ACC, PACAF focused on Pacific pivot | Defense News | defensenews.com: Two of the Air Force’s largest major commands will see their leadership change in the coming months, as both train and prepare for the shifting focus toward the Pacific.
Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, is set to retire in January. Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Pacific Air Forces, will take his position once confirmed. Lt. Gen. Lori Robinson, vice commander of Pacific Air Forces, has been nominated for her fourth star and PACAF command.
These changes come as ACC and PACAF airmen take part in a Defense Department-wide pivot to the Pacific and prepare to face a new generation of issues in the region.
Monday, September 15, 2014
What's Next: USAF Lays Groundwork To Replace Fighter, Tanker Fleets | Defense News | defensenews.com
What's Next: USAF Lays Groundwork To Replace Fighter, Tanker Fleets | Defense News | defensenews.com: As US Air Force leaders gather this week outside of Washington, they bring a warning: Potential adversaries are spending big on technology, and the US can’t afford to fall behind.
Much of the focus of the Air Force Association conference will be on a series of recapitalization programs that will get underway in the next few years. But even as the Air Force tries to inject new systems into its fleet, it has its eyes on the horizon and what could be the next wave of recapitalization programs.
The most notable is the program known as “F-X”, “next-generation air dominance” or, much to the chagrin of the service, “sixth-generation fighter.” This would be the replacement for the F-22 and provide air dominance for the 2030s, 2040s and 2050s.
“It’s not a big money driver at the moment, but it’s really important for the future of the Air Force and I personally am going to spend a lot of my energy on it,” said William LaPlante, Air Force undersecretary for acquisition. The program is also a priority for Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force chief of staff, and Pentagon acquisition head Frank Kendall, he added.
Much of the focus of the Air Force Association conference will be on a series of recapitalization programs that will get underway in the next few years. But even as the Air Force tries to inject new systems into its fleet, it has its eyes on the horizon and what could be the next wave of recapitalization programs.
The most notable is the program known as “F-X”, “next-generation air dominance” or, much to the chagrin of the service, “sixth-generation fighter.” This would be the replacement for the F-22 and provide air dominance for the 2030s, 2040s and 2050s.
“It’s not a big money driver at the moment, but it’s really important for the future of the Air Force and I personally am going to spend a lot of my energy on it,” said William LaPlante, Air Force undersecretary for acquisition. The program is also a priority for Gen. Mark Welsh, Air Force chief of staff, and Pentagon acquisition head Frank Kendall, he added.
Boeing Eyes 737-700 Solution for New JSTARS | Defense News | defensenews.com
Boeing Eyes 737-700 Solution for New JSTARS | Defense News | defensenews.com: Boeing is officially planning a variant of its 737-700 commercial jetliner as a competitor for the Air Force’s next-generation Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) replacement.
“Based on the known US Air Force requirements at this point, we believe the 737-700 provides the size, weight, power and cooling to meet today’s and tomorrow’s Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System missions,” Caroline Hutcheson, Boeing spokeswoman, wrote in an email.
The current JSTARS surveillance fleet, 18 planes strong, is based on a modified Boeing 707-300 airframe. The systems are equipped with long-range radars the Air Force says can locate, track and classify ground vehicles at a distance of up to 124 miles.
“Based on the known US Air Force requirements at this point, we believe the 737-700 provides the size, weight, power and cooling to meet today’s and tomorrow’s Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System missions,” Caroline Hutcheson, Boeing spokeswoman, wrote in an email.
The current JSTARS surveillance fleet, 18 planes strong, is based on a modified Boeing 707-300 airframe. The systems are equipped with long-range radars the Air Force says can locate, track and classify ground vehicles at a distance of up to 124 miles.
U.S. defense industry says global turmoil swaying budget hawks | Reuters
U.S. defense industry says global turmoil swaying budget hawks | Reuters: (Reuters) - Images of two Americans being beheaded and of Russian tanks rolling through Ukraine have boosted pressure on Congress to roll back $1 trillion in mandatory defense cuts that the defense industry blames for almost 100,000 job cuts in recent years.
U.S. lawmakers this week signaled support for President Barack Obama's plan to take action against Islamic State extremists in Syria and Iraq.
For now, the Pentagon is working on the assumption that the fiscal 2016 budget will include deep spending cuts that were partially offset in 2014 and 2015, and further reductions in personnel.
But executives from Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) and Boeing (BA.N), government officials and industry analysts told the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit this week that more lawmakers now recognize that current global crises meant a different approach was needed - in part because of relentless lobbying by the industry.
Military leaders have warned that lower troop numbers pose a bigger security risk and could even force the abandonment of elements of Obama's defense strategy.
U.S. lawmakers this week signaled support for President Barack Obama's plan to take action against Islamic State extremists in Syria and Iraq.
For now, the Pentagon is working on the assumption that the fiscal 2016 budget will include deep spending cuts that were partially offset in 2014 and 2015, and further reductions in personnel.
But executives from Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) and Boeing (BA.N), government officials and industry analysts told the Reuters Aerospace and Defense Summit this week that more lawmakers now recognize that current global crises meant a different approach was needed - in part because of relentless lobbying by the industry.
Military leaders have warned that lower troop numbers pose a bigger security risk and could even force the abandonment of elements of Obama's defense strategy.
NASA's Orion Spacecraft Nears Completion, Ready for Fueling
NASA's Orion Spacecraft Nears Completion, Ready for Fueling
NASA is making steady progress on its Orion spacecraft, completing several milestones this week at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for the capsule's first trip to space in December. Engineers finished building the Orion crew module, attached it and the already-completed service module to the adapter that will join Orion to its rocket and transported the spacecraft to a new facility for fueling.
"Nothing about building the first of a brand new space transportation system is easy," said Mark Geyer, Orion Program manager."But the crew module is undoubtedly the most complex component that will fly in December. The pressure vessel, the heat shield, parachute system, avionics -- piecing all of that together into a working spacecraft is an accomplishment. Seeing it fly in three months is going to be amazing."Finishing the Orion crew module marks the completion of all major components of the spacecraft.
NASA is making steady progress on its Orion spacecraft, completing several milestones this week at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in preparation for the capsule's first trip to space in December. Engineers finished building the Orion crew module, attached it and the already-completed service module to the adapter that will join Orion to its rocket and transported the spacecraft to a new facility for fueling.
"Nothing about building the first of a brand new space transportation system is easy," said Mark Geyer, Orion Program manager."But the crew module is undoubtedly the most complex component that will fly in December. The pressure vessel, the heat shield, parachute system, avionics -- piecing all of that together into a working spacecraft is an accomplishment. Seeing it fly in three months is going to be amazing."Finishing the Orion crew module marks the completion of all major components of the spacecraft.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
It’s Not Airpower Vs. Boots On Ground Any More « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary
It’s Not Airpower Vs. Boots On Ground Any More « Breaking Defense - Defense industry news, analysis and commentary: As the Ukrainian and Middle Eastern crises roil our world, the debate quickly turns on which path will work best to deal with the evolving threats: boots on the ground, or planes in the air operating without boots on the ground. The specter of responses to the 9/11 attack and the various engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq naturally shade everyone’s perspectives.
But changing capabilities and concepts of operations are obliterating the classic distinction. The Marines have become the only tiltrotor enabled force in the world; the Air Force and Navy have shaped highly integrated air grids, and advances in both the lethality and effectiveness of manned and unmanned aviation have grown.
The past decade’s experience of the need to shape a very large and expensive ground grid from which to feed Special Forces and ground operations is not one the US is going to repeat anytime soon.
At the same time, conflict is evolving as well. The evolving pattern of 21st century conflict is emerging. It is a pattern in which state and non-state actors are working to reshape the global order in their favor by generating conflicts against the interests of the democracies but which the democracies are slow to react.
But changing capabilities and concepts of operations are obliterating the classic distinction. The Marines have become the only tiltrotor enabled force in the world; the Air Force and Navy have shaped highly integrated air grids, and advances in both the lethality and effectiveness of manned and unmanned aviation have grown.
The past decade’s experience of the need to shape a very large and expensive ground grid from which to feed Special Forces and ground operations is not one the US is going to repeat anytime soon.
At the same time, conflict is evolving as well. The evolving pattern of 21st century conflict is emerging. It is a pattern in which state and non-state actors are working to reshape the global order in their favor by generating conflicts against the interests of the democracies but which the democracies are slow to react.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Russia to boost nuclear, space defence forces against US
Russia to boost nuclear, space defence forces against US
Russia will respond to the United States' "prompt global strike" programme designed to take out targets within an hour by upgrading its nuclear and space defence forces, its deputy prime minister said Wednesday.
"Our response to the prompt global strike strategy is upgrading our strategic nuclear forces and resources -- the strategic rocket forces and the naval ones -- and also developing air and space defence resources according to the plans we have finalised," Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees defence, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.He spoke after President Vladimir Putin held a government meeting on Russia's defence spending at which he accused Western countries of provoking the Ukraine crisis in order to "revive NATO."Using Cold War rhetoric, Putin complained of "new threats appearing" including the buildup of NATO forces in eastern Europe, the development of the US missile shield in Europe and Alaska and the development of the 'Prompt Global Strike' programme.
Russia will respond to the United States' "prompt global strike" programme designed to take out targets within an hour by upgrading its nuclear and space defence forces, its deputy prime minister said Wednesday.
"Our response to the prompt global strike strategy is upgrading our strategic nuclear forces and resources -- the strategic rocket forces and the naval ones -- and also developing air and space defence resources according to the plans we have finalised," Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees defence, was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.He spoke after President Vladimir Putin held a government meeting on Russia's defence spending at which he accused Western countries of provoking the Ukraine crisis in order to "revive NATO."Using Cold War rhetoric, Putin complained of "new threats appearing" including the buildup of NATO forces in eastern Europe, the development of the US missile shield in Europe and Alaska and the development of the 'Prompt Global Strike' programme.
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