Pave Hawk Struck Steel Cable, Causing Fatal March Crash in Iraq
The HH-60G Pave Hawk that crashed in March, killing all seven on board, struck a galvanized steel cable, bringing it down onto the Iraqi desert, the Air Force announced Monday. The March 15 crash killed seven airmen. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.
US and South Korea Pursue Readiness Without Big Exercises
US and South Korean forces are looking for new ways to maintain readiness while diplomats work to peacefully denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said Oct. 26. A week after the US cancelled its second major exercise with South Korea and one day after meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Dunford acknowledged things might become “uncomfortable” in the coming months as the US military carefully balances two sometimes competing tasks: peaceful denuclearization of the peninsula and the need to deter and respond if necessary. Read the full story by Amy McCullough.
Mattis: US Support of Saudi Coalition to Continue
Northrop Wins Cyber Weapons Contract
The Air Force on Friday awarded Northrop Grumman a $54.6 million contract to create a new, united platform to coordinate operations across the cyber realm. The Northrop Unified Platform Systems Coordinator contract designates the company as the lead to integrate separate cyberspace platforms with the goal of integrating management and operations, according to a Northrop release. Northrop beat five other potential contractors, and their work is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2021. The platform, which the Air Force is purchasing for US Cyber Command, is essentially a cyber weapons factory will arm CYBERCOM more quickly than the traditional pace of acquisition. “It’s a platform you can put other [cyber] capabilities onto,” Chris Valentino, director of joint cyberspace programs for Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, told Air Force Magazine in September.
DOD: Operation Faithful Patriot to Send Over 5,200 Active-Duty Troops to Border
The Defense Department will send more than 5,200 Active-Duty soldiers to the US-Mexico border as part of Operation Faithful Patriot, an endeavor supporting US Customs and Border Protection efforts to secure the boundary as caravans of would-be immigrants from Central America approach the US, the head of US Northern Command said Monday. This operation will complement— not replace—Operation Guardian Support, under which 2,092 National Guard troops are already mobilized along the border in support of CBP’s border-security mission, O’Shaughnessy said. For context, the US currently has 15,000 troops deployed to Afghanistan. Read the full story from Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory.
RADAR SWEEP
‘Tent City’ Brings Relief to Airmen
One thousand service members from around the US are set to call Tyndall Air Force Base’s “Tent City” their temporary home while supporting base recovery efforts. Air Force News
Politicos are Pushing to Rebuild Tyndall, But Should the Air Force Bother
The Trump administration has vowed to rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base, the hurricane-ravaged home of the Air Force’s F-22 Raptor training fleet, though it seems the Air Force faces a long road ahead, and the journey could be fraught with budgetary and political battles. Defense News
Air Force, Airlines Both Facing the Same Problem: A Desperate Need for Pilots
A shortage of pilots caused by a surge in retirements, national security needs, and demand for air travel continues to hamper the Air Force. My Dayton Daily News
Could Air Mobility pilots Become Fighter or Bomber Pilots
As the Air Force grapples with an ongoing shortage of pilots, Gen. Mike Holmes, the commander of Air Combat Command, is considering one possible remedy, which is transitioning pilots from mobility aircraft to fighter or bomber aircraft. Defense News
China’s Defence Minister to Visit US, James Mattis Says
Wei Fenghe’s trip to Washington comes amid continued tensions between two sides. SCMP.com
Czech Leader Tells Mattis Quitting Nuclear Deal Would Be Bad
The Czech Republic’s prime minister has told US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis that a possible withdrawal of the United States from a landmark nuclear weapons treaty is bad news. US News and World Report
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Looks to Calm European Allies Nervous About INF Treaty
Jim Mattis said he had asked his NATO counterparts after the last summit if they had any ideas on how to bring Russia back into compliance of INF treaty, but so far none had come back to him. Times Now News
US and Arab States Affirm Commitment to New Security Alliance
A military conference in Bahrain has affirmed Washington’s push to create a new security and political alliance with Arab Gulf states, Egypt, and Jordan, to combat Iranian expansion in the region. The National
USSTRATCOM, Thailand Sign Agreement to Share Space Services, Data
United States Strategic Command and the Royal Thailand Air Force signed an agreement for space situational awareness (SSA) services and data. STRATCOM
Meet Hill Air Force Base’s First Female Fighter Wing Commander
When Col. Regina Sabric was a young girl, around 10 or 12 years old, she had an epiphany. Standard
DoD Advances Effort to Replace Airborne Command Platforms With Single Aircraft Type
The US Department of Defense has updated its requirements for “a more effective and efficient” aircraft to accomplish the missions currently performed by the Boeing E-4B, E-6B, and C-32A airborne command platforms. Jane’s