owned by the US Air Force and operated as a component of nearby Edwards Air Force Base.It is a Government-Owned,Contractor-Operated facility (GOCO).Besides developing classified aircraft,it also services existing aircraft such as the B-2 Spirit strategic bomber.Lockheed Martin (LMT),Northrop Grumman (NOC)

Pacific Perspective:USAF. Powerful F-15E Strike Eagle fighters during joint exercises in Japan.

Steadfast Noon:NATO's Annual Nuclear Drills Visit Southern Europe

NATO's nuclear exercise Steadfast Noon began on 16 October 2023 and runs until 26 October.The manoeuvres are being participated in by 13 NATO Allies.The US has sent Boeing B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers to Europe directly from a US base.The drills are being supported by conventional aircraft.No live nuclear weapons are included in the annual autumn event.Flights simulating NATO's response to a nuclear attack are taking place in Southern Europe this year,including Italy,Croatia and the Mediterranean Sea.Said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg:Our exercise will help to ensure the credibility,effectiveness and security of our nuclear deterrent.* Most of the drills are held at least 1,000 km/621.37 mi from Russian borders and are not linked to current events.According to NATO's Strategic Concept:the fundamental purpose of NATO's nuclear capability is to preserve peace,prevent coercion and deter aggression.*NATO'S nuclear deterrent has two layers:1.Strategic National Forces of the US,UK and France and 2.the Dual Capable Aircraft (DCA) programme,which identifies fighter aircraft with both nuclear and conventional capability.Under the nuclear sharing programme,the US provides tactical nuclear weapons,the B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs,to the following NATO Allies:Belgium,Germany,Italy,the Netherlands and Turkey.These bombs are kept in hardened storage bunkers.The bombs are under custody and control of US Air Force Munitions Support Squadrons co-located on NATO major operating bases.The MSS's work together with host nation Forces.The current DCA are the Panavia PA-200 Tornado IDS and the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.The nuclear weapon shelters use the US Air Force W53 Weapon Storage and Security System.Germany plans to phase in the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter DCA when it retires the Tornados in 2024.*According to NATO,the credibility of the Alliance's Nuclear Forces is central to maintaining deterrence,which is why the safety,security and effectiveness of these Forces are constantly evaluated in light of technological and geo-strategic evolutions.The Nuclear Planning Group remains the forum for consultation on NATO's nuclear deterrence.The Alliance reaffirms the unique and distinctive role of nuclear deterrence and maintains credible deterrence;strengthens strategic communications;and enhances the effectiveness of its drills,while reducing strategic risks.At the extraordinary Summit of March 2022,after Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine,NATO committed to enhancing preparedness and readiness for chemical,biological,radiological and nuclear threats.* Context:According to NATO's Strategic Concept,approved at the 2022 NATO Madrid Summit:The Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies' peace and security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic Area.It seeks to establish spheres of influence and direct control through coercion,subversion,aggression and annexation.It uses conventional,cyber and hybrid means against us and our partners.Its coercive military posture,rhetoric and proven willingness to use force to pursue its political goals undermines the rules-based international order.The Russian Federation is modernising its nuclear forces and expanding its novel and destructive dual-capable delivery systems,while employing coercive nuclear signalling...We will individually and collectively deliver the full range of forces,capabilities,plans,resources,assets and infrastructure needed for deterrence and defence,including for high-intensity,multi-domain warfighting against near peer competitors...The circumstances in which NATO might have to use nuclear weapons are extremely remote.Any employment of nuclear weapons against NATO would fundamentally alter the nature of a conflict.The Alliance has the capabilities and resolve to impose costs on an adversary that would far outweigh the benefits that any adversary could hope to achieve.* Boeing (BA),Lockheed Martin (LMT)

Joby Aviation Delivers First eVTOL Aircraft for U.S. Air Force’s 412th Test Wing - Avionics International

Joby Aviation Delivers First eVTOL Aircraft for U.S. Air Force’s 412th Test Wing - Avionics International: Joby Aviation, Inc. has delivered its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft for the U.S. Air Force to Edwards AFB, Calif.’s 412th Test Wing Joby Aviation Inc (JOBY)

US Air Force, NATO. B-2 Spirit strategic stealth bombers on alert in Iceland

Northrop Grumman Conducts EGI-M Flight Test - Avionics International

Northrop Grumman Conducts EGI-M Flight Test - Avionics International: Northrop Grumman recently conducted a successful flight test of EGI-M, its advanced airborne navigation solution. Northrop Grumman (NOC)

US Air Force, NATO. Powerful F-16C fighters refuel in the air during an exercise in Finland

USAF Moving to Field KC-46A Communications "Backbone" - Avionics International

USAF Moving to Field KC-46A Communications "Backbone": The U.S. Air Force intends to field a communications “backbone” for the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus in the next year as part of the service’s ABMS effort. Boeing (BA)

Pacific Perspective:Bomber Deployments to Indo-Pacific Highlight Regional Tensions

US Air Force Global Strike Command deployed four nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers of the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron out of Minot Air Force Base,North Dakota,to Andersen Air Force Base,Guam on 12 and 14 June 2023,along with 150 Airmen.Said Lt.Col. Ryan Loucks,Bomber Task Force commander:Being here in the Indo-Pacific with the BTF allows our forces to showcase our ability to deploy anytime,anywhere in support of the combatant commander's objectives.*Among the current tensions in the region are North Korea's ongoing ballistic missile tests,including ICBMs with nuclear capability that can reach the US;China's militarisation of coral reefs in the South China Sea and its threats to Taiwan;China's expansive territorial claims not recognised by the international community;as well as growing military cooperation and drills by Russia and China.Bomber Task Force missions maintain a high state of readiness and validate an always-ready global strike capability.The strong,credible strategic bomber force enhances security and stability of US Allies and Partners.* U.S. Strategic Command's (STRATCOM) BTF operations ensure the command can provide decisive response against any threat when called upon by national leadership,Minot AFB said.*A further deployment of B-52s occurred when 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron out of Barksdale Air Force Base,Louisiana contributed an unspecified number of B-52s to the combatant commander on 5 July 2023 at Andersen AFB.Said Lt.Col. Jared Peterson,20th EBS commander:Each mission flown further demonstrates our ability to provide agile combat-ready forces and long-range strike capabilities to combatant commanders around the globe.* Indeed,on 10 July 2023,2 B-1B Lancer strategic bombers out of Dyess AFB,Texas were deployed to Misawa Air Base,Japan on a separate BTF rotation.Once the bombers had arrived,they flew integration drills over the Korean Peninsula and made a first ever BTF landing in Indonesia.A third mission involved deploying to Exercise Northern Edge in the Gulf of Alaska at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

B-1B Bombers Make History in Sweden - plus the Air Force ACE doctrine

On 19 June 2023 two US Air Force B-1B strategic supersonic bombers landed at Lulea Kallax Air Base,Sweden for the first time ever,said U.S. European Command (EUCOM).The bombers are out of the 7th Bomb Wing,Dyess Air Force Base,Texas.The landing fortifies the collective defense of Europe,EUCOM added.Speaking at a key leader event,US Air Force Brigadier General Byron A. Terrell noted that:the US and Sweden have a long history together in exercises and training,cooperation,and operations,of which today is one key example.The more we can integrate forces and equipment to maneuver across Europe,the more ready we are to face security challenges,now and in the future.*Such training with joint Partners and Allied nations forges the enduring and strategic relationships necessary to confront a broad range of global challenges,EUCOM stated.* In a similar vein,a USAF RC-135 Rivet Joint Intelligence,Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft flew the first ever mission by an RC-135 over Finland on 23 March 2023.The flight of the Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft demonstrated EUCOM's shared committment to enhance readiness and provide training for improved interoperability with Finland.The flight was at the invitation of the Finnish Defence Forces.These types of sorties support Agile Combat Deployment (ACE) concepts and enable participation in regional exercises that ensure interoperability of NATO Allies and Partners in the EUCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR). Such operational readiness of US Forces across all domains is critical to building partnerships;responding to crisis;providing deterrence;and supporting Allies and Partners.ISR is one of the USAF's core missions.The ISR mission is integral to global vigilance and enables the operational agility needed in a dynamic security environment,according to EUCOM.* Agile Combat Employment,according to Air Force Doctrine Note 1-21 issued on 23 August 2022,is defined as:a proactive and reactive operational scheme of maneuver executed within threat timelines to increase survivability while generating combat power.When applied correctly,ACE complicates the enemy's targeting process;creates political and operational dilemmas for the enemy;and creates flexibilty for friendly forces.ACE is an operational concept that supports Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO).Joint force operations are increasingly interconnected,interdependent,and challenged.Anti-Access and Area Denial threats,reduced freedom of maneuver,and rapid proliferation of advanced technologies,challenge the Air Force's ability to operate.The successful employment of ACE positions the force to observe,orient,decide,and act in concert across all domains.* Key concepts are defined in the document,such as Proactive Maneuver:A scheme of maneuver by which forces and assets are moved between operating locations to assure Allies and Partner nations of US support,alter adversary or enemy understanding of friendly intentions and capabilities,posture to deter aggression,or gain advantage.Reactive Maneuver:A scheme of maneuver employed in response to observed,anticipated,or realized enemy aggression using mobility and dispersion of forces and assets to complicate enemy targeting;redistribute forces from concentrated hubs;increase survivability;and reposition forces for follow-on operations.Threat Timelines:Theater-specific planning factors based on the time required for an adversary to accomplish its find,fix,track,target,engage,and assess cycle.* ACE shifts operations from centralized physical infrastructures to a network of smaller,dispersed locations that can complicate adversary planning and provide more opportunities for joint force commanders.Its value is derived from the ability to hold adversary targets at risk from multiple locations that are defensible,sustainable,and relocatable.Airmen should expect to conduct operations at a speed,scope,complexity,and scale exceeding recent campaigns from distributed locations.

NATO. German paratroopers jump from USAF C-130 Hercules aircraft.

USAF 435th Security Forces Squadron jumped with the Germans.One of their missions is airborne insertion into crisis situations.

USAF, NATO. B-1B Lancer Supersonic Strategic Bombers in the United Kingdom. - RAF Fairford - Bomber Task Force Mission

U.S. Air Force Extends Contract with Joby by $55M - Avionics International

U.S. Air Force Extends Contract with Joby by $55M - Avionics International: The USAF extended its contract with Joby for a third time, bringing the potential value of the total contract to $131 million. US Air Force pilots test flew eVTOL aircraft.

Actions of Russian pilots were 'uncommon, unfortunate and unsafe' - Pentagon

U.S. Air Force, NATO. Powerful F-15 Eagle fighters intercept in Eastern Europe