B-21 to Fly in December 2021; More B-52s to Come Out of Boneyard
Multi-Domain Ops Push Turns to Joint Force
Wright: Housing Issues Improving with Faster Maintenance, Companies Held to Account
Norquist Appears Set for Prompt Confirmation as Deputy Defense Secretary
David Norquist, the nominee to be the Pentagon’s No. 2, appears set for a quick confirmation in the same vein as his new boss. Norquist, who was officially nominated July 23 to be deputy defense secretary, appeared before a cordial Senate Armed Services Committee for a July 24 nomination hearing where several lawmakers said they look forward to confirming him. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.
Senators Consider Path Forward for Hyten Confirmation
Air Force Names Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2019
Hecker Nominated to Lead Air University
Maj. Gen. James Hecker has been nominated to receive his third star and take over as president of Air University, the Pentagon announced July 24. Hecker is currently the vice director of operations for the Joint Staff, and had previously been the commander of air operations for the war in Afghanistan. In his new position, Hecker would relieve Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton, whose next assignment has not been announced. Air University, located at Maxwell AFB, Ala., provides military education from pre-commissioning to degree-based and continuing education for officers, enlisted personnel, and civilians.—Brian Everstine
__________
RADAR SWEEP
Turkey Hints at Cutting Off Access to Incirlik if US Is “Hostile” over S-400 Purchase
Turkey’s minister of foreign affairs spoke out against the United States’ decision to remove the NATO ally from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, as well as the looming possibility the Trump administration could impose sanctions on the country. Military.com
US Air Force Has Withheld $360M—and Counting—for Boeing’s Tanker Woes
The US Air Force has withheld $360 million from Boeing due to problems with the company’s KC-46 tanker, according to a service official. It’s the first time the Air Force has disclosed the total amount being held back until Boeing fixes various problems with the planes. Defense One
F-35 Canopy: New Glue, New Supplier May Boost Readiness
The government office that runs the F-35 program says the plane should meet the mandated readiness rate of 80 percent by 2020 if the problems with the plane’s canopies and spare parts shortages can be fixed. Breaking Defense
OPINION: The US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance Program is Key to Mission Success
“Budget cuts enacted by the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee targeting the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD, program are putting the future of the nation’s air superiority at risk,” write retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute, and Doug Birkey, its executive director. Defense News
Griffin Confident New Space Agency Will Win Over Skeptics
The SDA does not yet have the authorities and funding in place to award contracts, but companies are still being asked to submit ideas for a future space architecture. Space News
Electronic Warfare Spending on the Rise
The Defense Department plans to boost investment in electronic warfare capabilities as it gears up for great power competition. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told National Defense that EW is the No. 1 functional area where investments need to be made in the coming years. National Defense Magazine
NORTHCOM Says US, Canada Must Maintain “Clear-Eyed” View of Arctic Threats
The United States and Canada must maintain a “clear-eyed” view of new security challenges in the Arctic, to include the ability of Russian submarines to launch cruise missiles from the region, the head of US Northern Command said on July 22. USNI News
Senate Confirms Former Delta Executive as FAA Administrator
A former Air Force pilot and Delta Air Lines executive has been confirmed by the Senate to lead the Federal Aviation Administration after overcoming opposition from Democrats who claim that he mistreated a whistleblower during his tenure at Delta. Associated Press via US News & World Report
Pentagon’s DEOS Award Could Be Coming Sooner Than Expected
The Pentagon’s multibillion-dollar Defense Enterprise Office Solutions contract could be awarded as soon as August despite soliciting bids from industry in April. As recently as June, Defense Department Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy told reporters DEOS would likely be awarded a month or two after JEDI, but the timeline has accelerated. Nextgov
Esper Creates Task Force to Deal with Cancer-Causing Chemicals on Military Installations
On his first full day as secretary of defense, Mark Esper announced that he signed a memo establishing a task force to deal with cancer-causing chemicals found on military bases. The purpose, he told reporters at the Pentagon, is to “address all the key areas” of the military’s response to the presence of harmful chemicals used in firefighting foam. Military Times
One More Thing…
A Closer Look at North Korea’s "New" Missile Submarine
North Korea released a number of images of Kim Jong-un inspecting a new submarine. The images show the North Korean leader touring what appears to be a submarine in drydock, under construction. Experts believe the new sub will carry nuclear-tipped missiles that could be used to threaten US military bases in Japan and throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Popular Mechanics