Page 20 - Desert Lightning News, So. AZ Edition, Sept. 1 2017

20 September 2017 Desert Lightning News www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb
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Modern Day
Today, the U.S. Air Force is the largest, most capable and most technologically advanced air force in the world, with about 5,778 manned aircraft in service, approximately 156 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles, 2,130 Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, and 450 intercon- tinental ballistic missiles.
The U.S. Air Force has approximately 328,439 personnel on active duty, 74,000 in the Selected and Individual Ready Reserves, and 106,000 in the Air National Guard. In addition, the Air Force employs 168,900 civilian
personnel including indirect hire of foreign nationals.
However, after two decades of failure to recapitalize its aircraft, the Air Force has its
oldest and most outdated fleet ever. Tactical aircraft purchases were put off while fifth- generation jet fighters were facing delays, cost overruns, cutbacks, and the programs to replace the 1950s bomber and tanker fleets have just been started over again after many aborted attempts.
As the U.S. Air Force enters a new chapter, the F-35 Lightning II is now operational, the Air Force and Boeing are testing a new air-refueling tanker, and Northrop Grum- man has received a contract to begin development of the B-21 Raider long range strike bomber. Development and deployment of new and improved unmanned aerial vehicles continues.
Additionally, today’s Airmen are the most educated and highly trained the Air Force has even seen.
Air Force photograph by Tech. Sgt. Brandon Shapiro
Boeing photograph by Paul Weatherman
The KC-46A Pegasus performs its first-ever aerial refueling Jan. 24, 2016, passing 1,600 pounds of fuel to an F-16 Fighting Falcon.
An F-35 Lightning II flies around the airspace of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 5, 2016. The F-35 was participating in the Heritage Flight Training Course, a program that features modern fighter and attack aircraft flying alongside World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War-era aircraft.
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Cody R. Miller
A 325th Fighter Wing F-22 Raptor performs a vertical take off at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., March 31, 2017. The Raptor performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force.
Northrop Grumman image
An artist’s impression of the future B-21 Raider bomber being designed by Northrop Grumman.
Air Force photograph by Airman 1st Class Christian Clausen
An MQ-1B Predator, left, and an MQ-9 Reaper taxi to the runway in prepara- tion for takeoff June 13, 2014, on Creech Air Force Base, Nev. The aircraft are assigned to the 432nd Wing, which trains pilots, sensor operators and other remotely piloted aircraft crewmembers, and conducts combat surveillance and attack operations worldwide.