Air Force

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In a First, Air Force Awards Silver Star to Female Airman

Capt. Lacie Hester shot down drones fired by Iran at Israel

(Newser) - On the night of April 13, Iran launched more than 300 ballistic missiles and drones at Israel, an attack in response to a missile strike on Damascus, Syria, that had killed a top Iranian commander. US military aircraft and naval ships went to work that night in Israel's defense,...

Watchdog: Air Force Bought Some Expensive Soap Dispensers

AF paid $1M more than it should've for dispensers, other spare parts from Boeing, per DOD agency

(Newser) - A new report from a Department of Defense watchdog claims Boeing managed to slip a few pricey items through, reports Reuters , inflating the cost of a dozen spare parts for C-17 transport planes used by the Air Force to the tune of almost $1 million. According to the DOD's...

Drones Snooped on US Base in Virginia for 17 Straight Days
Drones Visited Air Force Base
for 17 Straight Nights
in case you missed it

Drones Visited Air Force Base for 17 Straight Nights

Pentagon doesn't know who was behind the mysterious visitors to Langley

(Newser) - The Wall Street Journal has a strange scoop involving Virginia's Langley Air Force Base. It seems that in December of last year, a sophisticated fleet of drones flew over the base for 17 straight nights—and the military was powerless to stop them. Were they the work of China?...

'Very Troubling' Footage of Airman's Shooting Released

Florida deputy shot Senior Airman Roger Fortson before telling him to drop gun

(Newser) - A Florida deputy shot Senior Airman Roger Fortson multiple times before ordering him to drop his gun, body cam footage released by the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office shows. The footage shows that after the 23-year-old opened the door with a lowered firearm in his hand, the deputy told him...

Leaker of Military Secrets Could Face Court-Martial

And if convicted, Jack Teixeira could face several more years in prison

(Newser) - Jack Teixeira could face more than just a recommended 16 years in prison in connection with one of the biggest intelligence leaks in years. The Massachusetts Air National Guard member—who was convicted of leaking classified documents that ranged from assessments of Russia's war in Ukraine to capability reports...

Navy Says It Isn't Getting Enough Recruits

But Army, Air Force have turned things around

(Newser) - The Army and Air Force have managed to turn things around and meet recruiting targets, but the Navy isn't saying hello to enough sailors. The Navy says it aimed to sign up 40,600 individuals in the current recruiting year but it expects to fall around 6,700 short,...

Air Force Secretary to Go Airborne in AI-Operated Jet

Frank Kendall to enter the cockpit of F-16 that has been converted for drone flight

(Newser) - The Air Force is betting a large part of its future air warfare on a fleet of more than 1,000 autonomously operated drones, and later this spring its top civilian leader plans to climb into an artificial intelligence-operated warplane and let it take him airborne. Air Force Secretary Frank...

US Delivers 38K Meals in First Gaza Airdrop

Water and medical aid aren't included in Air Force mission

(Newser) - The US made its first airdrop of humanitarian aid in Gaza on Saturday afternoon, when three Air Force cargo planes delivered 66 pallets by parachute, a total of 38,000 ready-to-eat meals. US Central Command said the mission was carried out with Jordan's air force, the New York Times...

US Airman Who Set Self on Fire at Embassy Has Died

Aaron Bushnell of Texas decried 'genocide' outside Israeli Embassy in Washington

(Newser) - The Air Force member who set himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in DC on Sunday afternoon in support of Palestinians has died, reports the AP . The active-duty airman has been identified as 25-year-old Aaron Bushnell of San Antonio, Texas.

Air Force Punished 15 People Over Leak

Inspector general says multiple security failures led to alleged Jack Teixeria leak

(Newser) - The massive classified documents leak by an Air Force service member earlier this year was made worse by the intentional failure of multiple officials to take required action on his suspicious behavior, the Air Force inspector general reported Monday. Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira is accused of leaking...

Air Force Pilot Ejects Before F-16 Crashes Into Sea

Pilot experienced unspecified emergency off coast of South Korea

(Newser) - A US Air Force pilot safely ejected on Monday before his F-16 fighter jet crashed into the sea off South Korea's southwestern coast, US and South Korean military officials said. The unidentified pilot was recovered by South Korean maritime forces and was "awake and in stable condition,"...

At This AFB, Cancer Diagnoses Abound. Now, a New Find

Air Force finds unsafe carcinogen levels at Montana's Malmstrom nuclear missiles base

(Newser) - The Air Force has detected unsafe levels of a likely carcinogen at underground launch control centers at a Montana nuclear missile base where a striking number of men and women have reported cancer diagnoses. A new cleanup effort has now been ordered, reports the AP . The discovery "is the...

Three Big Staffing Moves at White House

Gen. CQ Brown Jr. apparent pick for Joint Chiefs of Staff chair; Wolensky exits; Neera Tanden to replace Susan Rice

(Newser) - President Joe Biden is expected to nominate a history-making Air Force fighter pilot general with years of experience in shaping US defenses to meet China's rise to serve as the nation's next top military officer, according to two people familiar with the decision. If confirmed by the Senate,...

6 Officers Fired After Missile Base Gets Inspection 'F'

2 commanders, 4 subordinates relieved of command at North Dakota's Minot Air Force Base

(Newser) - Six officers at an Air Force nuclear base were fired this week after units failed an inspection meant to ensure the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile is safe and secure, CNN reports. The two commanders and four subordinates "were in charge of caring for the infrastructure, fuel, and logistics...

US Shoots Down Craft High Over Canada's Yukon

Trudeau says he conferred with Biden and Air Force acted at his request

(Newser) - A US F-22 shot down an unidentified object flying at a high altitude over the Yukon territory on Saturday at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's request. Trudeau tweeted that he'd discussed the matter with President Biden and that Canadian and US aircraft were scrambled after the object was...

US Downs Chinese Balloon Off South Carolina Coast

Air Force fighter jets were deployed after Biden gave the order earlier in the week

(Newser) - This story has been updated with President Biden's remarks, a witness account, and other new information. A US Air Force fighter jet on Saturday shot down a balloon launched by China that was suspected of spying as it floated over several states and inflamed tension between the nations. The...

Air Force General Convicted of Sex Assault on Sister-in-Law

William Cooley's conviction in court martial is a historic one

(Newser) - For the first time, an Air Force general has been convicted of sexual assault. Two-star Gen. William Cooley was found guilty in a court-martial of forcibly kissing a woman in a verdict described as "historic" by outlets including NPR and the Washington Post , and in a news release from...

Judge Rules Air Force Must Pay $230M to Massacre Victims

Judge had previously ruled military branch was 60% responsible for Sutherland Springs church shooting

(Newser) - Update: The gunman who shot up a Texas church in 2017, killing 26 and injuring 22, is no longer alive to pay any kind of restitution to his victims or their loved ones. But on Monday, Judge Xavier Rodriguez of the US District Court for the Western District of Texas...

Religious Exemption Requests on Vaccine Go Nowhere

Pentagon didn't expect 12K applications

(Newser) - When the Pentagon announced in August that all service members would have to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, it said they can seek religious exemptions. More than 12,000 military service members have done that, the AP reports, but so far, not one exemption on religious grounds has been granted....

Air Force Discharges 27 Who Refused Vaccinations

Personnel faced a Nov. 2 deadline

(Newser) - The Defense Department has removed some of its first service members for refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19. The Air Force announced Monday that it has discharged 27 unvaccinated people, Politico reports. Air Force personnel had a Nov. 2 deadline. The branch's most recent figures show that more than...

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