Electronic Systems Center intel system gains warfighting role

Whether fighting the flames of California wildfires or detecting floating threats off coasts, officials from the 950th Electronic System Group's key imagery collection system are transitioning victories from homeland defense into capabilities for warfighter use around the world. "We certainly love

Conference to bring together senior Air Force, Army acquisition leaders

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, the Honorable Sue Payton, will be keynote speakers at the second annual Defense Department Acquisition Insight Days conference. The event will take place at the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Center

Joint training exercise strengthens AF, civilian law enforcement partnerships

Law enforcement officials from Lexington, Mass. teamed up with 66th Security Forces Squadron personnel here March 16 for the first ever Joint Training exercise conducted by members of the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations team, otherwise known as STOP. The training combined

Deployed band members promote troop morale, diplomacy and community outreach

Members from the Air Force Band of Flight here welcomed some of their own back to the states March 7 as members returned from a 60-day deployment to central and southwest Asia. Deployed Airmen arrived at Dayton International Airport and were greeted by a reception of family and friends. Band

Virtual weapons provide real training for security forces

Security Forces personnel here are aiming to use "virtual bullets" to help Airmen hit the target on the first shot.The "bullets" are actually beams of light fired from a weapon that is identical in almost every way to those used in the field. The weapons - rifles, pistols or light machine guns --

AFMC commander praises Hanscom Center's team

Saying that the equipment the Electronic Systems Center delivers to war fighters forms "the sinews of our entire military operation," the commander of Air Force Materiel Command lauded the center and all members of Team Hanscom during his two-day visit to the base March 10 and 11. "I applaud the

AFOSR-funded researchers work to improve GPS technology

An Ohio State University research team has developed very efficient approaches vital to the success of global navigation satellite systems. Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded scientist, Dr. Inder J. Gupta, led the team and conducted both the theoretical and practical work that has

C-130s undergoing inspections

An immediate action time compliance technical order was issued by Air Force Materiel Command here March 4 to inspect all C-130 aircraft due to potential cracking of wing-joint barrel nuts. The TCTO was ordered after a C-130H undergoing routine scheduled maintenance at Warner Robins Air Logistics

JDAM adds precision punch to Reaper

The already lethal MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft system will soon bring even more punch to the enemy in the form of the Joint Direct Attack Munition. The results of the series of GBU-38 JDAM test drops at the China Lake test range in California are still being evaluated, but they mark a significant

AFMC leaders urged to focus on nuclear sustainment and other command priorities

From a top priority of robust nuclear sustainment to increased warfighter support and resource conservation, Gen. Donald Hoffman, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, charged his center and wing commanders along with AFMC headquarters staff to make the command's priorities a fundamental part of

No margin for error at Bomber Egress shop

Ask John Cordon about the mission of the 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's Bomber Egress shop. Without hesitation, the shop's ordinance system supervisor will say, "We save lives" and "When all else fails, egress prevails," the unit's motto. Day after day, the unit maintains, replaces and

AFRL program saves nearly $300M in turbine engine repair

Engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate are succeeding in reducing the operation and support costs associated with aircraft jet engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) under the Engine Rotor Life Extension program (ERLE). According to lead

C-STARS: Intensive medical training saves lives

It's utter chaos: a child injured by a roadside bomb is wheeled into surgery, another woman with half of her face charred black comes flying in on a stretcher, and a small boy with his bone sticking through his pant leg comes hobbling into the room. Who do you treat first? Who can help out? What

Operation Cookie Drop delivers sweet thanks

ESC uses new acquisition steps to advance critical program

An Electronic Systems Center team has completed one of the Air Force's first Materiel Development Decisions using the new DoD Instruction 5000.02 acquisition procedures approved by the Defense Department in December. The team, composed of 653rd Electronic Systems Group and Acquisition Excellence