Attendees at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 will get an up-close look at how the Air Force researches, tests, and develops major Air Force weapons systems.
This year’s military organization on center stage is the Air Force Materiel Command. AFMC is responsible for the development, delivery, and sustainment of nearly every Air Force weapons system. Displays will highlight the development and transition of technology, how weapon systems are tested and sustained, as well as a variety of hands-on STEM activities.
The Air Force’s Band of Flight will also perform during the week.
“Air Force Materiel Command is critical to the Air Force’s dominance and the strength of our nation,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. Duke Richardson, AFMC commander. “Our team of driven and innovative military and civilian airmen delivers combat power daily to ensure our nation is ready today and tomorrow. We’re excited for this opportunity to participate at Oshkosh and to show how together, we are one AFMC … powering the world’s greatest Air Force.”
Headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, the command manages installation and mission support, discovery and development, test and evaluation, and life cycle management services and sustainment for every major Air Force weapon system. AFMC employs nearly 89,000 military and civilian airmen and manages $80.2 billion of budget authority.
The command’s six centers will participate in the AirVenture display venue this year. The centers, located at bases nationwide, are:
Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center
Headquartered at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, the center synchronizes all aspects of nuclear materiel management for the Air Force and has over 2,000 military and civilian personnel at 20 locations worldwide.
Air Force Life Cycle Management Center
Headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, the center has over 26,000 airmen, civilian, and contractor employees at nine major locations and dozens of smaller sites. AFLCMC is charged with life cycle management of Air Force weapon systems from their inception to retirement.
Air Force Research Laboratory
Headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, the laboratory has a workforce of more than 12,500 at 40 operating locations across the globe. AFRL is the primary scientific research and development center for the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force.
Air Force Test Center
Headquartered at Edwards AFB, California, the center has 19,000 military, civilian, and contractor employees at more than 30 locations. The test center conducts developmental and follow-on testing and evaluation of manned and unmanned aircraft, avionics, weapons, cyber systems, space capabilities, and emerging areas such as directed energy and autonomy.
Air Force Sustainment Center
Headquartered at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, the center has more than 40,000 military and civilian personnel assigned. The center delivers end-to-end life-cycle sustainment and logistics for aircraft, missiles, propulsion systems, aerospace commodities, and weapons system software to preserve Department of Defense warfighting readiness.
Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center
Headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, the center team of more than 4,000 military and government civilians takes care of airmen, guardians, and families and keeps airfields and infrastructure combat ready by managing installation and mission support programs for more than 30 Air Force specialties and 83 installations across the globe
Air show attendees will also get a glimpse of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, which will display historic test aircraft and other related artifacts.
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Aligned under AFMC, the museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the largest aviation museum in the world. Home to countless one-of-a-kind objects, the museum is a world-renowned center for air and space power technology and culture preservation.
