December 2013/$5 The F-35’s Time to Climb Adriana Valadez: A Hero Saves a Hero Ralph Parr Doctrine Next 11-1/8 in. Bleed 11-1/8 10-7/8 in. Trim 10-7/8 in. 10 in. Live The X-51A Waverider team has received the 2013 John R. Alison Award from the Air Force Association for most outstanding contribution by industry to national defense. The scramjet-powered aircraft recently fl ew the longest air-breathing hypersonic fl ight in history. Its success signals an era of advancement no less dramatic than the beginning of the Jet Age. Boeing, the Air Force Research Laboratory and Aerojet Rocketdyne are honored to share this prestigious award. 7 in. Live 8-1/8 in. Trim 8-3/8 in. Bleed Job Number: BOEG_BDS_IMG_2836M_A Client: Boeing Product: Boeing Defense Space & Security Approved BOEG_BDS_IMG_2836M_A Date/Initials Date: 10/11/13 GCD: P. Serchuk Date: 10.11.13 69762ID02r0_A.indd File Name: BOEG_BDS_IMG_2836M_A Creative Director: P. Serchuk DIGITAL PROOF SPECS. DIGITAL FILES SPECS. 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Frontline Communications Partners 1880 Century Park East, Suite 1011, Los Angeles, CA 90067 December 2013, Vol. 96, No. 12 FEATURES 4 Editorial: The Triad: Now, but Maybe Not Forever By Adam J. Hebert Each leg of the Triad offers unique benefi ts. 22 Climb Time for the F-35 By John A. Tirpak Costs and performance are improv- ing, but 2014 will be a critical year. 28 Life Flight By Amy McCullough The aeromedical evacuation mission started off normally, but Bandage 33’s patient was far from ordinary. 34 The Growth at Guam By Rebecca Grant DOD is beefi ng up operations at An- dersen Air Force Base and through- out the Marianas. 44 China’s Carrier Killer: Threat and Theatrics By Otto Kreisher The DF-21D missile is a legitimate threat to carrier-based airpower, but at times the concern has bordered on 22 hysteria. 48 Friends or Allies? By Richard Halloran The US and India have many com- mon goals, but are slow to expand their military relationship. 53 Doctrine Next By John T. Correll Air Force doctrine takes a great leap into the digital age. 60 The Jet-Age Gladiator By John Lowery Ralph Parr is the only airman ever to earn both a Distinguished Service Cross and an Air Force Cross. 66 The Aerodrome Fraud By Peter Grier Langley’s aircraft broke apart into the Potomac nine days before the Wright brothers’ successful fl ight. Glenn Curtiss later made sure it fl ew. About the cover: TSgt. Brian West marshals an F-35 at Eglin AFB, Fla., in July 2011. See “Climb Time for the F-35,” p. 22. USAF photo by Samuel King Jr. 34 AIR FORCE Magazine / December 2013 1 48 www.airforcemag.com Publisher: Craig R. McKinley 60 Editor in Chief: Adam J. Hebert Editor: Suzann Chapman Managing Editor: Juliette Kelsey Chagnon Executive Editors: Michael C. Sirak, John A. Tirpak News Editor: Amy McCullough Senior Editor: Marc V. Schanz DEPARTMENTS Senior Designer: Heather Lewis 6 Letters Special Projects Manager: Gideon Grudo 8 Aperture Designer: Darcy Lewis Space Command at rock bottom; No Assistant Managing Editor: Frances McKenney more Space Fence; What will become Associate Editors: Aaron M. U. Church, of North Korea? China waiting in the June L. Kim, Merri M. Shaffer wings? .... Production Manager: Eric Chang Lee 12 Air Force World Photo Editor: Zaur Eylanbekov Media Research Editor: Chequita Wood 18 Index to Advertisers Contributors: Walter J. Boyne, John T. Correll, Robert S. Dudney, 20 Chart Page: The Kims’ Little Shop of Rebecca Grant, Peter Grier, Richard Halloran, Otto Kreisher, John Lowery Horrors 43 Verbatim Advertising: Andraea Davis, Mohanna Sales Representative 214/291-3660 58 Flashback: Going Postal [email protected] 64 Keeper File: Sum of All Wisdom 1501 Lee Highway 73 AFA National Leaders Arlington, Va. 22209-1198 Tel: 703/247-5800 74 AFA Field Contacts Telefax: 703/247-5855 75 AFA National Report [email protected] 79 Reunions AIR FORCE Magazine (ISSN 0730-6784) December 2013 (Vol. 96, No. 12) is published monthly by the Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Phone (703) 247-5800. Perodical postage paid at Arlington, Va., and additional mailing offi ces. Membership Rate: $45 80 Airpower Classics: EA-6B Prowler per year; $110 for three-year membership. Life Membership (nonrefundable): $600 single payment, $630 extended payments. Subscription Rate: $45 per year; $29 per year additional for postage to foreign addresses (except Canada and Mexico, which are $10 per year additional). Regular issues $5 each. USAF Almanac issue $8 each. Change of address requires four weeks’ notice. Please include mailing label. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Trademark registered by Air Force Association. Copyright 2013 by Air Force Association. 2 AIR FORCE Magazine / December 2013 ISR’s best-kept secret. Y ou may know the PC-12 NG as a business aircraft. But because of its versatility, ruggedness, and economy, it is also in use by special mission insiders for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance roles in some of the harshest environments around the globe. Con gured with the Spectre™ ISR package, the large-volume aircraft houses a covert sensor, deployable in ight for a 360-degree view controlled through a manned cabin console. Combine real- time imaging and ground communication with long loiter capability and high dash speeds. The result is the most exible and cost effective ISR platform in the air. Call us today for a demonstration of the Pilatus PC-12 NG Spectre™. Call 800.745.2887 Because now the secret is out. or visit PC-12Spectre.com Editorial By Adam J. Hebert, Editor in Chief The Triad: Now, But Maybe Not Forever merica’s nuclear arsenal has pro- Staff, in a November meeting with de- rines, ICBMs, and cruise missiles over Afoundly changed since the late Cold fense reporters. “I think the three legs the next 20 years. This will foster even War. Every President since Reagan has of the Triad really do give us flexibility, more discussion about what is needed sought to eliminate nuclear weapons, responsiveness, and survivability in a and what can be afforded—hopefully albeit in a manner that protects US way that you might not get with any one in that order. “I think the whole nuclear interests. Absent a new threat, further or two legs.” deterrence strategy is something that we reductions are likely, but reductions in Indeed, each leg of the Triad offers should be thinking about all the time,” both warhead numbers and delivery unique benefits. said Welsh. “I think it constantly evolves.” systems must be made deliberately and Sea-launched ballistic missiles make If fewer weapons are needed to meet with great care. up the bulk of the nation’s strategic ar- future security needs—a good thing— In 1987, the US had about 13,600 senal. Boomers silently roam the world’s the numbers of weapons will continue strategic nuclear warheads ready for use to come down. But large modernization against the Soviet Union. As of Sept. 1, Each leg of the Triad offers costs could then spell the end of the 1,688 remained operational, a reduction unique benefits. Triad in the 2030s. of 88 percent. The US is headed down Many useful systems have been re- to 1,550 deployed warheads by 2018, tired over time, and the Air Force has to meet the terms of the New START oceans, carry massive weapon loads, made clear in recent years that much agreement. and can launch from relatively near their more money can be saved by retiring In the 1990s, there were 500 missiles potential targets. They are considered entire fleets than by making across-the- sitting in hardened silos; the inventory the most survivable leg of the Triad. board reductions in capabilities. is heading down to 420. The Air Force’s The land-based ICBMs are respon- “The cost of modernizing the nucle- 10-warhead Peacekeeper ICBM is gone. sive—they can hit a target anywhere on ar infrastructure is not small, and so Minuteman III ICBMs used to carry up to Earth in 35 minutes. They are relatively I think that will lead to a very honest three warheads; soon they will all hold inexpensive to maintain and demon- debate about where can we afford to a single weapon. strate extraordinarily high reliability. invest, where must we invest, and how The story is similar on the bomber ICBMs are also stabilizing, as an enemy does that relate to a strategy going front.