Independent Estimate Puts Space Force Tab at Up to $21.5 Billion
Creating a new Space Force could cost up to $21.5 billion—or as little as $11.5 billion, according to a new report by Todd Harrison, director of defense budget analysis at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.
Mildenhall Rivet Joints, Airmen to Move to Fairford
Pentagon Report, Joint Chiefs Chairman Note Lack of Progress in Afghanistan
The military effort in Afghanistan remains stagnant about one year after the administration released its new South Asia Strategy despite an increased operational tempo in the country, according to a new report. The Defense Department Inspector General, in a quarterly report to Congress, stated that as the new strategy passed the one year mark, the US military increased its presence and conducted more offensive strikes, while increasing training for Afghan forces. However, “there was little clear progress” toward reconciliation and the available measures of security “showed little change.” For example, 65 percent of the Afghan population is living in areas of government control or influence, an amount that has not changed in the past year. Additionally, there have been more reports of civilian casualties, and a spike in Afghan security forces casualties. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford told an audience at the Halifax International Security Forum the Taliban is “not losing” in Afghanistan and that reconciliation is the only way forward. However, he acknowledged that not much has changed since the US last year said the situation in Afghanistan was a “stalemate.” —Brian Everstine
DLA Delivers More than 300,000 Pounds of Thanksgiving Food
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RADAR SWEEP
Thirty-five F-35s from the 388th Fighter Wing and the Air Force Reserve’s 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah, conducted an elephant walk as a demonstration of combat power on Monday. Watch a time lapse video of the strike fighters taking off, and check out the elephant walk photo.
Pentagon Frustrated by Silicon Valley Rejection
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs expressed frustration Saturday over the refusal of some tech giants to work with the US military. Breaking Defense
Africa Command to Pursue Drawdown, Realignment
The Department of Defense announced Thursday the withdrawal and realignment of some U.S. Africa Command Counter Violent Extremist Organization, in accordance with priorities outlined in this years National Defense Strategy. UPI
Pentagon Report on Turkey’s F-35 Program Delivered to Congress
The U.S. Defense Department has delivered a report to Congress detailing implications of Turkey receiving 100 F-35 fighter jets, five people familiar with the report said, removing a key hurdle to concluding the deal. Reuters
One More Thing:
Some Mad Genius Just Attached an M61 Vulcan Rotary Cannon to a Toyota Prius
Small-batch coffee producer Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) has turned a Toyota Prius into a rolling platform for a 20-millimeter M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. And yes, that’s the same kind of cannon found in Air Force fighter jets. The Drive