US Troops May Return to Somalia After Force Structure Review

June 29, 2021 | By Brian W. Everstine

The Defense Department is considering sending U.S. troops back to Somalia just about six months after pulling them all out of the country as part of a broader look at the military’s force posture.

In December, then-President Donald J. Trump ordered troops to leave Somalia as part of a global push to draw down the numbers of deployed forces. Since then, U.S. forces have been “commuting to work” by flying in from nearby nations for training events and then leaving.

AFRICOM boss Gen. Stephen J. Townsend, speaking June 29 during the Center for Strategic and International Studies EU Washington Defense Forum, said the Pentagon under President Joe Biden is in the final stages of changing the force posture in the region.

“I’ve been communicating back and forth with my civilian leaders in the Department of Defense, the Secretary of Defense, giving him options,” Townsend said. “And I think we’ll keep those options right where they should be, in private communications with the Secretary Defense, so our civilian leaders have the opportunity to make their decisions.”

Townsend said it is his belief that the best way to work with partners in Africa is “side-by-side, face-to-face, shoulder-to-shoulder,” and it’s gotten much more difficult to do that with American forces flying in for short periods of time.

“There’s really no denying that our … fairly sudden repositioning out of Somalia earlier this year has introduced new layers of risk and complexity to our mission there,” Townsend said. “So, what we’re trying to do is manage that risk and complexity as we still try to help our African partners with their security challenges.”

The withdrawal from Somalia was a large-scale undertaking, led by USAF aircraft and other air power. USAF C-130s flew about 200 sorties as part of “Operation Octave Quartz,” bringing out about 4 million pounds of cargo and hundreds of personnel.

A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier deployed to the region, with U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs providing overwatch of moving American troops. USAF MQ-9s and special operations aircraft also provided surveillance. Air Force F-16s and KC-135s from U.S. Central Command also flew down to the region, with an E-11 Battlefield Airborne Communication Node helping the forces communicate, U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa boss Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian told Air Force Magazine earlier this year.

“As we did this, we recognize that when you pull together a joint task force made up of Americans that are focused on a mission, they’re going to figure out a way to get it done,” Harrigian said. “And they’re going to do it by protecting Americans. They’re going to do it safely and effectively, and they did it in an extremely short period of time.”

Also in 2020, the Pentagon announced it was looking to move AFRICOM’s headquarters as part of its force posture changes. Townsend said June 29 that his command “is very happy to be right where we are in Europe, in Germany,” and it would be “tough to choose” a possible location in Africa. “I think we’re in a great place,” he said.

Don’t Get Caught by Trends: Why Microelectronics Trust and Assurance Requires Enduring Solutions

June 29, 2021 | By George Lecakes

The U.S. Air Force and every other branch of U.S. military service depend on safe and reliable microelectronic devices and embedded systems. Without them, modern defense weapons systems can’t function. And when the integrity of these components is compromised, it puts people, systems and entire military operations in peril.

The microelectronics industry is a broad and complex ecosystem of global supply chains that involves many different players, places and steps — and that won’t be changing anytime soon. In the past, our government led technological advancements in microelectronics, but various policies and regulations have driven up the cost of manufacturing devices in the U.S. and pushed that part of the process overseas. Subsequently, microelectronic components like field-programmable gate arrays, application-specific integrated circuits and printed circuit boards (PCBs) are designed in the U.S. but are fabricated, tested and packaged in other countries.

Why the Latest Tools Aren’t Enough

This presents every facet of U.S. Armed Forces with a plethora of trust and assurance challenges because very real threats are posed by malicious or counterfeit chips from foreign countries run by governments that do not have the U.S.’s best interests in mind. Without the proper safeguards, it’s all too easy for poor-quality, fake or pernicious devices to be introduced into U.S. defense systems.

There are, of course, cutting-edge tools designed to scan microelectronics devices for issues, but these alone are not enough to ensure their safe and reliable operation on the critical platforms used by the U.S. Air Force and our nation’s other military sectors. Not only does the current breakneck pace of technological change make it impractical and impossible to constantly buy new products and implement wholesale changes, but in today’s world, new threats arise on a daily basis.

Given all these factors, the only truly cost-effective, dependable way to maintain safety and trust assurance is to employ enduring solutions that have the ability to continually learn and improve. This means that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning cannot just be buzzwords — they must be utilized to their full extent.

Lasting Solutions That Continually Improve Over Time

For example, there is a great need for tools that can verify and validate the trust and assurance of PCBs — the foundational building blocks or “brains” of most electronic devices — while scanning for counterfeits. Electronic systems have become incredibly complex and expensive and getting a single PCB ready for use can require 150 or more intricate steps. These crucial components are being used by organizations responsible for national defense and homeland security, but with the private commercial sector heading the modern-day microelectronics charge, the U.S. military has no choice but to rely on consumer off-the-shelf (COTS) PCBs from outside sources. As a result, cost and integration with current systems cannot be overlooked.

By leveraging the power of AI and machine learning, we can create and maintain a database of the “gold standard” of PCBs, ensuring that all scans are assessing authenticity using the most accurate and up-to-date information available. My company, Battelle, has developed a software suite called Rapid Assembly Inspection for COTS Security (RAICS) that analyzes PCB assemblies in this manner. Using complementary imaging hardware, RAICS generates multimodal signatures from an array of industrial sensors and quickly assesses the integrity of the COTS device being scanned. And thanks to AI and automated machine learning, the more RAICS runs, the more robust and adept it becomes.

Similar enduring solutions are needed to protect the embedded code that runs on communications buses within larger systems. The code and components of distributed control networks like smart grids, autonomous vehicle systems and medical monitoring are prime targets for hackers, but an algorithm that leverages machine learning can be applied to continually improve their ability to protect themselves from cyberattacks.

Battelle’s CANProtect technology attaches to and observes the commands sent through cyber-physical networks and searches for anomalies using explicitly programmed machine learning techniques. Like RAICS, the longer it’s in the field, the more adept it becomes at protection. CANProtect can also be used across services and installations, from Apache helicopters to aircraft refuelers.

Those of us who serve our country through the U.S. armed services know all too well that there will always be looming threats to keep at bay and the cybersecurity of our critical systems will continue to face increasing pressure and risk. While the latest shiny new tech objects may seem like the best defense, they can’t be the only tools in our arsenal. To effectively combat dangers and risks while working within the realities and confines of current budget and implementation constraints, it’s imperative that we focus on and emphasize enduring solutions that continually grow smarter over time. The trust and assurance of our nation’s defense systems merit airtight protection that can go the distance.

Learn more about Battelle’s capabilities in Microelectronics Trust & Assurance.

George Lecakes is the Vice President and General Manager of National Security at Battelle.

ACC Activates the First Spectrum Warfare Wing

June 28, 2021 | By Brian W. Everstine

Air Combat Command on June 25 activated the first-of-its-kind 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing, which will provide electronic warfare maintenance and expertise for Combat Air Forces.

The wing, which is temporarily based at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., while the Air Force does an environmental study for its permanent location, has long been previewed by service officials as a key step to ensure the U.S. military has superiority in spectrum.

“The competition in the electromagnetic spectrum is more important than ever before. The joint force is connected by and delivers effects in and through the EMS,” said Col. William Young, 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing commander, in a release. “If we lose the fight in the EMS, we will lose the fights in all other domains. We’re here to help make sure that doesn’t happen.

Following the release of a Defense Department-wide electromagnetic spectrum strategy in October, the Air Force announced it was creating the wing. The Air Force’s skills in the area “atrophied” during recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the new wing will help build a new capability, former Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen W. “Seve” Wilson said in October.

The wing is aligned under the new 16th Air Force. Existing units such as the 53rd Electronic Warfare Group are moving to the new wing.

“The activation of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing is the latest step the Air Force has taken to maintain our competitive advantage in electromagnetic warfare,” said Maj. Gen. Case A. Cunningham, United States Air Force Warfare Center commander. “Placing this critical mission under a wing commander dedicated to this mission set is fundamental to accelerating needed change and ensuring our warfighters can continue to fight and win in the EMS.”

The Air Force expects the wing’s permanent location to be decided in the spring of 2022.

Here Are Some of the New PT Test Exercise Options the Air Force Will Offer

June 28, 2021 | By Greg Hadley

The Department of the Air Force will resume revamped physical fitness testing on July 1 after a lengthy, COVID-induced delay, but still more changes are coming as the service is set to debut new alternative options for the test in January 2022.

The official announcement on what those new testing options will be outside the standard 1.5 mile run, push-ups, and sit-ups is coming “soon,” Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass said June 28 in a virtual “Coffee Chat” event. However, Lt. Gen. Brian T. Kelly, deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel, and services, offered a sneak peak on what has and hasn’t been approved.

“Say you’re not a long distance runner, … we have a way to do a shuttle run back and forth, about 20-25 meters apart over a timed distance, and the fastest you can do that will correlate your score, just like your 1.5 mile distance,” Kelly said. “… There’ll be an option to walk. Today you can only walk if you get a medical leave, right? You’ll have an option to walk as well.”

For sit-ups, planks will be allowed as an alternative measure of core strength. For push-ups, Kelly said, there will be a new option to do what he termed “raised hand push-ups.”

“So instead of just going up and down, you’ll be in your push-up position and periodically raise a hand up and push the hand down and do that for a certain amount of time.”

Airmen will be able to pick and choose which testing options they prefer, Kelly said, and can mix traditional elements in one component with alternative ones in another. The scoring system will remain on a scale of 100 points, with 60 points going towards the cardio component and 20 each for the other two.

There will be a six-month “break-in” period when the new options are introduced, and adjustments will be made as necessary, Kelly added.

While it is not clear if there will be any other alternative options allowed in the new system, Kelly did throw some cold water on the notion that exercises like swimming, biking, or rowing would be included.

“In the end, we probably won’t offer those, and the reason we won’t offer those is it’s really hard to offer those at all locations,” Kelly said. “If you happen to be Airmen at a remote location or something and you can’t get a pool and it’s not available to you, it just doesn’t make it equitable for the force. We need to be able to execute each component everywhere.”

Bass added that she was initially a fan of including rowing as an option but realized that rowing machines weren’t widely available. That doesn’t mean things can’t change in the future though, she said.

One element of PT testing that won’t be coming back July 1 is the waist measurement component. But starting in October, there will still be body measurements taken, as is required by law, Kelly said. However, he noted, that leadership is looking into possible alternative methods to measure body composition.

The Space Force is expected to release its own guidance for PT testing, but will continue to follow Air Force guidance for the time being.

USAF Fighters Strike Iranian-Backed Militias on Iraq-Syria Border

June 28, 2021 | By Brian W. Everstine

U.S. Air Force F-15E and F-16 aircraft on June 27 conducted strikes on three facilities on the Syria-Iraq border, where the Pentagon said Iranian-backed militias were building and storing the small drone weapons used to attack U.S. and partner bases in recent months.

The strikes hit buildings in As-Sisak, Al Hury, and Qasabat in Syria, with video released June 28 showing the buildings in rural areas destroyed by airstrikes. The buildings are linked to militias such as Kata’ib Hezbollah and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, the Pentagon said in a statement.

“As demonstrated by this evening’s strikes, President Biden has been clear that he will act to protect U.S. personnel. Given the ongoing series of attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting U.S. interests in Iraq, the President directed further military action to disrupt and deter such attacks,” Pentagon spokesman John F. Kirby said in a statement.

At President Biden’s direction, Airmen from AFCENT conducted defensive precision airstrikes along the Iraq/Syria border to protect U.S. personnel and facilities in Iraq.

Check out the video below, one of AFCENT’s airstrikes on the evening of June 27, 2021.@CENTCOM| @USAirForce pic.twitter.com/dXtoHnmDFP
— US AFCENT (@USAFCENT) June 28, 2021

The strikes were “necessary to address the threat and appropriately limited in scope,” Kirby said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that seven members of a militia were killed, with more sustaining serious injuries.

The Iraqi government criticized the strikes, with Ministry of Defense spokesman Yehia Rasool saying it was a “blatant and unacceptable violation of Iraqi sovereignty.”

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a June 28 briefing that the White House and Pentagon notified lawmakers and was in “close touch with partners in the region” before and after the strikes. It is Biden’s view that, “we should and will take necessary measures to defend U.S. personnel, allies, and partners in the region,” she said.

At about 7:45 local time on June 28, U.S. forces inside Syria were attacked by an undisclosed group firing multiple rockets. No one was injured and damage from the attack is still being assessed, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said. U.S. forces in response fired counter-battery artillery fire at the rocket launching positions, he said.

The strikes come amid discussion on Capitol Hill on the existing Authorizations on the Use of Military Force, and whether the measures should be repealed and replaced to govern military action in the Middle East.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the strikes showed “decisive action” to protect U.S. personnel and interests, and his committee will investigate the strikes and a “broader discussion” on the 2002 Authorization on the Use of Military Force as it relates to combatting Iranian-backed militia groups.

Some lawmakers raised concern that the repeated retaliatory strikes, conducted without Congressional notification, would now qualify as a “pattern of hostilities” under the War Powers Act.

“Both the Constitution and the War Powers Act require the President to come to Congress for a war declaration under these circumstances,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, and Counterterrorism, said in a statement.

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement that “Iran’s persistent attacks on American personnel via its proxies cannot be tolerated.” The threat shows the continued need for the AUMF, or “at a minimum” the need for a comprehensive replacement.

President Joe Biden, speaking during a brief appearance at the Oval Office, said the Iranian-backed groups were responsible for attacking U.S. personnel and “I have that authority under Article II [of the Constitution] and even those up on the Hill who are reluctant to acknowledge that have acknowledged that that’s the case.”

It is the second time in about four months that Biden has approved airstrikes on the militias in the region. On Feb. 25, two F-15Es dropped seven precision-guided munitions on a border crossing complex used by the two militias to bring fighters and weapons into Iraq.

Small UAVs carrying explosives have become a major issue for U.S. and partner forces in the region. U.S. Central Command boss Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. told lawmakers in April that they represent a “persistent and dangerous” threat.

“These small- and medium-sized UAS proliferating across the [area of operations] present a new and complex threat to our forces and those of our partners and allies,” he said. “For the first time since the Korean War, we are operating without complete air superiority.”

In recent months, there have been several such attacks on U.S. positions in locations such as Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan and al-Asad Air Base.

Last month, USAF personnel began using a new counter-drone system, first developed for the Air Force’s nuclear bases, to protect aircraft and personnel at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 6:44 p.m. on June 28 to include Congressional reaction.

Air Force’s First Helicopter-Only Training Class Since 1993 Graduates

June 28, 2021 | By Greg Hadley

For the first time in more than a quarter century, Air Force pilots have earned their wings from a helicopter-only training course.

Seven Airmen graduated June 22 at Fort Rucker, Ala., as part of the first class in the Helicopter Training Next program, one part in the larger Pilot Training Transformation initiative to accelerate training times and help address the service’s pilot shortage.

The last time the Air Force used a helicopter-only syllabus was in 1993, coinciding with the establishment of Air Education and Training Command. Typically, the helicopter pilot training pipeline lasts 17 months, including six months training on the fixed-wing T-6. The HTN program started in August 2020, with the first class graduating in less than 11 months.

“Today, you’ve established a new helicopter-only training,” Lt. Gen. Marshall B. “Brad” Webb, commander of AETC, told the new pilots at their graduation ceremony. “But, the focus for pilot training will always be, regardless of where you are in training, quality and competence. In many ways, the Helicopter Training Next program is the vanguard for all our other Air Force pilot training programs. That’s how successful you all have been.”

As part of the program, a small group tryout yielded eight pilots who went directly to Fort Rucker for training on the TH-1H helicopter trainer. A second small group started a month later and gained 50 flight hours through private and contracted instruction before joining the first group at Fort Rucker.

The two different training paths were planned from the outset, 19th Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Craig D. Wills told Air Force Magazine last August.

By taking helicopter pilots out of fixed-wing aircraft training, not only did the Air Force cut down on training time, it may also free up spots in fixed-wing training in the future, as many as 60 to 80 every year, Willis said.

AETC still plans on producing up to 90 helicopter pilots per year by fiscal 2024, Col. Michael Curry, commander of the 58th Special Operations Wing, said in a release.

Helicopter Training Next is one of several programs the Air Force has implemented to overhaul its pilot training. The service has used programs such as Undergraduate Pilot Training 2.5 and Accelerated Path to Wings, relying on new technologies, such as simulators, and new teaching techniques. It has also implemented programs like Civil Path to Wings, offering faster training courses for students with civilian pilot experience.

While these new paths have cut down on training time for the relatively small group of graduates, they also face some resistance from senior aviators wary of changes to the usual training process. In 2020, Willis said the quality of the pilots that emerge from these new programs will be key to selling those who are skeptical about them. Speaking at the June 22 HTN graduation, Webb held the new pilots up as an example of that.

“The program that you’ve undergone is fundamental in developing the Airmen that we need going forward. It’s aimed at transforming the way we learn so that we are better postured for great power competition,” Webb said. “You’ve leveraged the modern day simulation and virtual reality and by any measure, you’ve been successful. Today, you join a world-class helicopter pilot force that enhances our Air Force’s lethality and readiness.”

New Mexico RED HORSE Commander Dies at Al Udeid

June 28, 2021 | By Brian W. Everstine

The commander of a New Mexico-based RED HORSE squadron died June 26 in a non-combat related incident at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, the Pentagon announced.

Lt. Col. James C. Willis, 55, of Albuquerque, N.M., died during a deployment to support Operation Inherent Resolve. He is the commander of the 210th RED HORSE Squadron of the New Mexico Air National Guard, at Kirtland Air Force Base.

The incident is under investigation.

“The entire New Mexico National Guard is deeply saddened by the loss of Lt. Col. James Willis,” New Mexico Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Kenneth A. Nava said in a Facebook post. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and the unit. Please keep all of them in your thought and prayers during this difficult time. May he Rest In Peace.”

The squadron deployed April 16 for missions across Southwest Asia, according to a Kirtland press release.

The Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RED HORSE) provides mobile civil engineering support for contingency and special operations.

Air Force’s New Plan for ABMS: Smaller Budget, Clearer Schedule

June 25, 2021 | By Brian W. Everstine

The Air Force is adjusting its plans for the Advanced Battle Management System after a skeptical Congress cut by almost half last year’s budget request to develop the new concept in command and control. For fiscal 2022, officials are asking for less money for ABMS and seeking to buy their first real capability: datalink pods that will enable the KC-46 tanker to help F-35s and F-22s share data.

“It is important that we view the development of this command and control support system as something different than we view traditional acquisition and procurement programs,” said Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin. ABMS, he said, is “different, which is why we’re going to need to be very transparent with what we’re doing [and] how we’re approaching it.”

The first ABMS deliverable is Capability Release 1, a new pod for KC-46s that will allow F-35s and F-22s to share data for the first time. The Air Force wants between four and 10 pods in fiscal 2022 to enable data processing and sharing at the “tactical edge,” said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey D. Valenzia, the ABMS Cross-Functional Team Lead.

The second new product planned, Capability Release 2, aims to speed up decision-making for homeland defense missions led by U.S. Northern Command and NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command. That capability will use cloud computing, fiber-optic networks, artificial intelligence, and other new technologies to accelerate how those defending the homeland take in new intelligence and make command decisions.

“The combatant commands are still challenged with potential threats over the horizon that they need to characterize and make better decisions on more rapidly,” Allvin said.

Requirements for both programs were defined in prior ABMS experiments, and next month NORTHCOM will lead its own Global Information Dominance Experiment, incorporating inputs from the other combatant commands to further define what is needed next.

Because ABMS seeks to go beyond merely replacing the E-8C Joint STARS platform and instead take a whole new approach to command and control, the Air Force has struggled to clearly articulate what exactly it expects to acquire and how to justify the millions of dollars in funding it has sought. In fiscal 2021, Congress cut the Air Force’s ABMS funding request by 50 percent, forcing leaders to cancel planned experiments and delay initial acquisition plans. Now the Air Force is trying to be more transparent about the timeline for its “minimum viable product” KC-46 pod and its acquisition strategy going forward.

“There is not a fighter aircraft that comes out on the end of this,” Allvin said. “But, as we learn things through … the design experiments that we’re doing, and that we will continue to do with the capability releases, we’re understanding how we need to adapt our current infrastructure.”

The Air Force Rapid Capability Office, the program executive for ABMS, is expected to have a full cost estimate for CR-1 by the end of the month and another for CR-2 as requirements are firmed up.

In all, the Air Force is asking for $204 million for ABMS in fiscal 2022, after last year’s $302 million request was cut to $158 million.

“We understood that when Congress looked at it, it wasn’t clear enough, “Allvin said. “That perhaps we hadn’t laid out a clear enough path to justify the funds that we were requesting. So we had to look ourselves in the mirror and say, ‘We need to better align ourselves to be able to articulate more clearly what we want to do.'”

Allvin said this year’s funding request is more closely aligned to specific capabilities as a result.

Of this $204 million, just over half is for the Capability Release 1 pods; most of the rest is for CR-2 to get at “how we can accelerate that command and control process” with technology, Valencia said. A small amount funds “baseline investments in data management,” he added.

As more ABMS requirements are defined, Allvin said, budget requests will likely grow. “But we want to ensure that what we’re asking for, we can articulate as well as possible,” Allvin said. He wants Congress “to have confidence in providing those resources to us.”

Air Force Academy Cadet Dies in Single-Engine Private Plane Crash

June 25, 2021 | By Brian W. Everstine

Air Force Academy Cadet Second Class Nick Duran, 20, died June 24 in a single-engine aircraft crash in Cleburne, Texas, the Academy announced. A second person on board was killed along with Duran, who was home on leave at the time, the Academy said.

The aircraft was an American Aviation AA-1A single-engine aircraft. It crashed near Cleburne airport south of the Dallas-Fort Worth area June 24, CBS-DFW reported. The aircraft took off from the small airport in the afternoon but did not return, prompting family members to call local authorities.

Brig. Gen. Paul D. Moga, Commandant of Cadets, said in a release that the Academy and Cadet Wing mourned the loss of “a great friend, teammate and future warfighter.” He offered condolences to the family and said Duran was “Forever to be missed but never to be forgotten.”

The release described Duran’s love of flying and dream of becoming an Air Force fighter pilot. Majoring in management with a minor in Spanish, he mentored basic cadets and had worked to create an aviation club. Duran,
Class of 2023, spent two years in Cadet Squadron 29 and was a member of the 2020 USAFA baseball team.

Duran’s remains and those of his companion were found with the wreckage of the small aircraft at about 10:30 p.m. approximately 3.5 miles from the airport. It was believed to have crashed at about 5:20 p.m. local time. It was not clear which of the two on board was piloting the plane.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.