Tyndall Proposes New Construction Projects Amid 2019 Spending Sprint
Air Force Researchers Call for National Electromagnetic Attack Preparation
USAF-CAP Program Aims to Lessen Pilot Shortage
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RADAR SWEEP
Hackers Just Found Serious Vulnerabilities in F-15 Fighter Jet
In a Cosmopolitan hotel suite 16 stories above the Def Con cybersecurity conference, a team of highly vetted hackers tried to sabotage a vital flight system for a US military fighter jet. And they succeeded. Stars and Stripes (partial paywall)
Five Takeaways from Pentagon Chief’s First Major Trip
Defense Secretary Mark Esper recently returned from his first major international trip as Pentagon chief—a seven-day whirlwind tour of five countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Esper stopped in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mongolia and South Korea, stressing alliances and the importance of combating Chinese aggression in meetings with military counterparts and heads of state. The Hill
BAE Wins DARPA Contract to Develop Machine Learning Technology for Space Operations
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded BAE Systems the second phase of an existing $12.8 million contract to develop digital tools to test and evaluate technologies for space command and control. The second phase focuses on the use of machine learning for space and situational awareness, the company announced Aug. 13. Space News
Two US Warships, Marines Denied Port Visits to Hong Kong Amidst Protests
Chinese officials are denying two US warships port visits to Hong Kong amidst ongoing protests against the government in Beijing. USS Green Bay (LPD-20) and USS Lake Erie (CG-70) were denied requests to visit Hong Kong, US Pacific Fleet spokesman Cmdr. Nate Christensen told USNI News on Aug. 13. USNI News
OPINION: Fighting and Winning in Space—Today and Tomorrow
“Whether [the] solution is a ‘Space Corps’ or ‘Space Force’ matters little in the grand scheme; what’s important—essential, in fact—is that the US answer the rising threats posed by China and Russia against commercial, military, and intelligence satellites with unparalleled military capability to deter and, if necessary, defeat enemy threats in space,” writes AFA President retired Lt. Gen. Bruce “Orville” Wright in the Aug. 14 installment of his President’s Perspective column on AFA.org. “This is a national imperative.” AFA.org
Pence Press Secretary Expected to Become New Pentagon Spokeswoman
Vice President Mike Pence’s press secretary Alyssa Farah is expected to become the next Pentagon spokeswoman, CNN has learned. Farah worked in Pence’s office for nearly two years after being poached from her post as the spokesperson for the House Freedom Caucus. CNN
JE Dunn Wins Bid for $158M Air Force Chapel Renovation in Colorado
JE Dunn Construction has received a contract from the Defense Department for a $158 million renovation of the famous Air Force chapel in Colorado Springs, the company announced Aug. 8. The renovation of the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel will be extensive, and the company plans to create an enclosed structure around the chapel as they disassemble the building. Kansas City Business Journal
Russian Fighter Jet Wards Off NATO F-18 Nearing Minister’s Plane
A Russian fighter jet warded off a NATO military aircraft that approached a passenger plane carrying Russia’s defense minister Aug. 13, according to media reports in Russia. Associated Press via Military.com
One More Thing
An Explosion. A Radiation Spike. Evacuations Planned and Canceled. What’s Happening in Russia
At around 6 a.m. GMT on Aug. 8, seismic and acoustic sensors in Sweden, Finland, and Norway detected an explosion. The sensors are operated by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, and on Aug. 12 the group—which monitors the globe for prohibited nuclear tests—said four stations identified an event “coinciding” with an explosion in Nyonoksa, Russia. Defense News