Daily Report

Aug. 3, 2011

Spartans in the Fight

Airmen with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield have embarked on the first-ever overseas deployment of the Air Guard’s new C-27J transports, unit officials announced Tuesday. The Mansfield airmen headed to Afghanistan, along with National Guard...

Debt Debate

President Obama on Tuesday signed the Budget Control Act of 2011 into law. This legislation raises the debt ceiling between $2.1 trillion and $2.4 trillion so that the US government will not default on its bills. The act also establishes...

Fraser Gets Senate Nod to Lead TRANSCOM

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of Gen. William Fraser to become the next commander of US Transportation Command at Scott AFB, Ill., according to a statement from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Fraser has led Air Combat Command at...

Senate Confirms New Joint Chiefs Leadership

The Senate on Tuesday approved Army Gen. Martin Dempsey and Adm. James Winnefeld to be the next Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairmen and vice chairman, respectively. “I am thrilled these two great Americans will soon join me in leading the...

Carter Eyed for Pentagon’s No. 2 Spot

President Obama intends to nominate Ash Carter to be the next deputy defense secretary, announced the White House Tuesday. Carter has been the Pentagon’s acquisition executive since April 2009. He would replace Bill Lynn, who is retiring from that post...

Solidarnosc

Officials with the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein AB, Germany, visited their “sister” wing—the 3rd Airlift Wing at Powidz AB, Poland—in late July, cementing a bourgeoning relationship founded roughly one year ago. “This program is, for Polish armed forces, very...

Talks to Resume on Iraq F-16 Sale

Iraq intends to renew discussions with the United States on its plan to purchase up to 36 F-16s, reports AFP. Chief Pentagon spokesman, Marine Col. David Lapan, said an Iraqi delegation will visit the United States in August “to discuss...

Israel Considers Doubling F-35 Buy

The Israeli air force is considering a multi-year procurement plan to acquire another 20 F-35 strike fighters, a move that would potentially allow the Mideast nation to have 40 F-35s on hand by decade’s end, reports the Jerusalem Post. Israel...

UAE Gets its Third C-17

Boeing delivered a third C-17 transport to the United Arab Emirates during a ceremony at the company’s final assembly facility in Long Beach, Calif. The Middle East nation has six C-17s on order. It received its first C-17 in May...

F-15 Arrives at Chico Museum

After a journey of 6,000 road miles, a former 1st Fighter Wing F-15C from JB Langley-Eustis, Va., arrived at its new home, the Chico Air Museum, outside of Chico, Calif. Dubbed the “Freedom Eagle,” the museum purchased the surplus F-15...