Daily Report

Sept. 19, 2024

New B-21 Bomber Now Flying Up to Twice a Week

The secretive new B-21 bomber is flying as much as twice a week in flight test at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and ground tests of two other aircraft are also proceeding well, program officials revealed at AFA’s Air, Space and Cyber conference.

Space Force Close to New Launch Contracts—But Only If Congress Passes a Budget

The Space Force is preparing to award billions of dollars in launch contracts by the end of this year—provided Congress passes a budget. By the end of 2024, Space Systems Command wants to award a contract for the next phase of its National Security Space Launch program. It also wants to observe a final certification flight from United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur rocket and see the first certification flight from Blue Origin’s New Glenn vehicle. 

Radar Sweep

Pentagon Worries Israel Is Close to Launching Ground War in Lebanon

The Wall Street Journal

A wave of deadly explosions of pagers and other electronic devices carried by militants in Lebanon has sharply heightened Pentagon concern about a potential ground war erupting in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. Even before the hundreds of widely dispersed detonations Sept. 17-18, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told other senior Pentagon officials in a Sept. 16 meeting that he feared Israel could soon launch an offensive, after months of back-and-forth rocket and air attacks with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia group that controls much of southern Lebanon.

US Has Accepted 36 Upgraded F-35s Since Lifting Delivery Pause

Air Force Times

The U.S. has officially accepted 36 new Lockheed Martin-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighters since lifting a yearlong delivery halt in July, 29 of which have so far been ferried to their new homes. ... The military has not said exactly how many F-35s were built and then stored during the delivery halt, but the jets number in the dozens.

Ukrainian Drone Attack Triggers Huge Blasts at Russian Ammo Depot

NBC News

A Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian missile facility early Sept. 18 threw up towering fireballs visible from space and thundering detonations that triggered earthquake monitors. Even by the standards of this incendiary conflict, video showing the blasts north of Moscow was remarkable.

SPONSORED VIDEO: SAIC on CJADC2

SAIC

Joshua Conine, Director of Space C2 Growth and Jay Meil, Director of AI and Data Strategies and Chief Data Scientist at SAIC talk about Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control at AFA’s 2024 Air, Space & Cyber Conference at the Gaylord Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

US Wants More Clarity from Ukraine on Possible Use of Long-Range Weapons

The Associated Press

The Biden administration still is not convinced that it should give Ukraine the authority to launch long-range missiles deeper into Russia, and U.S. officials say they are seeking more detailed information about how Kyiv would use the weapons and how they fit into the broader strategy for the war.

Boeing to Demonstrate Air-Space Sensor Fusion for US Military Operations

SpaceNews

Boeing plans to demonstrate sensor fusion technology that could enhance military situational awareness by combining data from airborne and space-based sensors, a senior executive said. This fusion of sensor data could be delivered to operators on the ground or in cockpits, said Kay Sears, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space, Intelligence & Weapon Systems.

SPONSORED VIDEO: Amentum on Drones and Wearable Tech

Amentum

Art Boghozian, Director of Business Development for Unmanned and Counter-Unmanned Business at Amentum speaks on drones and wearable tech at the AFA’s 2024 Air, Space & Cyber Conference at the Gaylord Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

Work Toward KC-135 Tankers That Fly Themselves, Uncrewed Cargo Aircraft Pressing Ahead

The War Zone

The U.S. Air Force is pushing ahead with experimentation that could lead to the transformation of KC-135 tankers into optionally crewed aircraft, as well as the development of other autonomous aerial refueling capabilities. U.S. military interest in autonomous airlifters, an area where China has been notably surging forward in the past few years, is also growing.

SPONSORED VIDEO: CAE on Training and Simulation

CAE

Dr. Jennifer McArdle, Senior Director for Futures, CAE Defense & Security discusses Training and Simulation at AFA’s 2024 Air, Space & Cyber Conference at the Gaylord Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

VIDEO: Wrapping Up the Final Day of the AFA 2024 Conference

Breaking Defense

The end of major conferences always sneaks up quickly. One hour, everyone is hustling about, and the next, the halls are suddenly quiet, with the sounds of booths being dismantled and coffee machines packed away. So it went with the third day of the annual Air and Space Forces Association conference, which wrapped up today. ... Breaking Defense Editor-in-Chief Aaron Mehta and Managing Editor Lee Ferran walk through the topline trends and takeaways from the conference.

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Air Force Stands Up Another Key Component of Acquisition Restructuring

Inside Defense

Air Force Materiel Command this week stood up the Integrated Development Office, one of three organizations that make up the new model of requirements and acquisition for the service. IDO will be the acquirer for the Air Force, AFMC Commander Gen. Duke Richardson told reporters at the Air & Space Forces Association's Air, Space & Cyber conference.

One More Thing

The Best World War II Movies, According to Service Members and Veterans

Military.com

What characteristics define the best World War II movies? ... Sure, any expert on war movies will admit to you that taste is subjective, but the defining World War II movies of the past eight decades all have one thing in common: They resonate deeply with audiences far beyond their box-office success and Hollywood awards. This became apparent when we asked Military.com readers to share their must-watch war movies with us. Here’s what made the cut in terms of the best World War II movies, according to service members and veterans.