An internal Canadian Forces investigation found that a lack of leadership and training opportunities were to blame for the exodus of most of the specialists needed to operate a new fleet of military surveillance aircraft. This information comes from reporting by David Pugliese of the Ottawa Citizen. The investigation, completed in May 2023, found that sensor operators at CFB Trenton, Ontario, were left largely on their own with no training program or overall direction from the Special Forces headquarters in Ottawa or their home unit, 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron in Petawawa.
Category: Air Force
Saab’s Giraffe 4A radar set to enhance U.S. Air Force’s European presence
Saab has snagged a noteworthy contract, worth $48 million, to supply its cutting-edge Giraffe 4A radar systems to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Deliveries of these mobile, multi-function radar systems are expected to commence in 2027 with BAE Systems Technical Solutions & Services Inc. serving as the prime contractor for this award.
Photo: Saab
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Warrant Officers return to the U.S. Air Force
Sixty-six years after the last U.S. Air Force warrant officer retired, a new generation donned the distinctive rank insignia, signifying a return to a tradition rooted in technical mastery. On Dec. 6, 30 individuals graduated from the Warrant Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, ready to embark on careers as technical experts and advisors in specialized fields like cyber, intelligence, and space. Their graduation marks the culmination of a strategic initiative led by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin to address the service’s growing need for highly skilled technical professionals.
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Belgian F-35 arrive at Luke to begin training
The first Lockheed Martin F-35A for the Belgian Air Component touched down at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona on Dec. 3. This marked the beginning of a new era for the Belgian Air Component as they transition from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the advanced F-35A Lightning II. The arrival represents a significant leap forward for the Belgian Air Component, equipping them with fifth-generation fighter capabilities.
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SiAW cores first flight test milestone
The U.S. Air Force successfully released its new Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) from an F-16 over the Gulf of Mexico on Nov. 7. The test, involving a jettison test vehicle (JTV), marked the first time the SiAW separated from an aircraft. The JTV lacked a rocket motor and internal electronics, focusing solely on the weapon’s safe separation from the aircraft.
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