Air Force World By Aaron Church, Associate Editor

Raptor Ups and Downs The SAB apparently ruled out a prob- Although the F-22 fleet was ordered lem with the intake and exhaust systems, back in the air Sept. 19 after a months- though running engines in confined screenshot long grounding, commanders at JB spaces may pose an issue. Heavy G- Langley-Eustis, Va., and JB Elmendorf- loading may affect the OBOGS, as well.

RIchardson, Alaska, regrounded their The grounding was temporarily lifted Photo by Jim Haseltine Raptors in late October as a precaution. in late August in order to allow F-22s The fleet was grounded due to a based at Langley to relocate away from fault in the onboard oxygen-generating the approaching Hurricane Irene. system, the cause of which remained Langley regrounded its Raptors, how- uncertain, but ever, after an Oct. 20 incident in which a deemed it safe to fly as the investiga- pilot experienced hypoxia-like symptoms. tion continued. There were no injuries or mishaps. An Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, Air Force ACC spokeswoman couldn’t say how long Chief of Staff, announced a phased plan the new groundings would last. to return the aircraft to unrestricted flight. He said the aircraft will get frequent in- First Special Ops J-Hercs spections and Raptor pilots would get a Lockheed Martin recently delivered “baseline” medical exam so they can be the first HC-130J to Air Combat Com- checked for physiological changes. They’ll mand and the first MC-130J to Air Force also wear new “protective equipment” Special Operations Command. and data-gathering gear. He predicted The HC-130J personnel recovery it would take “a couple of months” to get aircraft joined the 79th Rescue Squadron operational pilots—who had lost their at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., Sept. 24, certification—and the F-22 initial training followed five days later by the MC-130J’s enterprise back up to speed. arrival at Cannon AFB, N.M., where it The Air Force Scientific Advisory joined the 522nd Special Operations Board started investigating the OBOGS Squadron. in August, but by late October, a fix re- Lockheed is “set to deliver 33 air- mained elusive. planes this year, and we expect to

Grand Forks’ Global Empire

In addition to receiving its first RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 40, Grand Forks AFB, N.D., now hosts ground control of battlefield airborne communications node (BACN) Global Hawks operating in Southwest Asia. The Air Force currently operates two BACN-modified Global Hawks alongside three similarly modified E-11A business jet aircraft. The specially equipped Block 20 Global Hawks enable uninterrupted communication between com- manders and ground forces even in mountainous terrain. “The ground segment shelters have actually been relocated, … [and] the first couple of missions [have flown] already out of Grand Forks,” said George Guerra, Northrop Grumman Global Hawk vice president in a briefing at the Air Force Association’s Air & Space Conference, Sept. 19. Designated as home to the Global Hawk Block 40 equipped with the sophisticated Multiplatform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) radar for ground-target detection, “Grand Forks is turning out to be a hotbed” for Global Hawk operations, said Guerra. Three days after the first operational Block 40 touched down at Grand Forks, the Air Force activated the 69th Reconnaissance Group to operate and maintain the Block 40 aircraft. Grand Forks will host 10 RQ-4 Block 40 variants, with more Global Hawks arriving this fall. In addition to the two existing BACN Global Hawks, the Air Force has “identified two more Block 20s that would be modified to have the system,” pending congressional approval.

14 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2011 continue that production rate in the and 16 earmarked for post-production reduction requirements, we are more mid-30s over the next several years,” conversion as AC-130J gunships. streamlined and better positioned” as Jim Grant, the company’s business USAF recently added 48 airframes an operational force, said Kathleen development vice president for air mo- to its HC/MC-130J recapitalization pro- I. Ferguson, USAF’s deputy assistant bility and special operations programs, gram, increasing the intended buy from secretary for installations. said at the Air Force Association’s Air 74 to 122. The headquarters Air Force BRAC & Space Conference in September. team “worked in unison with teams ACC has a firm order for 11 HC-130Js, BRAC Complete at each major command to execute with plans to procure a total of 37 to begin The Air Force officially completed the all requirements of this congressional replacing its 1965-vintage HC-130N/P 2005 round of Base Realignment and mandate,” she added. rescue-support fleet. Closure actions in mid-September. In six years, Air Force officials ex- AFSOC is slated to receive a total “Although BRAC 2005 did not com- ecuted seven closures and orchestrated of 48 aircraft, including 32 MC-130Js pletely meet the Air Force’s infrastructure 63 realignments at 122 installations to

The AT-6C light attack aircraft successfully employed precision guided munitions for the first time during tests in Arizona in late September and early October. Air Force Reserve Command Test Center carried out the tests. Light attack is not a procurement program, but the center 10.04.2011 will report findings to senior USAF leaders to help refine requirements. It’s hoped that a light attack aircraft based on a design by Hawker Beechcraft or another company could one day fill a niche between remotely piloted aircraft and high-performance fighters.

AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2011 15 Air Force World implement BRAC’S 64 USAF-specific recommendations. In all, the service Dunn Ending Tour; Search for AFA President Begins carried out 401 actions. USAF completed the transformation on The Air Force Association has begun its search for a new time and within the $3.8 billion budgeted. President (formerly called Executive Director) to replace The changes are expected to yield about Michael M. Dunn, who is retiring in 2012 after five years $1.4 billion in annual savings, according as president and CEO. A search committee has been ap- to service estimates. pointed to identify candidates. The search committee consists of John D. W. Corley as New START Comes to Minot chairman, and committee members Stephen P. “Pat” Condon The 91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB, and Larry A. Lawson. Corley is the former commander of N.D., in late August underwent the base’s Air Combat Command and is a current AFA National Director. Condon is first on-site nuclear inspection under the a former AFA National President and Chairman of the Board and current New START agreement. National Director Emeritus. Lawson is Lockheed Martin’s Executive Vice Given 24 hours’ notice, Minot hosted President and General Manager of the F-35 program and is a current AFA 10 Russian inspectors on a verification National Director. All three have broad experience in AFA. tour of the wing’s Minuteman III ICBMs The search committee will be principally advised by John A. Shaud, former and launch facilities. “It’s imperative to AFA Executive Director and current National Director Emeritus; Michael E. meet our treaty obligations and Team Ryan, former Air Force Chief of Staff and AFA National Director; and Gerald Minot has done that in a superb fashion, R. Murray, the 14th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and a former given the ongoing flood recovery,” said AFA National Director. Col. Stephen L. Davis, 91st Missile Wing Persons wishing to be considered by the search committee must submit commander. their requests in writing or via electronic correspondence, to be received by Under the treaty, which took effect in Jan. 15, 2012, to the following: February, the United States and Russia are permitted both on-site and satellite- In writing: reconnaissance verification of treaty Air Force Association compliance. Attn: Presidential Search Committee Type 1 inspections, such as the Rus- PO Box 926 sian visit to Minot Aug. 23, review opera- Arlington, VA 22216 tional systems, while Type 2 inspections look at nonoperational systems. Electronic correspondence: Minot, home to both ICBMs and [email protected] nuclear-capable B-52s, is subject to four short-notice, on-site inspections per treaty year. July, after tabling a deal in February, Pentagon officials notified Congress of Iraq Joins F-16 Club citing budgetary constraints. the possible foreign military sale—includ- Iraq’s government signed a deal with Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy, then the ing advanced Block F-16s and associated the US to acquire 18 Lockheed Martin- senior USAF representative in Iraq, weapons, training, and hardware—last built F-16 Block 52 fighters to re-equip told reporters in September that Iraq year. The FMS deal could be worth its air force. plans to purchase a “complete pack- upward of $4.2 billion. Lockheed Martin is “pleased by the age,” including flight training. announcement” and welcomes Iraq “as An initial cadre of Iraqi pilots is Dempsey Chairs JCS, Carter In the 26th nation to operate the F-16,” the already undergoing instruction in the Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey suc- company said in a Sept. 27 statement. United States, although the first F-16 is ceeded Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen Iraq renewed its bid to acquire as not expected to arrive in Iraq until late as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, many as 36 “Viper” Block 52s in late 2013 at earliest, said Handy. Sept. 30. Also, the Senate on Sept. 23 confirmed Ashton B. Carter as the new Index to Advertisers deputy secretary of defense. Dempsey assumed the top uniformed Alenia...... 29 Boeing...... 17, 44-45, Cover IV military post after serving only a few Bose...... 21 months as Army Chief of Staff. Mullen DRS...... 19 retired after a 43-year Navy career, Finmeccanica...... 5 including four years as JCS Chairman. General Atomics...... 13 Carter took over the No. 2 Pentagon Gulfstream...... 23 Hawker Beechcraft ...... 11 job on Oct. 6 after serving as undersec- Kaplan University...... 7 retary for acquisition, technology, and Lockheed Martin...... Cover II logistics since April 2009. He replaced Northrop Grumman...... 3, 27 William J. Lynn III, who held the post Pilatus...... 31 Pratt & Whitney...... 9 since February 2009. USAA...... Cover III Hostage Takes Command at ACC AFA Charitable Giving...... 84 Gen. Gilmary Michael Hostage III AFA Fellowships...... 85 assumed command of Air Combat Com- AFA Hangar Store...... 85 AFA Legal Services...... 83 mand from Gen. William M. Fraser III in a AFA Spotlight On...... 83 Sept. 13 ceremony at JB Langley-Eustis, CFC...... 47 Va. Hostage had led US Air Forces

16 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2011 Air Force World USAF photos by SSgt. ZacharyWolf

Incoming: SSgt. Bill Cenna, 212th Res- cue Squadron pararescueman, prepares to hoist a “casualty” on a litter while an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter (l) lands during joint training at JB Elmendorf- Richardson, Alaska. Soldiers from the 509th Infantry Regiment (Airborne) also participated. The joint training exercise fo- cused on providing quick care under fire. Ga. “These realignments are admin- istrative only. They do not involve any changes to the units’ geographic loca- tion,” he added. The new mission sets are: 4th Air Force at March ARB, Calif., will ensure the readiness of the command’s strategic air mobility and refueling forces; 10th Air Force at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Tex., will manage strike, ISR, space, cyber, and special operations assets; and 22nd Air Central since August 2009, receiving a on to head US Transportation Command Force at Dobbins ARB, Ga., will oversee fourth star prior to taking the reins of ACC. at Scott AFB, Ill. AFRC’s tactical , combat support, “These last few years have presented and training. some of the greatest possible chal- AFRC Reorganizes NAFs lenges to the [Combat Air Forces] as we Air Force Reserve Command restruc- New Unified Command Plan sought to balance organizing, training, tured its numbered air forces, rearranging President Obama signed an updated and equipping aircrews to win today’s its three NAFs by function. Unified Command Plan 2011 on Sept. war with preparing them for tomorrow’s “The realignments give each NAF a 12. It implements, among other changes, needs,” said USAF Chief of Staff Gen. distinct mission set, enabling them to the disestablishment of US Joint Forces Norton A. Schwartz, who expressed his more efficiently and effectively oversee Command. “complete confidence” in Hostage. the readiness of their subordinate units,” Obama approved a change to the Fraser, who had served as ACC com- said Col. Greg Vitalis, AFRC headquar- plan relieving US Strategic Command mander since September 2009, has gone ters program manager at Robins AFB, of responsibility for information opera-

18 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2011 Air Force World tions, military deception, and operational “I am really excited about TacSat-4,” cept but one that doesn’t work at the security, passing these roles directly to said Wegner. “It is a little bit of a surprise country level,” he added. the Joint Staff. as not many people have paid attention “Having realized where the gap STRATCOM instead gains the Joint to it. It is sort of an underdog mission.” is and having understood the model Warfare Analysis Center, previously a The experimental mission is sched- of Libya could be replicated,” each subordinate command to JFCOM. uled to last one year. country must decide “what she needs US Transportation Command will to meet what she feels are her threats take on the global standing joint force Libya Lesson Learned and challenges.” NATO members are headquarters, under the Joint Enabling European NATO countries were committed to mutual defense, but for Capabilities Command—another asset forced to rely too much on the US in out-of-area operations such as Libya, formerly held by JFCOM. the Libyan air campaign, highlighting the US could just have easily have The Pentagon issued UCP 2011 in the danger of substituting the Alliance opted out, he emphasized. April, as the newest version of the strate- for national capability, warned French gic document defining the missions and Air Force Gen. Stephane Abrial, com- Over the Pole to Moscow responsibilities of US military combatant mander of NATO’s allied command In a first, a 23rd Bomb Squadron commands. transformation. aircrew from Minot AFB, N.D., flew a “We could not have performed to Commercial Ride for CHIRP the same level of effectiveness with- Rolling in the Deep: A Lockheed The first military payload launched out heavy contribution from the US,” Martin inspector works inside the aft aboard a commercial satellite success- Abrial said. That was starkly evident fuselage of a U-2 spyplane during a fully reached space from a launchpad at in targeting and combat enablement, regularly scheduled “deep dive” inspec- tion of the aircraft at a base in South- Kourou, French Guiana, in September. he said at the Air Force Association’s west Asia. Over 19 days, a team of 14 “The CHIRP launch marks not only the Air & Space Conference, Sept. 21. civilians performs 450 specific head-to- first-ever commercially hosted payload Interdependence “is a very nice con- tail inspections of critical items. for the Air Force, but also the first-ever wide-field-of-view infrared staring pay- load in space,” said Col. Scott Beidle- man, development planning director at the Space and Missile Systems Center. Mounted on the SES-2 communica- tions satellite, the Air Force’s experi- mental Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP), blasted off for geo- synchronous orbit atop an Ariane V USAF photo TSgt.by Patrick Mitchell rocket Sept. 21. Technical concerns postponed the scheduled launch in early September and a labor dispute with an Arianespace subcontractor delayed the mission a sec- ond time—by several days, Spaceflight Now reported. “We overcame many challenges on the way to today’s launch,” Beidleman noted after liftoff. The Air Force planned to power up CHIRP to begin on-orbit experimenta- tion in October.

TacSat-4 Launch Successful Tactical Satellite-4, an experimental military satellite potentially enabling ground troops to communicate using handheld radios in mountainous and urban terrain, successfully lifted off from Kodiak, Alaska, in September. “This capability does not currently exist,” said Peter M. Wegner, direc- tor of the Pentagon’s Operationally Responsive Space Office at Kirtland AFB, N.M. TacSat-4 blasted off aboard the first Minotaur rocket configured with the new Minotaur IV+ booster configuration. The Navy led the satellite’s develop- ment program. The launch was overseen by the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Development and Test Directorate at Kirtland.

20 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2011 Air Force World

The War on Terrorism USAF advisors could potentially re- main in Iraq if the Iraqi government requests that the United States extend Operation Enduring Freedom—Afghanistan beyond the current agreement’s end-of- year departure deadline.

Casualties Wicked Wildfires By Oct. 17, a total of 1,803 Americans had died in Operation Enduring Less than two months after specially Freedom. The total includes 1,800 troops and three Department of Defense configured C-130s responded to wildfires civilians. Of these deaths, 1,430 were killed in action with the enemy while in New Mexico and Arizona, the aircraft 373 died in noncombat incidents. were once again battling blazes, this time There have been 14,534 troops wounded in action during OEF. in Idaho, Oregon, and Texas. “We exceeded our annual average Afghan Air Force’s First Fixed Wing Trainers of fire missions [in July], and this is Three of the six Cessna 182Ts forming the basis of the Afghan Air Force’s now becoming one of the most active undergraduate pilot training program recently arrived to Shindand Air Base fire seasons we have faced,” said Lt. in western Afghanistan. Col. David Condit, deputy commander With all six aircraft on hand later this year, the next class will be able to train of the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group for the first time in Afghanistan. that oversees and “Six years ago we had nothing, and today we are receiving our first three Air Force Reserve Command firefight- training aircraft,” said Afghan Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, AAF commander. ing assets. The inital cadre of AAF pilots selected in 2009 is still undergoing UPT in Tasked by US Northern Command, the United States and six larger Cessna 208B advanced trainers are due to two Modular Airborne Firefighting arrive later this year. System-equipped Hercules from the For helicopter pilots, six each of the MD-530 and heavier Mi-17 helicopters North Carolina Air Guard’s 145th Airlift are also on order to form a tandem rotary-wing training track. Wing in Charlotte/Douglas Airport and “This is a huge task, developing an entire UPT program from the ground two from AFRC’s 302nd Airlift Wing up, to include infrastructure, aircraft, maintenance, and personnel,” said Lt. at Peterson AFB, Colo., deployed to Col. James Mueller, 444th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron commander. Austin in central Texas to aid civil and government agencies against the in- Shepherd in the Sky ferno’s onslaught. A C-17 crew on an airdrop mission over Afghanistan late this summer Aircraft in Texas alone had dropped diverted to escort a disabled B-1 Lancer to a safe landing back at the B-1’s a total of 44,350 gallons of retardant, operating base in Southwest Asia. as of Sept. 14. Two additional C-130s “We were working a complex situation on the ground with some guys taking assigned to the Wyoming ANG’s 153rd some fire and we lost our navigation instruments,” said Capt. Gavin O’Brien, Airlift Wing had dropped 2,700 gallons 34th Expeditionary Bomber Squadron B-1 pilot deployed from Ellsworth AFB, on fires in Oregon and 2,760 gallons S.D. “The C-17 heard us having some trouble in the radio and offered to bring in Idaho, flying from a staging base at us home,” he added. Boise Airport, according to NORTHCOM. After command and control relayed the bomber’s coordinates, the airlifter detoured 150 miles to lead the Lancer home to its undisclosed air base in AEHF’s Slow Rise the region. Air Force Space Command delayed “They were up there flying blind more or less” and “had no way of navigating the first Advanced Extremely High back out of country,” explained Capt. Justin Taylor, C-17 commander assigned Frequency military communications to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, deployed from JB Charleston, S.C. satellite’s arrival on orbit to late October. Space officials decided to slow the process of raising AEHF-1 into its B-52H bomber over the North Pole this AB, Iraq, in early September. proper geosynchronous orbit posi- summer. In just under two years aiding Iraq’s tion in order “to balance operational “The jet was designed for this type of Squadron 203, the 52nd Expeditionary needs, space environmental factors, flight, but [it] was never practiced. It took Flying Training Squadron graduated and vehicle conditions,” according to a lot of mission planning and coordination 11 Iraqi T-6 Texan II instructor pilots, USAF’s Space and Missile Systems to make this happen,” said Maj. Patrick establishing a foundation for the future Center, Oct. 3. Small of Minot’s 5th Operations Support of Iraq’s fixed wing training program. The Air Force and its industry part- Squadron. “They’ve really stepped up to the chal- ners launched AEHF-1 into space in The airmen made the trip en route lenge of running their own squadron,” August 2010. A satellite propulsion to Russia as part of a US contingent of said Capt. Aaron Knight, a 52nd instruc- anomaly then forced Air Force and aircraft and personnel sent to the 2011 tor pilot. “I’m extremely impressed with contractor engineers to devise an al- Moscow International Air and Space the maturity they have shown,” added ternate orbital-positioning plan using Aviation Salon air show in August. Knight. different thrusters. The B-52 did not require in-flight An additional 10 student pilots were Speaking in September at AFA’s Air refueling to reach Moscow since the in the pipeline at Tikrit, as of the con- & Space Conference in National Har- polar route is much shorter than flying clusion of the 52nd EFTS’ mission in bor, Md., Air Force Space Command more traditional routes through Europe. September. boss Gen. William L. Shelton said the With plans to train 15 to 20 more Air Force is “very fortunate” that the Iraq T-6 Advisory Mission Ends students by year’s end, “our goal is to anomaly “didn’t cause the satellite to USAF air advisors concluded the T-6 help build a strong air force,” explained explode.” He added, “The good news is Texan II flight training mission at Tikrit an Iraqi instructor. that we project full mission life”—mean-

22 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2011 Air Force World

Senior Staff Changes military sale, administration officials told Congress in August. RETIREMENTS: Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, Maj. Gen. Lawrence A. Stutzriem, Brig. Gen. Eager to strengthen surveillance Lyn D. Sherlock. capability in light of heightened friction with its northern neighbor, South Korea’s PROMOTION: To be Lieutenant General: Clyde D. Moore. “interest is based on the operational need of our military,” stated a South NOMINATIONS: To be Lieutenant General: Judith A. Fedder. To be Major General: Korean defense spokesman, quoted Scott M. Hanson. To be Brigadier General: Timothy J. Leahy. To be ANG Major Gen- eral: Trulan A. Eyre, Mark R. Johnson, Verle L. Johnston Jr., Bruce W. Prunk, Harold by Reuters. E. Reed, Roy E. Uptegraff III. To be ANG Brigadier General: Patrick D. Aiello, Aaron Pending the result of negotiations J. Booher, Kevin W. Bradley, David T. Buckalew, Peter J. Byrne, Paul D. Cummings, between the US and South Korean gov- Vyas Deshpande, Brian T. Dravis, Donald P. Dunbar, Brent J. Feick, Mark K. Foreman, ernments—as well as a required export David R. Fountain, Timothy L. Frye, Paul D. Gruver, Michael A. Hudson, Salvatore J. waiver—“a contract is expected by the Lombardi, Stephen E. Markovich, Richard L. Martin, Brian A. Miller, William W. Pond, end of the year,” said Northrop Grumman Jonathan T. Wall, Jennifer L. Walter. spokeswoman Gemma Loochkartt. “As far as all the details are concerned, that’s CHANGES: Lt. Gen. (sel.) Judith A. Fedder, from Dir., Log., DCS, Log., Instl., & Mission being worked on directly between the Spt., USAF, Pentagon, to DCS, Log., Instl., & Mission Spt., USAF, Pentagon ... Lt. Gen. Jan-Marc Jouas, from Dir., Ops., Plans, Rqmts., & Prgms., PACAF, JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, two governments.” At present, the deal Hawaii, to Cmdr., 7th AF, PACAF, Osan AB, South Korea ... Brig. Gen. Jeffrey B. Kendall, “would include four [Global Hawks] in the from Cmdr., Kandahar Airfield, US Forces-Afghanistan, USCENTCOM, Kandahar, Afghani- Block 30 configuration and, of course, stan, to Dir., Warfighter Sys. Integration, Office of Warfighting Integration & CIO, OSAF, the ground station,” she explained. Pentagon ... Brig. Gen. Linda R. Medler, from Asst. Dep. Dir., Netcentric Capabilities, Jt. Pacific partners Australia and Japan Staff, Pentagon, to Dir., C4 Sys., US Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Md. ... Lt. Gen. Clyde have also voiced interest in the RQ-4 D. Moore II, from Dep. Dir., Jt. Strike Fighter Prgm. Office, Office of USD, Acq., Tech., & Block 30 intelligence-surveillance-re- Log., Arlington, Va., to Vice Cmdr., AFMC, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio ... Brig. Gen. John connaissance platform. R. Ranck Jr., from Dir., Warfighter Sys. Integration, Office of Warfighting Integration & CIO, OSAF, Pentagon, to Dep. Dir., Prgms., DCS Strat. Plans & Prgms., USAF, Pentagon. AWACS Upgrade COMMAND CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT CHANGE: CMSgt. Richard A. Parsons, to Technicians at the Oklahoma City Air ACC, JB Langley-Eustis, Va. Logistics Center completed upgrading the first E-3 Sentry to Block 40/45 standards SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE CHANGES: John M. Lyle, to Dir., Contracting, ESC, at Tinker AFB, Okla. AFMC, Hanscom AFB, Mass. ... Steven C. Miley, to Dir., Contracting, ASC, AFMC, Wright- The 27-year-old airborne early warn- Patterson AFB, Ohio ... Jennifer L. Miller, to Dep. General Counsel, Env. & Instl. Div., Office ing and control aircraft is the first of six of the AF General Counsel, Pentagon ... John J. Over III, to Dir., Transformation, DCS, low-rate initial production airframes Log., Instl., Mission Spt., USAF, Pentagon. n undergoing improvements including a new onboard computer network, ground ing 14 years of service—“once we get Global Hawk ROK station interface, and infrastructure the satellite into orbit.” The White House would like to offer upgrades. the RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted The team “overcame a leaking ra- Strike Eagle Radar Upgrade aircraft to South Korea under a foreign dome, hydraulic contamination, and The F-15E Strike Eagle radar mod- ernization program was cleared to begin low-rate initial production starting in October, announced Boeing, which is integrating the package. “The RMP is the latest modification under way for the F-15E,” said Karen

Butler, Boeing’s RMP program manager. USAF photo by SSgt. JohnWright “It will ensure the F-15E has the capabil- ity and performance the US Air Force requires to achieve total air-to-air and air-to-ground dominance in the future.” Under the program, Boeing is in- stalling Raytheon’s APG-82(V)1 active electronically scanned array radar on the Strike Eagle fleet, replacing the aircraft’s existing APG-70 mechanically scanned system. The APG-82 AESA borrows signifi- cantly from systems developed for the F-18E/F and F-15C, and consequently reduces the overall cost and integration risk of the program, according to Boeing. The radar is undergoing flight test- The Latest and Greatest: Air National Guardsmen SrA. James Mitchell (r) and ing at Eglin AFB, Fla., Holloman AFB, TSgt. Wayne Warner remove an engine cowling from a C-130J Super Hercules at N.M., and Nellis AFB, Nev. The Air Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. With the latest unit rotation, Bagram received two of Force plans to complete a fleetwide the new aircraft, which incorporate state-of-the-art cockpit technology, improved upgrade by 2022. engines, and 15 additional feet of fuselage, increasing cargo capacity.

24 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2011 USAF photo by SrA. Stephen Otero J.

Into the Dawn: C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the 37th Airlift Squadron, Ramstein AB, Germany, fly in formation during a full spectrum training mission for Exercise Bayo- net Resolve, testing the interoperability, war readiness, and combat delivery capability of the Air Force and Army. Several European allies, including Poland and Slovenia, also participated.

a late corrosion find,” yet managed to for internal carriage in the F-35 strike kits significantly eases the lift burden finish under budget, 23 days ahead of fighter. for the mission. schedule, said Col. Cedric D. George, According to the agency announce- 76th Maintenance Wing commander, ment, the Air Force wants a solid rocket- Down Under Overhead during the Aug. 25 rollout. boosted weapon capable of penetrating With the sixth Wideband Global SAT- All six LRIP aircraft are due for comple- as deeply as the current 5,000-pound COM satellite now in production, the Air tion by 2014, with initial operational test bunker buster. Force has awarded Boeing a $1.09 billion and evaluation slated for next spring. USAF Concept work would reduce technical contract to build a seventh satellite for the plans to make the decision on upgrading risk, maturing subsystems and compo- constellation and begin long-lead prep the remaining 25 AWACS by 2012. nents to the level of enabling a potential for the eighth. demonstration project, possibly in Fiscal Three WGS spacecraft are already pro- Flies Like a CHAMP 2014. viding simultaneous X-band and Ka-band A new high-powered microwave weap- AFRL solicited white papers identifying communications to US military personnel on capable of destroying electromagnetic critical technologies such as guidance, from orbit. Three more—WGS-4, -5, and targets recently flew for the first time in a explosive fill, and propulsion. -6—are in production, with the launch of trial at the Utah Test and Training Range. The broad agency announcement WGS-4 tentatively scheduled for early CHAMP, which stands for Counter- points out that the construction trend for 2012. Australia funded WGS-6. electronics High-powered Microwave Ad- hardened and deeply buried facilities “has With WGS-6 “we increased our overall vanced Missile Project, is a demonstrator been to increase complexity in depth and capabilities at zero additional cost ... designed to neutralize electronic targets hardness, thereby making [them] more while Australia was able to realize 100 using an HPM payload while minimizing difficult to locate and destroy.” percent of their global SATCOM require- or eliminating the collateral damage as- ments,” said Heidi H. Grant, USAF deputy sociated with traditional kinetic weapons. Leave the Parts on Guam undersecretary for international affairs. The missile and software capable of Air Force Global Strike Command and With demand for remotely piloted the timing and control needed to engage partnered to shave an aircraft growing, “demand for bandwidth and successfully destroy electronic tar- estimated $12 million each year from is not only increasing exponentially for gets was flown without the high-powered the cost of B-52 rotations to Andersen us, but also for our allies,” added Grant, microwave kill system. AFB, Guam. speaking at AFA’s Air & Space Confer- “It was as close to the real thing as we Every six months, B-52s from Barks- ence in September. could get for this test,” said Keith Cole- dale AFB, La., hand off bomber presence Following Australia’s lead, Canada, man, Boeing’s CHAMP program manager, in the Pacific to B-52s from Minot AFB, Denmark, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, after the flight. The demonstration “sets N.D., or B-2s from Whiteman AFB, Mo. and New Zealand have begun preliminary the stage for a new breed of nonlethal, Until now, each unit lugged an enor- discussions with the Air Force on similar but highly effective weapon systems,” mous trove of spare parts—known as efforts. he added. mobility readiness spares packages—over Boeing won the three-year, $38 mil- the Pacific twice a year. Instead, officials AFROTC Returns to Yale lion contract in April 2009 to develop agreed to permanently position a B-52 For the first time since 1957, there will CHAMP under an Office of the Secretary MRSP on Guam, standardize Minot’s and be an Air Force reserve officers’ training of Defense-sponsored demonstration. Barksdale’s kits, and simply ship a single corps detachment at Yale University in common package overland between the New Haven, Conn., next year. Boosted Bunker Buster bases Stateside. Under an agreement signed between The Air Force Research Laboratory “The continuous bomber presence in Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley has reached out to industry to generate the Pacific is vital in assuring our regional and Yale University President Richard C. ideas for a new bunker-busting bomb. allies,” noted Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski, Levin in September, classes for cadets The High Velocity Penetrating Weapon AFGSC commander. will begin next fall. Flagship Capability Concept is envisioned Driving the eight container-trucks The Yale detachment also will enroll by AFRL as a 2,000-pound weapon sized rather than sea- or airlifting the larger ROTC students from Connecticut uni-

AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2011 25 Air Force World

told Nylander’s family, reported the Arizona F-35 Structural Component Requires Redesign Daily Star. “You need to know how proud we are of your father,” he told Nylander’s Thirty Air Force F-35A and 34 Marine Corps F-35B strike fighters built early children. “Your dad is an inspiration.” in the aircraft’s production run will require modification to reach their design lifespan of 8,000 flight hours, according to the F-35 Joint Program Office. DFC for Moody Airman Engineers identified a structural weakness during full-scale durability tests Maj. Kirk D. Adams, an HH-60 pilot in which the airframe was repeatedly subjected to simulated flight stresses. with the 41st Rescue Squadron at Moody The failure occurred in an aluminum wing component known as the forward AFB, Ga., received the Distinguished root rib, located at the leading edge of the wing where it joins the fuselage, Flying Cross with Valor Device for heroic according to the JPO. actions in Afghanistan. Engineers identified the issue before physical tests began. As predicted, a On April 4, 2009, Adams “suppressed crack emerged in the F-35A’s forward root rib after little more than 2,800 hours. armed enemies” while evacuating a criti- Beginning in production Lot 5, both F-35 variants will incorporate a rede- cal casualty near Kajaki, Afghanistan, signed root rib. Working with the JPO, Lockheed has drafted a plan to retrofit according to Moody officials. all 64 early production aircraft with the modification. The issue doesn’t affect Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog, 9th Air the Navy’s F-35C variant. Force commander, presented the medal In addition to durability testing, Lockheed announced successful comple- to Adams in a ceremony Sept. 7. tion of static structural tests in September. Subjected to weight loads rather USAF’s Distinguished Flying Cross than the kinetic stress of durability testing, the two-year process verified with Valor Device recognizes heroism the accuracy of technical information, as well as the structural integrity of or extraordinary achievement in aerial the airframe. combat by a member of the US military.

Silver Star for Combat Controller versities participating in cross-town ar- Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz SSgt. Cecil Caleb Gilbreath, a Combat rangements. presented the medal to Nylander’s widow Control School instructor at Pope Field, The Obama Administration’s move to and three children during a ceremony at N.C., received the Silver Star for his permit openly homosexual military service Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., Sept. 24. “extraordinary bravery” in Afghanistan with the repeal of the Clinton-era Don’t As the disgruntled Afghan opened fire in late 2009, when he was a member of Ask, Don’t Tell policy warmed several in a conference room, Nylander success- Pope’s 21st Special Tactics Squadron. schools, such as Harvard University and fully evacuated several airmen before Lt. Gen. Eric E. Fiel, head of Air Force Yale, to re-establishing ROTC detachments returning fire in the corridor, wounding Special Operations Command, presented on campus. the shooter. Believing the attacker inca- the Silver Star to Gilbreath in a ceremony Earlier this year, Harvard agreed to an pacitated, Nylander returned to assist Sept. 23. ROTC presence at the school for the first the wounded and was slain when the According to his citation, Gilbreath time in 41 years. shooter resumed fire. “exposed himself to direct enemy fire” Assigned to Davis-Monthan’s 25th Op- on Nov. 2, 2009, after 30 insurgents at- Posthumous Silver Star erational Weather Squadron and deployed tacked his combined Special Forces and Capt. Nathan Nylander, who died aiding with the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Afghan Army team in “a well-coordinated” comrades after an Afghan Air Force officer Nylander was among eight airmen and ambush. opened fire on air advisors at Kabul Arpt., one US contractor killed April 27. Gilbreath “coordinated three separate Afghanistan, was posthumously awarded “Our nation was blessed with such a pinpoint bomb strikes that devastated the Silver Star. brave and generous airman,” Schwartz the insurgents and halted the attack.” n News Notes BF-2, a Marine Corps F-35B test AFB, Nev., Sept. 8. Eight airmen were Boeing’s C-17 prototype recreated its aircraft made the type’s first vertical treated for minor injuries. maiden flight, lifting off from Long Beach, landing at sea aboard USS Wasp, Oct. Two HH-60G helicopters simultane- Calif., during a ceremony at Boeing’s 3. The flight was part of several weeks ously surpassed 10,000 flight hours on a facility there. Aircraft T-1 first flew Sept. of shipboard integration trials conducted training sortie from Kirtland AFB, N.M., 15, 1991. Boeing delivered first opera- with the amphibious assault vessel. Sept. 1. Both were assigned to the 58th tional C-17 to the 17th Airlift Squadron NASA unveiled plans for its next Special Operations Wing at Kirtland. at JB Charleston, S.C., in 1993. rocket. Capable of manned flight to Mars, CMSgt. Michael Reinert, the Air The 2,000th security forces airman, the prototype Space Launch System Force’s last piston-engine flight en- SrA. William Newman Jr., graduated would lift 77 tons, generating 8.4 million gineer, retired from the Air Force in from the Air Force Expeditionary Cen- pounds of thrust. The agency aims for September. Reinert began his career ter’s Phoenix Raven course Sept. 22 at a prototype launch by 2017. in 1970, operating KC-97 Stratotankers. JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Created The Air Force’s official in-house He retired from the Missouri Air National in 1997, the two-week aircraft-protection publication, Airman magazine, disap- Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing, flying aboard course trains airmen in specialized peared from coffee tables across the the C-130H. asset-defense tactics. force in October. Due to budget cuts, Security forces airmen completed a C-5A Galaxy, tail # 90013, touched September’s edition was the magazine’s ruck march in honor of the victims of 9/11 down at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, final print issue.Airman is still available and security forces airmen killed since. completing the Air Force Reserve Com- online. The 2,100-mile tribute that began two mand 445th Airlift Wing’s final C-5 mis- A microburst flattened flight-line months earlier at JB San Antonio, Tex., sion Sept. 28. Now re-equipping with shelters, damaging 11 F-16s and two ended Sept. 11, in lower Manhattan. the C-17, the wing flew C-5s from the A-10s during a wind storm at Nellis Twenty years later to the day, base for six years. n

26 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2011