Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin used a high-profile address at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference on Sept. 22 to underscore the service’s readiness and to spotlight recent operations and exercises he said demonstrate the skill and agility of Airmen across the force.
“Emblematic of the Air Force’s readiness to act decisively and effectively is the success of Operation Midnight Hammer, the largest operational, kinetic employment of B-2’s in the platform’s history,” Allvin said.
“This summer, President Trump asked the Air Force to do something that was complex, dangerous and consequential. We followed through and did it,” Allvin reminded the crowd, referring to the strikes the Air Force conducted on Iranian nuclear facilities.
“More than 100 U.S. aircraft participated in the mission, including the B-2, fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, air refueling tankers, and a full-array of intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance assets—and in just 30 hours, Trump announced a cease-fire to end the 12-Day War,” Allvin said.
“Since Operation Midnight Hammer, the Air Force has continued to showcase the skill and professionalism of its Airmen and its ability to complete missions effectively,” Allvin said.
“Within two weeks of Operation Midnight Hammer, your United States Air Force had redeployed, reset, and pivoted, to execute the largest US Air Force led exercise in the Indo-Pacific since the Cold War,” said Allvin. “It was amazing.”
He said the Department-Level Exercise shifted from simulated logistics to real-world challenges designed to build competence ahead of conflict. “This is about putting together a force presentation, a force generation to fit what the Joint Force commander and the combatant commanders are going to need,” Allvin said. He described individual Airmen as the service’s “secret weapon,” highlighting ingenuity on the flight line and in deployed environments.
“This exercise also had some incredible firsts, including our longest JASSM shot” said Allvin.
He pointed to rapid development of counter-drone capabilities, noting Airmen helped enable deployment of the Fixed Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance. “Within a month, FALCO was integrated onto the F-15, and now for less than 10% of the cost of an AIM-9X you can put a precision kill on the proliferation of attack unmanned aerial vehicles,” Allvin said. He also cited Airman First Class Garrett Vance of the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, who recently became the first Air Force defender to kinetically down a drone with the Coyote missile system.
Allvin offered updates on major programs, saying the first F-47 is under manufacture and expected to fly in 2028. He also echoed leadership’s optimism on the long-range stealth bomber now in development, saying the B-21 program is “going exceptionally well.”
But he cautioned against complacency even amid recent successes in combat and large-scale exercises, arguing the service must continue to adapt to match pacing threats and sustain options for national leaders. He urged the force to resist comfort and maintain urgency.
“When the President asks tonight, next week, next year, next decade, can you still do that? We have to be able to say, hell yes, we can. We’ve got to follow through on that. That’s what’s at stake,” said Allvin.
“What the nation needs is one Air Force, integrated, aligned, focused, ready to fight. The nation needs more Air Force, more capability, more capacity, more options for the President. The nation needs your Air Force, moving at the pace to win,” said Allvin.
