How the Air Force Can Evaluate Officers Better
A recent watchdog report found that the Air Force has one of the best officer performance evaluation systems among the services, but it falls short in two key areas.
Competition Gets Tougher for Space Force Senior NCO Promotions
While promotion rates took off for the Space Force’s junior noncommissioned officer corps in 2024, their senior NCO counterparts weren’t as lucky, as the service released statistics and a list of those selected on Nov. 21.
Report: Instructor’s ‘Overconfidence’ Blamed for 2023 Wyoming UH-1 Crash
A flight in August 2023 meant to help a U.S. Air Force helicopter pilot regain currency on an emergency procedure ended with the UH-1N chopper crashing and flipping at Cheyenne Regional Airport, Wyo., according to a new Accident Investigation Board report.
New Drone Sightings Spark Mystery at USAF’s UK Bases
A collection of small drones was spotted flying over three U.S. Air Force bases in England last week—the latest in a worrying series of incursions. In a release, U.S. Air Forces in Europe disclosed that the drones flew over and around RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell from Nov. 20 to 24.
Radar Sweep
US Says Cease-Fire Deal Is Close Between Israel, Hezbollah
The Hill
The White House said Nov. 25 that a temporary cease-fire deal between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is close, but declined to offer details on the agreement, including when it could be reached. White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that negotiators have “reached this point where we’re close,” but that a deal was not sealed yet.
Lawmakers Press Pentagon to Re-Ground Ospreys Until Safety Issues Can Be Addressed
The Associated Press
Three lawmakers are asking Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to consider re-grounding the military’s fleet of V-22 Ospreys until solutions can be put in place to address safety and design issues identified by The Associated Press in its recent in-depth investigation of the aircraft’s accident record.
ATACMS Hit Airfield in Russia for the First Time
The War Zone
Ukraine carried out the first attack on an airfield in Russia using U.S.-donated Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles on Nov. 25. The Khalino airfield about 60 miles from the border was targeted, according to media and Telegram accounts.
USAF Explores Small UAS EW, C2 Payload Options
Aviation Week
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is trying to better understand options that may exist to field small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) in command-and-control or electronic warfare roles. “The fielding of these capabilities is expected to begin within 24-36 months,” the service said in issuing its request for information.
Electronic Warfare: The Invisible Battlespace
Air & Space Forces Magazine
While it cannot be seen by the human eye, electronic warfare and its importance to the modern fight is clear. Learn more about how the Department of the Air Force is upgrading its EW capabilities, from in space to in flight, on orbit and onboard fighters.
Pentagon Underestimated Supply Chain Fragility, Now Racing to Fix Gaps
SpaceNews
Supply chain challenges that have disrupted military satellite programs, while initially seen as temporary, have emerged as systemic and exposed gaps in the U.S. defense industrial base, said Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, head of Space Systems Command.
‘Everybody’s Going to Have to Figure This Out’: Army, Air Force Debate Base Defense amid New Threats
Breaking Defense
When President-elect Donald Trump’s new defense secretary takes the reins of the Pentagon next year, they may quickly be faced with an internal debate to settle: whether the Army should continue with its traditional role of providing defenses for air bases, or whether the Air Force steps up to the task on its own.
Bombardier Defense Delivers First HADES Jet to Army
DefenseScoop
Bombardier Defense delivered its first Global 6500 business jet to the Army on Nov. 25 in a ceremony in Wichita, Kan., to help close the service’s number one capability gap: deep sensing. The jet will be the main platform for the High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program, the Army’s fixed wing aircraft-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance system that will replace the legacy RC-12 Guardrail.
Colorado Springs Named Permanent Home for 250 Delta 15 Space Force Guardians, Ahead of Possible Space Command Fight
Colorado Springs Gazette
The Air Force announced last week 250 Space Force guardians with Delta 15, dedicated to protecting and defending operations in space, will be permanently based in Colorado Springs at Schriever Space Force Base. ... Gov. Jared Polis, both Colorado senators, U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, and other Colorado lawmakers all praised the Air Force’s basing decision, particularly since a rematch with Alabama over Space Command could be brewing.
Russian Forces Test Flying Flamethrower to Target Ukrainian Firedrones
Defense News
Russian troops claim to have developed a flamethrower drone designed to counter Ukrainian first-person-view drones carrying an incendiary burning mixture, a tactic experts say will likely be ineffective against moving targets.