Wildcats Meet the Ugly Babies

Vice Chair Nominee Pushes Nuclear Modernization to Deal with China, Russia in Confirmation Hearing

Dec. 8, 2021

Adm. Christopher W. Grady, nominee to be vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Senators during his Dec. 8 confirmation hearing that the Pentagon needs to be prepared to deal with “two nuclear peer competitors," calling China’s rapid growth of its nuclear capabilities “spectacular” and Russia’s recent actions…

Air Force Demos Reaper Operations in Pacific Flights with Non-Expert Troops, Limited Gear

Dec. 7, 2021

The Air Force demonstrated that it can operate the remotely-piloted MQ-9 Reaper in long-range flights in the Pacific using limited ground support gear and non-specialist ground personnel. The demonstration provided a boost for its agile combat employment concept, the service said Dec. 7. The deployment required only seven people and…

Nearly 70 Percent of Receivers Now Cleared to Get Fuel From KC-46

Dec. 7, 2021

The KC-46A can now pass fuel to almost 70 percent of aircraft that request aerial refueling, Air Mobility Command announced. The newest aircraft on the list include C-130 Special Operations variants, the C-5M Super Galaxy, and the E-3G Sentry AWACS.

House, Senate Panels Unveil Compromise 2022 NDAA

Dec. 7, 2021

Leaders from the Senate and House Armed Services committees unveiled a new 2022 National Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 7 in a bid to overcome gridlock and hasten the passage of the annual policy bill. The new bill, passed by the House that night, combines elements of a version passed…

Afghanistan, Politics Lead to Decline in Public Trust of Military

Dec. 7, 2021

Americans’ trust and confidence in the U.S. military has declined precipitously in recent months, according to the results of a survey. Experts lay the blame on increasing political polarization and the fallout from this summer’s turbulent withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Austin Warns of Yearlong CR as China Invests Heavily in Military Technology

Dec. 6, 2021

Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III outlined Dec. 4 the vital importance of U.S. defense investment keeping pace with that of China before issuing a statement warning that such competition would suffer “irreparable” damage if Congress opts for a yearlong continuing resolution, a real possibility being discussed by lawmakers after…

China’s Impact on the Evolving US Footprint in CENTCOM

Dec. 6, 2021

The recently completed Global Posture Review directed further analysis to determine the right force mix in the U.S. Central Command area of operations, but one thing is certain, the command’s director of operations said Dec 6: The U.S. footprint won’t look like it has in the past. Through its Belt…

Space Force Focuses on Culture in ‘Intimate’ New Orientation Course

Dec. 6, 2021

The Space Force’s orientation course for people transferring into the new service—civilian and military alike—draws from the “welcoming and intimate” formats that the Air Force’s major commands offer in their chiefs’ orientation courses for chief master sergeants. Space Training and Readiness Command held the first Guardian Orientation Course the week…

Reaper Drone Crashes on Runway at Holloman

Dec. 6, 2021

An MQ-9 Reaper drone was taking off from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., when it crashed on the runway at about 7:55 a.m. Dec. 6. No injuries were reported.

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