Lockheed Martin Gets $7 Billion for 114 More F-35s
KC-46 Won’t Finish IOT&E Until Remote Vision System Fixed, Cargo Fix Coming Soon
B-1s Return Home Following Brief Deployment to Saudi Arabia
Derek Tournear, the Space Development Agency’s acting director since June, will remain with the organization as its permanent leader, the Defense Department said in an Oct. 28 release. Tournear is overseeing the new agency’s effort to design new satellite and ground station layers that bridge the Pentagon’s various space capabilities as well as improve on them. He previously served as assistant director for space in the Defense Department’s research and engineering branch, and came to SDA when its inaugural director abruptly left earlier this year. “Our strategy is to unify efforts across the military services and government agencies to rapidly develop capabilities that are responsive to the threat, are cost-effective, and increase our technological advantage,” said Michael Griffin, under secretary of defense for research and engineering, in the release. “Derek will lead our effort to achieve those goals.” —Rachel S. Cohen
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RADAR SWEEP
US Airstrike Targets Islamic State Group-Somalia in Support of the Federal Government of Somalia
In coordination with the Federal Government of Somalia, US Africa Command conducted an airstrike targeting Islamic State group terrorists in the Golis Mountain region of Somalia on Oct. 25. AFRICOM release
Senate Dems Likely to Block Defense Spending in Border Wall Dispute
Key Senate Democrats signaled Oct. 28 their caucus is likely to filibuster a proposed 2020 defense spending bill, which Senate Republican leaders plan to offer for a vote this week. Defense News
How an FAA Committee Aims to Accelerate Drone Integration
The Drone Advisory Committee recently offered recommendations around Remote Identification, or virtual license plates for drones. Nextgov
UK Discloses Reaper Accidents
The UK Ministry of Defence has disclosed that two of its 10 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles have been involved in serious accidents since the beginning of 2015, with one aircraft being decommissioned and the other being placed in long-term repair as a result. Defence Equipment & Support made the disclosure in a freedom of information request that was submitted by Drone Wars UK, and was supplied to Jane’s on 24 October. Jane’s Defence Weekly (subscription required)
Islamic State Group Still Poses a Threat after Al-Baghdadi’s Death
The killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by US forces leaves the Islamic State group without an obvious leader, a major setback for an organization that in March was forced by American troops and Kurdish forces out of the last portion of its self-declared “caliphate,” which once spanned a swath of Iraq and Syria. But the militant group, which arose from the remnants of al-Qaida in Iraq after that group’s defeat by US-led forces in 2008, has ambitions to regenerate again. Associated Press
Verizon Military Customers: Add a Line and Enjoy One Year of Amazon Prime
Active military members, Reservists, cadets, Gold Star families and veterans with valid ID can receive a one-year membership of Amazon Prime, an $119 value, from Verizon with a qualifying plan and new phone purchase. These customers are also eligible for select Verizon Wireless and Fios discounts. Verizon press release
One More Thing
Here’s the US Military Dog That Helped Take Down Islamic State Group Leader Baghdadi
One of the most discussed details of the US military raid to kill Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is that a dog—yes, a dog—played a vital part in the whole operation. As the notorious terrorist tried to escape capture by fleeing into underground tunnels, a trained military canine followed to keep tabs on him. It allowed US forces to close in on Baghdadi, leading him to explode the vest he was wearing, killing himself and three children he had with him. Vox