Inside the Air Force highlights

Some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Air Force:

1. The Air Force expects to declare initial operational capability for its variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter next Tuesday, Aug. 2, multiple sources confirmed to Inside Defense.

Full story: Air Force expects to declare F-35A IOC Aug. 2

2. More than a dozen business segments from major defense contractors muscled their way to a privileged Air Force supplier status in 2016 compared to 2015 in the service's third annual ranking of so-called "superior suppliers" -- a new positioning that also included downgrades, including eight business units that were dropped entirely.

Full story: Sixteen Air Force suppliers climb higher in 2016 'superior' rankings

3. An ongoing Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, NV, is placing a greater emphasis on space and cyber integration and is highlighting needed range improvements to better characterize threats and incorporate non-kinetic effects.

Full story: Red Flag highlights need for space, cyber range improvements

4. Although the Air Force has found its stride managing the pitfalls of operating under short-term continuing resolutions, the service's top civilian official said this week she's concerned about the impact a sustained stopgap spending measure could have on munitions levels.

Full story: Air Force secretary concerned about munitions levels under long-term CR