Project Aquatone

July 1, 2010
In the 1950s, the epoch-making U-2 spyplane was young, promising, and still very, very secret.

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House, Senate Reach Bipartisan Agreement on Massive Defense Policy Bill

Dec. 3, 2020
As the final days of 2020 count down, House and Senate negotiators have agreed on sweeping defense policy legislation that offers nearly $732 billion to the armed forces in fiscal 2021. “The FY21 NDAA focuses on maintaining the strength of our defense enterprise as our nation grapples with a once-in-a-generation…

Trump Nominates Aquilino to Lead INDOPACOM

Dec. 3, 2020
President Donald J. Trump nominated Adm. John C. Aquilino to lead the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the Pentagon announced on Dec. 3. If confirmed by the Senate, Aquilino—who has led U.S. Pacific Fleet since May 2018—will replace Admiral Philip S. Davidson. Aquilino would take command of the Defense Department’s “priority theater”…

Hypersonic Missile Coming Five Years Faster Thanks to Acquisition Reform

Dec. 3, 2020
New Pentagon acquisition rules are making it possible to field the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) hypersonic missile five years faster than would be possible under the old rules, top USAF uniformed acquisition official Lt. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson said Dec. 3. He also touted new rules for speeding…

Clock is Ticking on New START Extension

Dec. 3, 2020
President-elect Joe Biden’s administration will have just 16 days after Inauguration Day in January to strike a deal with Russia to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. If they fail to agree, the last remaining pact limiting the two countries' nuclear arsenals will expire. Rose Gottemoeller, who previously served…

Space Force Advocate to Lead GOP on House Defense Panel

Dec. 3, 2020
Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers, a leading Space Force proponent, will become the top Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, his office said Dec. 3. “It’s an honor to be selected by my colleagues to lead the Republicans as Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee for the…

3 Air Force Bases Delay PT Tests Until April

Dec. 3, 2020
Airmen at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, and Scott Air Force Base, Ill., won’t have to take official physical fitness assessments until April 1, 2021. Air Force guidance issued earlier this year authorizes commanders to make these kinds of delays, Air Force spokesperson Capt. Leah F.…

Report: Systemic Aircrew, Maintenance Issues Root Cause of DOD Mishap Rates

Dec. 3, 2020
A lack of flying hours and overworked maintainers are contributing to high rates of crashes and other aviation mishaps, according to a new Congressionally mandated report, which called on the services to quickly overhaul how they manage maintainers and pilot training. The National Commission on Military Aviation Safety, in a…

JADC2 Spurring Changes to Fighter Jets, Ops Centers

Dec. 2, 2020
Aerospace experts offered a peek into how joint all-domain command and control might begin changing the Air Force over the next few years, during RAND Corp.’s West Coast Aerospace Forum on Dec. 2. Expect the upcoming fiscal 2022 and 2023 budgets to majorly accelerate combat networking demonstrations and related technology…

Early COVID-19 Response ‘Defining Moment’ of International C-17 Wing

Dec. 2, 2020
The Strategic Airlift Capability’s Heavy Airlift Wing sprung into action early in the COVID-19 pandemic to deliver desperately needed protective equipment within weeks in what became a “defining moment” for the program, the HAW’s commander said. The 12-year-old SAC, which includes three Globemaster IIIs jointly purchased and flown by the…