The U.S. military needs to wake up and smell the multi-polarity, according to the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash) told the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute on April 22 the era of a single superpower is over, ended by asymmetric strategic capabilities like drone swarms…
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The proliferation of long-range strike options under development across all the U.S. armed forces should prompt a comprehensive review by civilian leaders, a new report by two influential think tanks concludes. Titled “Understanding the Long-Range Strike Debate,” the report by AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies and the Hudson Institute…
U.S. Central Command is searching for “innovative” ways to help the Afghan Air Force turn wrenches on their planes after U.S. and coalition forces withdraw from the country, though the command’s boss acknowledges it’s not going to be easy. “The U.S. contractors will come out as we come out. That…
HASC Won’t Plus Up F-35 Request in Fiscal 2022 Budget
April 22, 2021
House Armed Services leaders say they'll move to block adding more F-35s than requested in the fiscal 2022 budget, in hopes of letting the overtaxed sustainment system for the fighter “catch up” to the fleet already in place. Without action on sustainment costs, the Air Force would only be able…
With upcoming budget deliberations and an expected Nuclear Posture Review, Air Force and U.S. Strategic Command leaders are making the case that the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent is a critical program and is actually cheaper than extending the life of the aging Minuteman III. Other modernization programs, such as nuclear command…
USAF Releases New Airpower Doctrine
April 22, 2021
The Air Force on April 22 released a new doctrine that outlines the basic tenants of airpower, how and why the service fights, and reiterates the Air Force core values of “integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do.” In an email to retired and active general…
Since U.S. forces withdrew from Somalia earlier this year, they have been “commuting to work” via aircraft to help train Somali troops, but without a ground presence there is limited intelligence understanding, the head of U.S. Africa Command told lawmakers. In December 2020, former President Donald J. Trump ordered U.S.…
The Air Force is upgrading some 70 MQ-9 Reapers to a new configuration that will keep the type capable and relevant to the near-peer fight for another 15 years. It awarded General Atomics a $272.3 million contract to enhance the Reaper's weapons, electric power, connectivity, and resistance to jamming, among…
The Pentagon’s overarching joint all-domain command and control strategy, a document outlining the entire Defense Department’s effort to link sensors and shooters together, will be presented to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III in the coming days, with a public version expected to follow. USMC Lt. Gen. Dennis A. Crall,…