Daily Report

March 11, 2010

Ball in Pentagon’s Court

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Tuesday the Defense Department may accelerate the process of awarding the KC-X tanker contract now that Boeing is the sole remaining offeror after Northrop Grumman’s withdrawal from the contest on Monday. According to a Reuters...

More Congested

Today, the US military’s global network of terrestrial-based radar and optical sensors keeps tab on approximately 21,500 objects orbiting the Earth, an increase of 1,700 items compared to this time last year, Lt. Gen. Larry James, 14th Air Force commander,...

Protect the Taxpayer

In explaining Monday why Northrop Grumman was exiting the Air Force’s KC-X tanker competition, Northrop CEO and President Wes Bush urged the Defense Department “to keep in mind the economic conclusions” of the prior KC-X round as it negotiates a...

Two Thumbs Up

The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center has rated the C-5M transport aircraft as “effective, suitable, and mission capable” based on results of operational testing that concluded in January, C-5 prime contractor Lockheed Martin announced Wednesday. This testing “was...

Moving Beyond Experimental

The Air Force is considering whether to transition its experimental Tactical Satellite 3 system to residual operating status upon completion of its on-orbit assessment in May, Gen. Robert Kehler, Air Force Space Command boss, told members of the Senate Armed...

Don’t Change

So argues Ret. Gen. Merrill McPeak, 14th Air Force Chief of Staff, in a recent New York Times op-ed piece against the repeal of the Pentagon’s “don’t ask-don’t tell” policy that the Obama Administration is considering. McPeak led the Air...

Kane Honored for Space Work

Retired Col. Francis Kane, a leader in the development of Global Positioning System satellites, was inducted into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame during a ceremony March 2 at Lackland AFB, Tex. More than 150 family...

Carted Off into History

Bldg. 6351, one of the last World War II-era housing facilities at Lackland AFB, Tex., was moved on Feb. 27 on a flatbed trailer to the base’s History and Traditions Museum. The open-bay barracks was built in 1942 and capable...

Air Sorties from SWA 030610

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, March 6, 2010 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 33 40 73 3,758 CAS/Armed Recon 24 74 98 5,732 Airlift 167 167 10,425 Air refueling 39 39 2,672 Rescue 3 3 114 Total...