Daily Report

Nov. 4, 2015

LRS-B Program Impacted by NDAA Cuts

Leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees announced $5 billion in cuts to the Fiscal 2016 defense policy bill Tuesday, including $230 million from the Long-Range Strike Bomber program. The reductions, which impact more than 100 separate programs...

US, Russia Test Communications Line

The US and Russia tested the communication protocols agreed upon last month during a Nov. 3 flight over Syria. The two countries on Oct. 20 signed a memorandum of understanding focused on flight safety over Syria, which included the establishment...

F-16 Finishes Torture Test

An F-16C Block 50 has finished 32 rounds of torture tests inflicted over two years in Lockheed Martin’s Full Scale Durability Test facility in Fort Worth, Texas, which will develop? data needed to conduct a service life extension program on...

The Chinese Threat in Space

The Chinese military, which is rapidly increasing its capabilities in space, views conflict in space as inevitable and is actively working to counter a US supremacy in that realm. China has completed 26 space launches since 2006 and is focused...

USAF Seeks Info on Commercial Aircraft

The Air Force on Oct. 26 released a request for information to industry for 10 commercial off-the-shelf aircraft to be adapted for military use, though the service is quiet on the possible mission of the aircraft. According to the RFI,...

Last Hurdle Cleared for Lockheed’s Sikorsky Buy

Lockheed Martin has the green light to complete its $9 billion acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft from United Technologies Corp. by Friday, Nov. 6, Lockheed announced Tuesday. The last hurdle was getting approval from the Ministry of Commerce in China, where...

Trident Juncture Underway

Airmen and more than 140 aircraft from 19 allied and partner nations are training together in Europe this month as part of Trident Juncture, the largest NATO military exercise in a decade. Air assets based in Italy, Portugal, and Spain...

FLOTUS Visits al Udeid

First Lady Michelle Obama visited US troops at al Udeid AB, Qatar, on Tuesday, joined by late night talk show host Conan O’Brien. Obama was in Qatar to talk about the value of girls’ education, but told airmen and other...

Gorenc Nominated for Order of the Sword

US Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa boss Gen. Frank Gorenc was nominated Oct. 29 for induction into the Order of the Sword—the highest honor awarded by the enlisted force. “Airmen trust his leadership and appreciate his transparency,” said USAFE-AFAFRICA...