Radar Sweep
Could Kinetic Warfare Go the Way of Blockbuster? US Air Force Chief
International air forces could learn a lesson from Netflix about how to use technology to decimate an enemy, the U.S. Air Force’s top general told an audience of international air chiefs Nov. 13. After running Blockbuster out of business by offering DVD rentals delivered to customers’ doorsteps, Netflix revolutionized media consumption by creating the first widespread movie streaming service, effectively turning a hardware product into a software product, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. A similar revolution could be coming in warfare as advances in artificial intelligence, supercomputing, cyber weapons, and space point to an ever-increased reliance on data and software, as well as a trend toward non-kinetic effects, he said.
Austin Orders Briefing on 2019 Syria Airstrike That Killed Dozens
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has ordered the military’s top commander in the Middle East to brief him on details of a U.S. airstrike in Syria in 2019 that killed dozens of women and children, the Pentagon said Nov. 15. “I’m not going to relitigate a strike that happened back in March of 2019,” Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said, but: “We also want to take a look at ourselves.”
‘Brittle’ Air Refueling Capability Endangers US During Major War
The U.S. military’s aerial refueling capability has become “brittle” and aged, placing the nation at risk of being unable to sustain combat against a major adversary, a new report from the Hudson Institute said. “Without significant changes [the Defense Department] risks fielding air forces unable to conduct complex, distributed operations at scale,” the report said. “During conflict, adversaries may be emboldened to exploit vulnerabilities in both the brittle aerial refueling architecture and U.S. operational plans more broadly. As the strength of the U.S. aerial refueling architecture becomes a weakness, U.S. military forces may be incapable of deterring or defeating aggression.”
Texas A&M Commits $50 Million to Full Rides for ROTC Scholarship Recipients
Texas A&M University announced it will award $5 million in scholarships annually for 10 years to cover room and board for members of the Corps of Cadets who are ROTC scholarship recipients, which currently is more than 700 students. ROTC scholarships cover all tuition and fees, but not room and board, so Texas A&M’s funding will close the gap, providing full-ride scholarships.
Plane-Makers Grab Deals at Dubai Airshow
Global aerospace firms have secured tentative or firm orders for more than 400 airplanes at the Dubai Airshow, building on signs of a recovery from a global pandemic that has shattered the industry's profits.
Aircraft Propulsion: The Power of Modern Propulsion
The engines that power the Air Force are the best in the world. But as technology continues to evolve, new improvements promise greater power, range, and other capabilities. Read the latest on advances in aircraft engines and propulsion technology.
DOD Eager to Leverage LEO Broadband Constellations
The U.S. Defense Department for decades has relied on geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) communications satellites stationed 36,000 kilometers above the equator. The military also is a major customer of the Iridium low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellation that provides satellite phone and narrowband data transmission services. Military users are now hungry for low-latency broadband services from the likes of OneWeb, SpaceX, Telesat, and Amazon that promise to connect the world via thousands of satellites in much lower orbits than traditional comsats.
Air Force Turns to Virtual Reality for Suicide and Sexual Assault Training
Texas-based Air Force officials and their spouses are being immersed in simulations of difficult sexual assault and suicide scenarios—via virtual reality—to become better equipped to deal with such encounters in their real-world military operations. A new training program designed to support staff was recently implemented by members of the 317th Maintenance Group at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, marking the latest of multiple virtual reality-driven applications being deployed there.
SPACECOM Reorganizing Amidst Theater Component Command Debate
Commander of U.S. Space Command Army Gen. James H. Dickinson has signed off on the creation of a new operational component command as part of an effort to streamline his current subordinate command chain. “SPACECOM is going to have Joint Force Space Component Command as our primary warfighting command,” one SPACECOM source said. However, final details aren’t likely to emerge until early next year.
Pentagon: Austin Has Authority to Mandate Vaccines Despite Okla. Guard’s Attempt to Cancel Requirement
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has the authority to order National Guard troops to receive the coronavirus vaccine even while they are on state duty, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said. Kirby’s comments followed a memo by newly appointed Oklahoma Adjutant General Thomas Mancino that told Oklahoma National Guard troops that they are no longer required to receive the vaccine despite a federal policy mandating the shots for all service members.
Rostec Looks to UAE to Co-Produce Su-75 Checkmate Subsystems
Rostec is holding talks with Emirati businesses about co-producing the Su-75 Checkmate, and the Russian defense giant plans to create an unmanned version of the fighter jet, a company official said Nov. 15 at the Dubai Airshow.
Airmen From the 109th Airlift Wing Begin Their Journey to Antarctica
Airmen from the Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing are on their way to Antarctica to assist scientists as part of Operation Deep Freeze, which crews from the 109th have supported since 1988. “Once you start flying this mission, it gets in your blood, and you don’t ever want to leave it,” said Col. Cliff Souza, operations group commander. “The logistics capacity does not exist outside the Department of Defense to be able to support that type of effort in Antarctica."
Production T-7 Red Hawk Nearing First Flight
The first production example of Boeing’s T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer for flight trials is taking shape in St. Louis, Mo., as mechanics install its final components prior to the beginning of ground tests. Boeing hopes to get the aircraft into the air by the end of the year while acknowledging some delays to the assembly caused by the pandemic. Another four T-7As have entered the assembly flow.
Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory Wins $1 billion Contract From AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory announced Nov. 15 it has awarded its largest-ever contract for space technology development to Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory. “The partnership will accelerate critical space science and technology projects, especially when we need to quickly respond to urgent and unexpected needs,” said Col. Eric Felt, director of the AFRL Space Vehicles Directorate.
US Air Force Team Rescues Man Having Heart Attack on Board Cargo Ship in Indian Ocean
A U.S. Air Force team based in Africa rescued a British citizen who had suffered a heart attack on board an American cargo ship in the Indian Ocean this weekend, according to the U.S. military. The Warfighting Recovery Network received an "urgent request" on Nov. 13 for a mariner "experiencing symptoms of a heart attack" on a U.S.-flagged cargo ship about 500 nautical miles off the coast of Kenya, U.S. Africa Command said. After the urgent call came in, a team of five U.S. Air Force pararescuemen were deployed.