Air Force Outlines Wish List for European ABMS Demo

Nov. 12, 2020 | By Rachel S. Cohen

The Air Force’s next massive force networking demonstration will focus on protecting troops in Europe from incoming missiles and other airborne threats, the service said in a recent notice.

The fourth Advanced Battle Management System exercise, slated for February 2021, will pull data from next-generation sensors into a common operating picture to detect and track surface-to-air threats against U.S. European Command forces, as well as fending off enemy cruise missiles, USAF said Nov. 10. Under the “agile combat employment” strategy, military participants will also practice deploying away from brick-and-mortar bases and setting up a makeshift camp where they can reconstitute forces and launch attacks.

Airmen will prove whether they can connect to “EdgeONE” cloud storage from their computers from places without the networks available at a formal base.

The EUCOM exercise follows three others held in the past year that tried new ways to connect joint forces in the U.S. and the Pacific. ABMS is the Air Force’s multibillion-dollar piece of a broader push to open new lines of communication between the armed forces and share data between their combat assets. When mature, the Pentagon hopes joint all-domain command and control will help troops act faster and more effectively.

Demonstration No. 4 will particularly test three sets of technologies, the Air Force said.

The service wants to use commercial high-frequency communications terminals that can send data across narrow bands of the electromagnetic spectrum to ground control sites or aircraft.
The service is looking for “dynamic targeting through software, artificial intelligence, and machine-to-machine interfaces” to address targets faster using a larger range of combat options.
The Air Force seeks kinetic solutions like ammunition and non-kinetic effects like lasers to protect bases from small drone attacks. Unmanned aircraft threats have plagued U.S. troops in the Middle East for years, and the military is beginning to discuss fending them off in Europe as well.

The service is already exploring these concepts through other efforts, but is using ABMS to expand its industrial base. The project of nearly 100 companies includes a mix of startups and other non-traditional defense contractors and major defense corporations to try to foster innovation and drive down costs.

Breaking Defense previously reported the demonstration will also try to connect F-35 Joint Strike Fighters owned by foreign countries into the American battle network, and to break down the classification hurdles that stymie closer collaboration between the U.S. and its allies.

Five Americans, Two Allied Service Members Killed in UH-60 Crash in Egypt

Nov. 12, 2020 | By Brian W. Everstine

Five American troops, along with one French and one Czech service member, were killed Nov. 12 when a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the Multinational Force and Observers crashed in Egypt.

Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) is an international peacekeeping force tasked with overseeing the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The U.S. Army’s Task Force Sinai Aviation Command flies specially painted UH-60s carrying peacekeepers throughout the Sinai Peninsula. In addition to those killed, one U.S. service member survived and was medically evacuated.

“The MFO will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the accident,” MFO said in a statement. “At this point, there is no information to indicate the crash was anything except an accident. We greatly appreciate the cooperation and support of Egypt and Israel in the recovery effort.”

“Yesterday we recognized the sacrifice of millions who have defended our nation, and today we are reminded of the last full measure our warriors may pay for their service. I extend the department’s condolences to the families, friends, and teammates of these service members,” Acting Defense Secretary Christopher C. Miller said in a statement.

No additional information, including the specific service of those killed, has been released, pending next of kin notification.

The Army’s Task Force Sinai is a regiment-sized component of MFO, with headquarters staff, an infantry battalion, and a support battalion including the aviation company. This company is “self-sustaining,” with two flight platoons, a maintenance platoon, and a headquarters at South Camp, including fuels, production control, quality control, and technical supply, according to a 2019 Army release. The company’s orange and white helicopters provide about 15 sling loads per week to deliver food, water, and supplies to MFO bases, along with aerial observation, casualty evacuation, and VIP escort.

The MFO, which dates back to 1979, includes 1,154 personnel from 13 countries.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 3:41 p.m. Nov. 12 to reflect an updated number of casualties provided by MFO in a statement.

Department of Air Force Funding Takes Hit in 2021 Spending Bill

Nov. 10, 2020 | By Rachel S. Cohen

Senate appropriators on Nov. 10 released a $696 billion defense funding bill for fiscal 2021 that offers the Department of the Air Force less money than it requested for most spending accounts.

The proposal comes more than a month into the fiscal year, as the federal government is operating under a stopgap spending measure. A funding bill must be signed into law by Dec. 11 to avoid a government shutdown. Lawmakers could also pass another continuing resolution to keep agencies open while they seek compromise.

Senators are offering the Air Force and Space Force $200.4 billion for personnel, procurement, operations, maintenance, and technology development in the base and Overseas Contingency Operations accounts.

That’s about $7 billion less than the $207.2 billion included in the Department of the Air Force’s fiscal 2021 request. Around $40 billion of that ask is “pass-through” funding, or non-blue money, that goes to other agencies.

Many top Air Force priorities receive the money they seek in the Senate plan.

“The recommendation fully funds the Department of the Air Force request for the B-21 bomber program, recommends $974 million for the Next-Generation Air Dominance program, and supports Air Force nuclear modernization by including $1.5 billion for Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent and $444.4 million for the Long-Range Standoff Weapon programs,” the Senate Appropriations Committee said in a summary of its defense bill.

The legislation also adds 12 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters for a total of 60 jets, as well as eight C-130Js and one E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node plane the Air Force did not request. It similarly backs the A-10 attack plane and KC-10 and KC-135 tanker programs the service wanted to scale back.

Still, senators are raising concerns about the Air Force’s future force structure plans. The service made tough choices about what to keep and what to cut in 2021, but lawmakers are still unsure how those decisions affect the bottom line.

“The committee recognizes that budgetary pressures associated with balancing near-term readiness and future modernization priorities frequently result in the military services proposing force structure divestitures and retirements,” appropriators said. “Despite the magnitude of these decisions, there is not a clear crosswalk to the budget justification materials submitted with the president’s budget request that highlights detailed funding implications.”

To fix that, senators want the Air Force to create a new part of the budget that shows the savings it would gain from divesting or retiring pieces of its inventory. That paperwork should show each type of aircraft on the chopping block, how many would be cut, and an explanation of the associated savings. The Senate Appropriations Committee wants to begin talks about the new descriptions with the Air Force and Pentagon comptrollers and House appropriators within 45 days of the spending bill’s enactment.

If the measure makes it into the final legislation, the Air Force would be required to include retirement savings data in the fiscal 2023 request.

“This exhibit shall not only serve the purpose of demonstrating the savings associated with such proposals, but also the cost implications of any changes to the plan as proposed,” lawmakers wrote. “Once the exhibit has been refined for Air Force aircraft divestiture and retirements, the committee will consider expanding the scope to include changes in force structure as proposed by other military services going forward.”

It’s not the first time lawmakers have raised questions about the Air Force’s retirement plans, but it is particularly notable alongside Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.’s push to “accelerate change or lose.”

To get 2021 appropriations signed into law soon, the Senate is bypassing its committee markups and amendment process. House and Senate lawmakers must still cobble together compromise legislation and pass the bills in each chamber before sending them to President Donald J. Trump for approval.

Here’s how proposed Department of the Air Force funding breaks down:

Funding Category	Base Budget	Overseas Contingency Operations
Active-duty military personnel	$32.9B	$1.1B
Reserve military personnel	$2.2B	$16.8B
Guard military personnel	$4.5B	$5.8M
USAF Active-duty O&M	$34.5B	$17.7M
Reserve O&M	$3.3B	$30.1M
Guard O&M	$6.8B	$175.6M
Aircraft Procurement	$18.4B	$569M
Missile Procurement	$2.3B	$223.8M
Ammunition Procurement	$562.8M	$785.6M
Other Procurement	$23.2B	$355.3M
USAF R&D	$35.7B	$5.3M
USSF O&M	$2.5B	$77.1M
USSF Procurement	$2.2B	0
USSF R&D	$10.4B	0

USAF Program Costs Up Largely Due to Increased Units, Services Purchased

Nov. 10, 2020 | By John A. Tirpak

The cost of major Air Force programs increased $3.7 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 versus the previous year, due mainly to buying more units and services, according to a summary of the Pentagon’s Selected Acquisition Reports released Nov. 10.

The full slate of Air Force acquisition programs increased in cost from $243.1 billion to $246.8 billion during the first quarter of 2020.

Specific Air Force program changes called out by the Pentagon include:

The F-15 EPAWSS (Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System) costs increased 62.1 percent, or $2.02 billion, because the number of aircraft to be equipped with it increased from 36 to 221.

The National Security Space Launch program costs increased $1.7 billion, or 2.7 percent, due to an increased number of launches, from 179 to 191, “based on space vehicle requirements.”

The HH-60W Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter’s cost increased 10.2 percent, or $932.9 million, “due primarily to an increase for procurement modification capability upgrade retrofit kits and the realignment of flyaway and initial spares.”

The MQ-9 Reaper program declined in cost 11.7 percent, or $1.4 billion, due to the cancellation of funding for the Block 50 Ground Control Station procurement, as well as congressional cuts in fiscal year 2020.

The B-2 Defensive Management System has been scaled back to a project that will simply update cockpit displays, reducing its cost by 17.3 percent, or $525.7 million.

In addition, the joint-service F-35 program cost $206 billion less in base-year and $32.8 billion less in then-year dollars, “driven by incorporation of the Lot 11 actuals as well as the negotiated values for Lot 12-14 procurement.” F-35 program costs declined by $19 billion in base-year 2012 dollars and by $30.7 billion in then-year dollars, or $18.7 billion in base year 2012 dollars and $30.4 billion in then-year dollars when sustainment costs are included.

Some of the effects of expelling Turkey from the F-35 program were reflected in higher research, development, test, and evaluation costs, which increased by $1.6 billion in base-year and $2.1 billion then-year dollars. The boost in RDT&E was due to “several factors, including the need for program-aligned training systems, revised partner cost-sharing arrangements, and the extension of Block 4 through 2025.” Block 4 is the current upgrade program, intended to produce continuous software updates.

The F-35’s Unit Recurring Flyaway Cost, which includes the aircraft and the engine, dropped by $12.5 million for the F-35A used by the Air Force; $8.6 million for the F-35B version used by the Marine Corps, and $7.6 million for the F-35C used by the Navy. The Average Procurement Unit Cost fell by $8.4 million in base-year dollars and $7.6 million in then-year dollars.

The Pentagon did not update its F-35 operations and sustainment cost estimates, last calculated in fiscal 2018. It noted that the Joint Program Office is working to reduce O&S costs and is developing revised numbers for aspects such as beddown costs, “updated labor rates, removing Turkey [from the program], …updating fuel burn rates,” and other expected cost savings.

In addition, the Navy Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) program costs increased 23.6 percent, or $617.9 million, “due primarily to an increase of 129 all-up rounds, from 50 to 179, for the Air Force.” The LRASM is a variant of the Air Force’s Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, or JASSM.

Biden’s DOD Transition Team Taps Think Tanks, Cross-Agency Experience

Nov. 10, 2020 | By Rachel S. Cohen

Presumed President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Nov. 10 revealed the first Pentagon transition team members who will review the agency’s operations and begin the process of handing it off to new leaders in January.

Kathleen H. Hicks, director of the international security program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, will lead the Defense Department agency review team (ART). Several other members come from CSIS and other prominent research institutions, including the Center for a New American Security, RAND Corp., and New America.

Their work experience spans years in the defense, foreign policy, energy, technology, and other sectors. Some names are well-known to the military, like former DOD comptroller Mike McCord. Others have a less-traditional resume, like Michael Negron, a Navy veteran who is now assistant director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Many people on the list have ties to past Democratic administrations as well, like Susanna V. Blume, a former deputy chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald J. Trump, and Debra Wada, who served as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs under Obama.

Notable to Air Force watchers, the DOD review team includes Stacie L. Pettyjohn, director of RAND Project Air Force’s Strategy and Doctrine Program, and Veronica Valdez, former special assistant and deputy chief of staff to Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James.

The Biden-Harris transition team touted the diversity of its agency review teams, saying the presumed President-elect and Vice President-elect are “committed to building an administration that looks like America.”

“The teams have been crafted to ensure they not only reflect the values and priorities of the incoming administration, but reflect the diversity of perspectives crucial for addressing America’s most urgent and complex challenges,” the Biden-Harris transition team said in a release. “Of the hundreds of ART members to be announced, more than half are women, and approximately 40 percent represent communities historically underrepresented in the federal government, including people of color, people who identify as LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.”

They will begin meeting with former agency officials and the experts who track those organizations, as well as with officials from think tanks, labor and trade groups, and other non-governmental organizations, according to the transition team.

Once General Services Administration boss Emily W. Murphy formally recognizes Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election, transition team members will work directly with federal agency employees to begin pivoting to the policy priorities of the Biden-Harris administration.

Murphy has not yet directed the federal government to start collaborating with the presumed President-elect’s organization, as President Donald J. Trump calls for vote recounts and files legal challenges over the results in multiple states following the Nov. 3 contest. Biden reached the electoral vote threshold needed to become the next President on Nov. 7.

Team members and their most recent employers include:

Kathleen H. Hicks, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Susanna V. Blume, Center for a New American Security
Sharon E. Burke, New America
Lisa Coe, OtherSide Consulting
Melissa Dalton, Center for Strategic and International Studies
John L. Estrada, Department of State (Retired)
Victor Garcia, Rebellion Defense
Karen Gibson, self-employed
Michelle Howard, George Washington University
Andrew Hunter, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Mike McCord, Stennis Center for Public Service
Farooq A. Mitha, Imbue Group
Frank O. Mora, Florida International University
Michael Negron, State of Illinois
Stacie L. Pettyjohn, RAND Corp.
Ely Ratner, Center for a New American Security
Deborah G. Rosenblum, Nuclear Threat Initiative
Lisa Sawyer, JPMorgan Chase
Shawn Skelly, CACI International
Terri Tanielian, RAND Corp.
Veronica Valdez, Port of Seattle
Debra Wada, Senshi Ame Advisors
Christine E. Wormuth, RAND Corp.

State Department Approves F-35, MQ-9 Sale to UAE

Nov. 10, 2020 | By Brian W. Everstine

The State Department on Nov. 10 formally approved a potential $23.37 billion arms sale to the United Arab Emirates, including up to 50 F-35s, 18 MQ-9s, and both air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. The move, which is opposed by some on Capitol Hill, comes on the heels of the White House-brokered agreement between the UAE and Israel.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a statement, said the potential sales recognize “our deepening relationship and the UAE’s need for advanced defense capabilities to deter and defend itself against heightened threats from Iran.” The deal follows the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between the UAE and Israel. Pompeo said the accords offer a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to positively transform the region’s strategic landscape.”

Following the signing of the accords, Israeli officials said they would support the sale of F-35s to the UAE—a shift from its previous opposition to the sale—after reaching a separate deal with Pentagon leaders to further upgrade the country’s military capabilities.

Two lawmakers in October introduced legislation aimed at delaying the possible sale of F-35s to UAE, calling the Trump administration’s efforts to complete the sale rushed and without oversight. The “Secure F-35 Exports Act of 2020,” introduced by Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), would block sales of the aircraft “unless and until the President can make detailed certifications to Congress that the United States’ aircraft technology and Israel’s security are fully protected.”

The sale approved by the State Department, which is pending Congressional approval, would include up to 50 F-35As, 54 Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines, and related logistics, training, and support, at a cost of $10.4 billion. It also “will provide the government of UAE with a credible defense capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announcement states. “The UAE has been, and continues to be, a vital U.S. partner for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.”

The sale also includes up to 18 weapons-ready MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft, with related targeting system, radars, Hellfire missiles, Joint Direct Attack Munitions, and other related equipment and support at a cost of $2.97 billion. Lastly, it includes thousands of weapons, including AGM-120C8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles; 2,004 MK-82 500-pound bombs; 1,000 MK-84 2,000-pound bombs; thousands of Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits; and several other weapons types, including AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapons, AGM-154E Joint Standoff Weapons-Extended Range, and 150 AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles, at a total cost of $10 billion.

National Air Force Museum Celebrates Veterans

Nov. 10, 2020 | By Amy Hudson

The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, offers visitors from near and far a chance to learn more about the Airmen who built the service and to honor their time in uniform.

On Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., visitors can hear first-hand from Air Force veterans, including crew chiefs, engineers, navigators, pilots, and missile crew, who will be on hand to share their stories and bring exhibits to life, according to a USAF release.

Can’t get to the museum? You can still hear from Air Force veterans: A dozen new podcast interviews introduce listeners to the Air Force’s first female pilots, who provide a behind-the-scenes look at their lives and share the story behind “Women in the Air Force: From Yesterday into Tomorrow,” a new exhibit and series of installations spread throughout the museum that will fully open in 2021, featuring more than 60 artifacts never before on public display.

“What I love about these artifacts is that in addition to showcasing the accomplishments of these women, they also speak to who they were as people and their immense dedication to serving the U.S. Air Force despite many challenges,” said museum curator Krista Dunkman.

Also on display: From Nov. 11-15, the Museum’s World War II Gallery will show a military-themed LEGO display, including replicas of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, an F-15, and the B-17 Memphis Belle.

“The LEGO model of the Memphis Belle alone has over 3,000 pieces and a full 10-man crew,” the press release says. It “required four months of planning and locating parts, and another month to assemble.”

Tyndall is DOD’s First Base to Adopt Robot Dogs

Nov. 10, 2020 | By Brian W. Everstine

Robot dogs will soon patrol U.S. Air Forces bases.

The 325th Security Forces Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., will be the first unit in the Defense Department to start using Ghost Robotics robot “dogs” to semi-autonomously patrol the base. The unmanned ground vehicles, which walk on four legs and are outfitted with sensors and cameras, will not replace the squadron’s military working dogs, but will have a set patrol “path” on the base where personnel and cars can’t easily access.

“We are very excited. … These robot dogs will be used as a force multiplier for enhanced situational awareness by patrolling areas that aren’t desirable for human beings and vehicles,” said Maj. Jordan Criss, commander of the 325th SFS, in a release.

Security forces Airmen will “drive” the robot dogs with a virtual reality headset in an operations center, and can even issue verbal commands through a radio.

The base demonstrated the dogs Nov. 10 at an event including Tyndall leadership and the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center. The squadron says using the dogs will free up personnel to focus on training or provide security in other areas across the base.

“These dogs will be an extra set of eyes and ears while computing large amounts of data at strategic locations throughout Tyndall Air Force Base,” Criss said in the release. “They will be a huge enhancement for our defenders and allow flexibility in the posting and response of our personnel.”

The Ghost Robotics robot dogs played a high-profile role in the Air Force’s second Advanced Battle Management System “on-ramp” demonstration in early September. As part of the event, security forces Airmen used the dogs to help provide security at a simulated austere base.

Former AFRL Boss Faces Sexual Assault Charge

Nov. 10, 2020 | By Amy Hudson

A military court will consider a sexual assault charge levied against former Air Force Research Laboratory boss Maj. Gen. William T. Cooley at an Article 32 preliminary hearing in January 2021, the Air Force said Nov. 10.

Cooley is accused of making “unwanted sexual advances by kissing and touching a female victim” on Aug. 12, 2018, in Albuquerque, N.M., according to a USAF release.

Air Force Materiel Command boss Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr. relieved Cooley of command on Jan. 15 amid an Air Force Office of Special Investigations inquiry, saying the service had lost confidence in the two-star general’s ability to lead. Cooley was reassigned as Bunch’s special assistant, and Lt. Gen. Gene Kirkland, commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., was tasked with reviewing the evidence associated with the misconduct allegations.

Cooley is charged with a single count of violating Article 120 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, with three specifications related to sexual assault of the woman, according to the charge sheet. She is not a member of the military or a Defense Department employee.

Kirkland reviewed the facts of the case, “including evidence noted in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Report of Investigation and consulting with legal authorities,” the service said. He preferred the charge against Cooley on Oct. 29.

During the preliminary hearing, which is similar to a civilian grand jury, a military judge will review the evidence and may hear from witnesses before determining whether “probable cause exists that the accused committed a UCMJ offense,” the Air Force said. It is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2021.

“The officer will also provide a recommendation on disposition of any offenses supported by the evidence,” according to an AFMC release.

Brig. Gen. Heather L. Pringle assumed command of AFRL in June. She replaced Brig. Gen. Evan Dertien, who was serving as acting commander after Cooley was fired.