Daily Report

April 24, 2013

Get Well Soon, Not

The damage from sequestration to the Air Force’s readiness “will extend into Fiscal ’14” even if sequestration is undone before the end of this fiscal year, said Air Force Secretary Michael Donley on Tuesday. He told defense reporters in Washington,...

Donley: Principal Deputy Acquisition Post Filled

The Air Force has filled a senior acquisition post after a prolonged search, announced Secretary Michael Donley on Tuesday. Speaking with defense reporters in Washington, D.C., Donley said William LaPlante of the Mitre Corporation would start on May 6 as...

China’s Steady Gains Could Pose Big Problems

The Chinese government has invested greatly in China’s military capabilities over the past two decades, said Thomas McCabe, a Defense Department aerospace analyst and retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, on Tuesday. Speaking at an event sponsored by AFA’s Mitchell Institute...

Post-2014 Afghanistan Picture Emerging

The Air Force will maintain a small airlift and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance presence in Afghanistan into 2015 and possibly beyond, said Maj. Gen. Jake Polumbo, the top Air Force general in Afghanistan, on Tuesday. “The types of airmen that...

Protect the Bombers

The Air Force is “still a year or two away” from “what I would call the downselect decision” for the new Long Range Strike Bomber, Secretary Michael Donley told defense reporters in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Already, “LRS-B contractors are...

Mission Transition

In coming weeks, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force will take a step back and assume more of a support role as Afghan security forces take the lead for security in Afghanistan, Maj. Gen. Jake Polumbo, director of ISAF’s Air Component...

Dyess Bombers Fly with Upgraded Sniper

B-1 bombers of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Tex., became the first operational platforms to fly with the newest version of Lockheed Martin’s Sniper targeting pod, announced base officials. The first sortie with a Sniper in the Advanced...

Hagel Announces KC-135s, V-22s for Israel

During his official visit to Israel earlier this week, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced a new arms package for the US ally. In a joint appearance with Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon at Israel’s defense ?headquarters in Tel Aviv on...