Forbes
“A stunning assessment was issued last week that highlights the growing mismatch between our national defense strategy and our armed services’ ability to execute that strategy. The Heritage Foundation released its annual military index report that objectively evaluated the readiness, capability, and capacity of the U.S. armed services. The ratings assigned to each service includes the following options: very weak, weak, marginal, strong, or very strong. The Marine Corps was the only service to receive a ‘strong’ overall assessment, while both the Army and Navy were deemed ‘marginal,’ and the Air Force and Space Force were labeled as ‘weak,’” writes retired Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
Defense News
The Air Force is wrapping up the first weeklong operational test of its two new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets. The F-15EXs, updated versions of the fourth-generation F-15 jet, took part in their first major test with the Air Force at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada from Oct. 18 to 25. The fighters—so far, the only F-15EXs that have been built—flew alongside F-15Cs and F-15Es, the Air Force said in an Oct. 25 release.
Breaking Defense
The Russian hackers allegedly behind the widespread SolarWinds espionage campaign are back at it, according to Microsoft, again targeting the global information technology supply chain—but this time, with a slight twist.
Air Force Times
Amid news reports of increasing prescription drug shortages—worsened by current national supply chain issues—military officials say they’ve been able to work around them. “We do not see any trends on medication prescription shortages other than those listed on the [American Society of Health System Pharmacists] and [Food and Drug Administration] websites,” said Michelle McCaskill, spokesperson for the Defense Logistics Agency.
The Jerusalem Post
The fifth biannual Blue Flag exercise entered its second week, with thousands of troops and dozens of aircraft from around the world taking part in the most advanced aerial drill ever held in Israel. Along with the dozens of Israeli aircraft taking part, some 40 aircraft from Germany (six Eurofighters), Italy (five F-35 jets and five G550 planes), Britain (six Eurofighters), France (four Raphael jets), India (five Mirage jets), Greece (four F-16 jets), and the US (six F-16C jets) are taking part.
Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
In episode 45 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, the Mitchell Institute explores the status of America’s newest fighter engine with top experts from Pratt and Whitney. Fighter aircraft are generally viewed as airframes, but it takes incredibly sophisticated jet engine technology to bring these airplanes to life. The F-35’s engine is a game changer, embodying state-of-the-art materials and design techniques that have revolutionized jet propulsion. But inventing new technology involves challenges, and the F-35’s engine is no exception. Learn more about this process by hearing from key engine team members.
Military.com
A bipartisan pair of senators is looking to cut down on out-of-pocket costs female troops face when buying items for their uniforms. A bill introduced Oct. 20 by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) aims to eliminate the so-called "pink tax," or the higher costs of women's uniforms compared to men's uniforms.
Federal News Network
Across the sprawling defense bureaucracy, it’s not a stretch to say there are dozens of different organizations who each see themselves at the forefront of buying or building innovative technologies. So it makes a certain degree of sense for the Pentagon’s top technology official to start her tenure by asking who’s working on what.
FedScoop
The former inaugural head of artificial intelligence ethics policy at the Department of Defense has joined Comcast Corp. as vice president for government and external affairs. Alka Patel left the DOD in October after 20 months working on developing policies for how the military will use AI while waging war. She departed before the final implementation of policies she had helped draft, and it remains unclear who will replace her in the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center.
Defense One
A possible Chinese takeover of Taiwan is “one of the No. 1 issues” occupying the new China Mission Center, CIA deputy director David Cohen said Oct. 24 at an Intelligence Community conference in Georgia. In March, then-INDOPACOM commander Adm. Philip Davidson told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Chinese threat toward Taiwan could “manifest … in the next six years.”
One More Thing
Task & Purpose
"I was stressed the entire time, like ‘Please be in focus, please be in focus,'" said Army Master Sgt. Alex Burnett, the public affairs noncommissioned officer in charge at the 82nd Airborne Division.
