The Associated Press
The United States is preparing to deploy up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers in northern Australia, a news report said, prompting China to accuse the U.S. of undermining regional peace and stability. The United States is preparing to build dedicated facilities for the long-range bombers at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal in the Northern Territory, national broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.
SpaceNews
The first chief of the Space Force Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond will relinquish command Nov. 2 to Gen. B. Chance Saltzman and will retire after 38 years of military service. Long before he was sworn in as Chief of Space Operations in January 2020, Raymond had been the leading figure in the Air Force’s space organization.
NBC News
Thousands of people have allegedly been trafficked into labor by private contractors on U.S. military bases—where workers have been paid less than promised, charged recruiting fees that leave them deep in debt, and pressured to sign improper contracts and work long hours, according to government reports. In some cases, they even faced physical abuse.
Middle East Eye
The buzz of Iranian-made drones has become a familiar sound across Ukrainian towns and cities as Russia steps up attacks across the country, destroying power plants and civilian and military infrastructure. With Russian stockpiles of missiles dwindling fast, Moscow has turned to Iran to quickly and cost-effectively stall Ukrainian military advances and loss of further territory.
Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
In Episode 100 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, “Collaborative Combat Aircraft: Understanding Next Steps,” John Baum chats with Heather Penney of the Mitchell Institute about key factors the Air Force should consider as it works to transform its vision for these next-generation unmanned aerial vehicles into viable operational assets. The motivation for these new aircraft is clear: gaining capability and capacity necessary to win in a peer fight. Highlighting findings from a recent report she drafted on this topic, Penney discusses why the Air Force is interested in CCAs and not just more manned aircraft; how trust factors into the development and employment of the autonomy; and crucial areas of autonomy development that the Air Force must focus on if CCAs are to deliver on their promise.
Defense News
The Pentagon wants to use an advanced technology process known as additive manufacturing to design and build hypersonic weapon and vehicle systems that can operate in extreme conditions. As the Department of Defense looks to field its first hypersonic capability in fiscal 2023, officials emphasize the need to shore up the industrial base and ensure programs can smoothly transition from development to production.
Military.com
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the issuance of contracts to develop the F-35 Lightning II, America's fifth-generation fighter aircraft. Since its launch, the program has set the standard for the incorporation of new technologies and components into fighter aircraft, such as thrust vectoring, composite materials, stealth technology, advanced radar and sensors, and integrated avionics to greatly improve pilot situational awareness. But the time has come for necessary upgrades,” writes retired Air Force Lt. Gen. E.G. "Buck" Shuler Jr.
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Reuters
Hackers have targeted a communications platform used by Australian military personnel and defense staff with a ransomware attack, authorities said, as the country battles a recent spike in cyberattacks across businesses. The ForceNet service, one of the external providers that the defense department contracts to run one of its websites, has come under attack, but so far no data have been compromised, said Assistant Minister for Defense Matt Thistlethwaite.
Defense One
It’s no secret that the Pentagon can’t get enough software factories. And while the military services have them, each with different approaches and models, the dozens of defense agencies and activities, often called the Fourth Estate, don’t have one they can call their own. But that could change in the New Year.
One More Thing
Air Force release
It took 10 years and six races, but Maj. Gen. David Smith, director of Air Force Reserve Plans, Programs, and Requirements, finally made it to the Ironman World Championship race in Kona, Hawaii. Triathlons are grueling competitions comprising a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run, and only 6 percent of Ironman participants worldwide qualify for the World Championships.
