Daily Report

Oct. 21, 2024

Photos: NATO Wraps Up First-Ever ‘Ramstein Flag’ Exercise in Greece

To the likes of Red Flag, Green Flag, and Black Flag, now you can add Ramstein Flag. NATO Allied Air Command wrapped up its first ever “Flag” event at Andravida Air Base, Greece, last week, after more than 130 fighters and other aircraft from 12 countries took part in a large-scale, live-fly, first-of-its-kind European exercise.

Radar Sweep

Scatter and Survive: Inside a US Military Shift to Deny China ‘Big, Juicy’ Targets

The Wall Street Journal

The remote Pacific airfield used to launch the atomic bombings of Japan during World War II is being revived with a different foe in mind: China. Runways emerging from the encroaching jungles on the tiny island of Tinian, a U.S. territory, are part of a sweeping shift in how America’s military would respond to a possible conflict in Asia.

Leaked US Intelligence Suggests Israel Is Preparing to Strike Iran

The New York Times

The leak of a pair of highly classified U.S. intelligence documents describing recent satellite images of Israeli military preparations for a potential strike on Iran offers a window into the intense American concerns about Israel’s plans. It also has U.S. officials working to understand the size of the improper disclosure.

Questions Linger Over Australia’s Role In B-2 Spirit Strikes on Yemen

The War Zone

The U.S. Air Force used air bases in Australia to support the strikes on Houthi weapons bunkers in Yemen by B-2 stealth bombers. At this point, there is some confusion as to whether B-2s were among the aircraft that used Australian bases, but USAF tankers likely supported the bombers, launching refueling operations from Australian soil.

OPINION: Future of US Defense Depends on Culture Shift Prioritizing Innovation

Defense News

“To get our national security right and to ensure that we maintain a strong national defense, we must figure out how the Defense Department can innovate quickly enough to keep pace with potential adversaries. Though increasing authorities have been given to DOD, it continues to struggle to adapt and pivot at the same rate as some competitors,” write Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), four of the leading lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee.

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Air National Guard Planes Depart Empire State for 5-Month Antarctic Mission

Stars and Stripes

Five Air National Guard ski-equipped airlifters and 400 Airmen are headed to Antarctica for an annual mission supporting research on the frozen continent. The LC-130 Hercules “ski-birds” of the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing lifted off Wednesday and Thursday from Stratton Air National Guard Base, N.Y., bound for McMurdo Station, Antarctica, according to the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs’ website.

PODCAST: Air Battle Management in an Evolving World: Key Questions

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

In this episode of the Aerospace Advantage, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats about the evolution of air battle management with two highly experienced Airmen, Lt. Col. Alex Wallis of the 728th Battle Management Control Squadron at Robins Air Force Base and Lt. Col. Grant “SWAT” Georgulis, who just wrapped up a stint as the commander of the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base.

US Government Eases Export Controls on Space Technologies

SpaceNews

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced long-awaited changes to export control rules for space technologies, a move aimed at bolstering American competitiveness in the global space industry. The new regulations will make it easier for U.S. companies to sell satellites, launch vehicles, and other space-related technologies to close allies, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Update: Navy Declared Growler Crew Deceased Following Crash

USNI News

The Navy declared the crew of a EA-18G Growler deceased following a crash last week. The Navy, as well as partner agencies, will continue to search the site, located in a steep, heavily wooded area east of Mount Rainier, as well as recover debris and plan for salvage. Efforts are now considered recovery, according to a Navy release Oct. 20.

Shaw Air Force Base Dining Halls Are Closed Until 2026. Relatives Worry Young Airmen Aren’t Getting Healthy Meals.

Military.com

Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina has not had an operating dining hall for Airmen in nearly a year and a half, leaving some relatives of young troops concerned about their food accessibility. The base, located near Sumter, S.C., is home to the 20th Fighter Wing and several other Army and Air Force units comprising more than 5,000 Active-Duty troops and their families.

Updating Software at the Speed of Warfighting

Air & Space Forces Magazine

As software has become essential to how the U.S. fights and wins wars, how the Department of Defense goes about modernizing and updating that software has become crucial too. Learn more about how faster software modernization is tying the military together, breaking through bureaucracy along the way.

One More Thing

How College Students Beat Boeing in a Battle to Take Down Drones

The Wall Street Journal

In an antidrone technology competition earlier this year, Boeing showcased a futuristic laser weapon that can punch a hole straight through a hostile aerial threat. The multinational—and several other defense giants—lost to four college students who knocked drones out of the sky using sound waves. The rookies’ device was developed in the backyard of one of the student’s parents, using an old car speaker.