Air Force Materiel Command

06/26/2026

06/25/2026

🚒Where the pavement ends: Hill Air Force Base firefighters are expanding their rescue operations far beyond the paved runway, thanks to a new, off-road transportable firefighting vehicle!

By retrofitting a Polaris DAGOR off-road vehicle with the WARD Mobile Airfield Rescue Kit (MARK 1), the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron now has a highly maneuverable platform capable of tackling the most rugged terrains. Whether responding to wildland brush fires, navigating steep off-road environments, or conducting rapid F-35 pilot evacuations, this lightweight vehicle can easily traverse mud, sand, and rough terrain where traditional, heavy airfield crash trucks cannot go.

Hill AFB is one of only three bases across the Air Force to have the MARK 1 permanently assigned. By combining this off-road capability with a newly acquired F-35 mobile training simulator, our firefighters can conduct highly realistic emergency response training directly on the flightline, ensuring they remain fully equipped to protect lives and sustain operations under any conditions.

https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4522967/where-pavement-ends-hill-afb-acquires-unique-off-road-firefighting-asset/

06/24/2026

➡️Innovative training meets combat reality!

Staff Sgt. Chad Stricker, the noncommissioned officer in charge of education and training for the 66th Medical Squadron at Hanscom Air Force Base has designed an immersive training platform to transform how Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) is taught.

The concept, named STRIKE-MED, combines virtual reality technology with physical movement and performance-based assessments. By simulating high-stress combat environments, the system forces both the mind and body to train together, helping medics practice critical decision-making under simulated hostile fire.

This forward-thinking concept was recently recognized as a quarter finalist in the AFWERX Spark Tank 2026 competition. Early testing among operational medics has already shown impressive results, including a substantial increase in cognitive confidence under stress and overwhelming recommendations for formal adoption.

Way to innovate, Airman!

More: https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4521306/airman-develops-innovative-training-platform-to-enhance-readiness/

06/23/2026

👨‍⚕️This is what we train for: When a charter flight carrying Americans exposed to a rare hantavirus landed in Omaha, Nebraska, United States Air Force medical professionals were already on the ground and ready to assist.

Specialists from the Air Force Research Laboratory - AFRL’s 711th Human Performance Wing, assigned to the C-STARS Omaha program, immediately partnered with the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine. Mobilizing within 48 hours of the activation request, the team supported critical planning, transportation routing, protective equipment coordination, and round-the-clock monitoring for the exposed passengers.

As the only Air Force medical training site specializing in biocontainment and high-consequence infectious diseases, C-STARS Omaha ensures that our medical teams are fully prepared to respond to emerging biological threats anywhere in the world, keeping both our joint force and communities safe.

https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4522907/afrls-711th-human-performance-wing-supports-hantavirus-response-in-omaha/

Photo by Ryan Law

06/22/2026

✈️The United States Air Force’s VC-25B Bridge aircraft has officially arrived at Joint Base Andrews to begin its initial commissioning flights! This crucial milestone represents a vital step in maintaining secure and uninterrupted executive airlift.

Equipped with its striking new red, white, and blue livery and the latest system modifications, this aircraft represents the power of public and private sector collaboration. These upcoming commissioning flights serve as the ultimate evaluation of the platform's mission readiness before it officially joins the active executive fleet.

Our Air Force Life Cycle Management Center plays a key role in the management and sustainment of presidential aircraft, ensuring that our Nation's leader remains safe, protected, and fully connected during critical missions.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4522274/vc-25b-bridge-aircraft-arrives-at-joint-base-andrews-begins-commissioning-fligh/

06/21/2026

💪When the warfighter needed "impossible" results, Team AEDC turned them around in less than three days! ✈️💪

The Arnold Engineering Development Complex recently pulled off a legendary feat to support our F-16 fleet. The team received an urgent request from Eglin Air Force Base to run high-priority safety testing on a new weapon system, requiring a test article in less than 48 hours.

To make it happen, over 180 personnel mobilized. The AEDC Model Shop team worked through the night to build a scale test model in under 24 hours, while partners in local industry and the U.S. Army worked on 3D-printed metal backups.

Within 46 hours, the scale model was inside the wind tunnel and testing was underway. Even when an unexpected water leak popped up during the test, the team diagnosed and fixed the issue in under four hours, delivering vital safety data back to the F-16 program in just 67 hours.

This incredible effort is a testament to the dedication, skill, and relentless drive of our military and civilian teams. Thank you to everyone who worked around the clock to keep our Airmen safe in the skies!

https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4518815/team-aedc-mobilizes-to-quickly-meet-urgent-test-request/

06/20/2026

✈️ The United States Air Force is officially building its next-generation semi-autonomous fleet!

The Department of the Air Force has awarded critical contracts for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, securing both the air vehicles and the cutting-edge mission autonomy software.

This program breaks traditional procurement molds by decoupling hardware from software. The physical aircraft (the FQ-42 and FQ-44) are entering full-scale manufacturing ahead of schedule, while a pool of six software vendors will continuously compete to deliver the most advanced autonomy systems. This ensures we can rapidly upgrade flight systems as technology evolves without having to redesign the entire plane.

These high-tech wingmen will fly alongside crewed fighters to expand our reach, protect our Airmen, and maintain a powerful deterrent in contested skies.

https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4521153/air-force-advances-future-of-air-superiority-with-cca-contracts/
📸Courtesy Photos

06/19/2026

🚨 Security Advisory: Safeguard your professional network - 🚨

Department of the Air Force-affiliated professionals, both uniformed and civilian, often have specialized military knowledge and expertise that make them a premium target for foreign intelligence actors.

Adversaries actively utilize professional networking platforms and online job boards to conduct aggressive recruitment campaigns. Operating under the guise of private consultancies, research think tanks, or human resources agencies, these actors place alluring job advertisements designed to attract policy and defense analysts. Once contact is established, they gradually pressure individuals to share privileged, non-public information.

These interactions often begin as seemingly harmless and benign conversations, making it easy to overlook the underlying threat. However, engaging with these deceptive online personas can lead to severe consequences, including federal espionage violations and unauthorized disclosures of National Defense Information.

Key Steps to Protect Yourself:

✔️Verify Connections: Be highly selective and cautious when accepting connection requests or job inquiries from unfamiliar sources on professional networks.

✔️Identify the Cover: Recognize that adversaries use sophisticated cover identities, posing as private consultants or HR recruiters to hide their true intentions.

✔️Report Immediately: Flag any suspicious approaches, unsolicited job offers, or suspect email inquiries directly to your local Security Office.

Stay vigilant, protect your access, and safeguard our national security.

Learn more:
https://www.dni.gov/index.php/ncsc-features/2780-ncsc-intelligence-threats-social-media-deception

06/18/2026

🙌Lethal acquirers at the ready: Congratulations to the 14 newest graduates of the Acquisition Instructor Course - AQIC! 🎓🎉

This highly competitive, five-and-a-half-month course prepares Air Force officers, Space Force officers, and civilian leaders to execute rapid acquisitions for the Department of the Air Force. This milestone graduation officially pushes the total number of AQIC graduates to over 100!

Through rigorous, hands-on training, these graduates have earned their patches as skilled tacticians and force multipliers. Thank you for your commitment to delivering critical capabilities to our warfighting community!

More: https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4518773/aqic-celebrates-latest-cohort-of-graduates/

06/17/2026

With heavy hearts, we announce the names of the eight dedicated Air Force Materiel Command Airmen, civilian, and contractors who were lost in Monday's B-52 Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base.

These individuals were supporting vital modernization test efforts, and their dedication to our nation will never be forgotten. We stand united in grief with their families, friends, and coworkers during this incredibly difficult time.

Please join us in honoring their memory and legacy. 💔