AFMC commander visits Kadena

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nestor Cruz
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The commander of Air Force Materiel Command toured various units and facilities here recently to find out if the command is providing the necessary support needed by Pacific Air Forces warfighters. 

During his visit, Gen. Bruce Carlson, stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, met with the 18th Wing leaders and Airmen to familiarize himself with how Kadena Airmen are making the mission happen every day. 

"I wanted to get a firsthand look at our AFMC facility (Support Center Pacific) here and look at its capabilities as well as the possibility of expanding the facility to take on additional missions in the future," General Carlson said. 

The command conducts research, development, test and evaluation, and provides the acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapon systems ready for war. AFMC has made many recent developments in warfighting systems for the Air Force inventory, according to the general. 

"It's our job in AFMC to develop and sustain warfighting systems, bring them in on-time and on-cost for every MAJCOM (major command) and combatant commander," General Carlson said. "We've added a datalink capability to the MQ-1 Predator, developed and expanded the Global Hawk, integrated new weapon capabilities on our bombers, developed special capabilities to be used for listening and intelligence collection and started developing the next generation Predator. We've also developed modifications for our various airframes to keep them flying and modernized." 

The general also said that the KC-X program is in the source selection stage and further negotiations with contractors are underway for the CSAR-X project. The KC-X, designed to perform strategic airlift missions and offload more fuel than its KC-135 predecessor, promises to replace the aging fleet of Stratotankers. A next-generation aerial tanker will ensure the Air Force remains a rapid expeditionary force providing fast, lethal, flexible, and global air, space, and cyberspace capabilities in pursuit of global enemies. 

The CSAR-X will replace the aging HH-60 combat search and rescue helicopter. The new aircraft's weapon system will decrease mission reaction time while increasing range, payload capacity and the ability to perform in inclement weather. A next-generation Combat Search and Rescue platform protects all members of the Joint and Combined Teams. The Air Force is the only service with dedicated forces to perform search and rescue in combat situations. 

"Hopefully we'll wrap things up on both projects in the fall and make our announcements then," he said. 

General Carlson said he was impressed with the high level of motivation exhibited by Team Kadena Airmen and thanked them for their dedicated service. 

"I want to thank our Airmen for the great work they do every day," he said. "Our Airmen are valuable and what you are doing here in the Pacific region is contributing to the security and safety of our nation and the freedom of people around the world. Continue doing the great work you're doing of integrating with our sister services. There is no better shining example of joint integrated operations than what exists here at Kadena. 

"Probably never in the past three decades have we been as appreciated, honored and respected as we are today," General Carlson added. "It's a great time to be in the service of our country and a great time to be in the Air Force. I applaud the great work done by our Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors on a daily basis. You are all appreciated not only by senior Air Force leadership, but by the American people as well."