Lt. Gen. Thomas Hensley commander of 16th Air Force, at change of command ceremony, August 1, 2024. (Screenshot from ceremony) New commander takes charge of Air Force’s information warfare unit Lt. Gen. Thomas Hensley took command of 16th Air Force in a ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Aug 1, 2024 By Mark Pomerleau
Next-generation air dominance and CCA drone concept art (Lockheed Martin image) Air Force still expects to award NGAD contract in 2024 despite uncertainties — ACC commander Although the NGAD program's fate has become uncertain in recent weeks, Gen. Wilsbach still expects a contract award to happen this year. Jul 10, 2024 By Mikayla Easley
Gen. Ken Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander, and Gen Sang-hwa Jung, Republic of Korea Air Force Chief of Staff, discuss initiatives to strengthen trust and interoperability at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Sept. 13. They planned for PACAF aircraft to participate in the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition this October as a demonstration of US extended deterrence to aggression and commitment to regional stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Gena Armstrong) PACAF establishing new intel-sharing mechanisms to enhance all-domain awareness with allies Gen. Ken Wilsbach discussed this plan as a key element of the command’s new official strategy to guide operations through 2030. Sep 13, 2023 By Brandi Vincent
Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat (Boeing image) US Air Force hopes to learn from Australia’s robotic wingmen efforts as it pursues collaborative combat aircraft The Royal Australian Air Force's Ghost Bat drone is expected to enter the fleet by 2025. Mar 20, 2023 By Mikayla Easley
Sailors assigned to Assault Craft Unit 4 prepare material recovered in the Atlantic Ocean from a high-altitude balloon for transport to federal agents at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek Feb. 10, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan Seelbach) Post-balloon saga, US defense leaders ‘know a lot more’ about China’s alleged global surveillance operations “For me, it was an eye opener,” NORAD and U.S. Northern Command chief Gen. Glen VanHerck said. Mar 17, 2023 By Brandi Vincent
Then Lt. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, smiles in his F-22 Raptor before his final flight as commander of the Alaskan Command, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Region and Eleventh Air Force, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 20, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña) Pacific Air Forces working through operating concepts for robotic wingmen The Air Force plans to field new drones, or “collaborative combat aircraft,” to serve as force multipliers and keep pilots out of harm’s way. Sep 19, 2022 By Jon Harper