Daily Report

July 26, 2011

F-22 Pilots Continue Moving Through the Pipeline

The Air Force continues to produce new F-22 pilots despite the fleet-wide grounding of the Raptor fleet in place since early May, Maj. Gen. James Whitmore, who overseas Air Education and Training Command’s operations, told the Daily Report Monday. “The...

Chinese Fighter Pursues U-2 over Taiwan Strait

A Chinese Su-27 fighter reportedly crossed the centerline of the Taiwan Strait—the unofficial dividing line between communist China and democratic Taiwan—in pursuit of a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft late last month. The Washington Times reported Monday that the U-2, staging from...

Former JCS Chairman Shalikashvili Dies

Retired Army Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, the first foreign-born individual to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died July 23. He succumbed to the effects of a stroke on July 23 at an Army hospital in Washington state,...

New Cyber Course Takes Different Approach

The Air Force Academy’s newly introduced summer course called Cyber 256, Basic Cyber Operations, isn’t the run-of-the-mill book-focused computer science course. Instead, it’s designed to emphasize the practical applications of being a cyber warrior and whet cadets’ appetites for more...

Moving Forward with Missile Defense

The United States has made “significant” progress in its four-phase plan to establish a missile defense shield in Europe, said Frank Rose, deputy assistant secretary of state for arms control. Speaking at a missile defense conference in Tel Aviv, Israel,...

RED HORSE Airmen Complete Runway Project

Working together with Navy Seabees, members of the 809th Expeditionary RED HORSE unit at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, completed a set of 3,000-foot airstrips at a forward operating base in southeast Afghanistan. “They wanted two runways as soon as possible,” explained...

Air Force Achieving Recruiting Goals

The Air Force and its reserve components have met their recruiting goals through the first three quarters of Fiscal 2011, according to the Defense Department’s newest recruiting data, released on Monday. Through June, the service’s active duty component has attracted...

Stealthy Jeep Eyed for Special Operators

The Air Force Research Lab wants to develop a stealthy, autonomous jeep that could ferry at least two special operators and their equipment day or night through rugged terrain and inclement weather in hostile areas, while avoiding detection. The vehicle...

Organizing Cyber Security

The Defense Department’s cyber security enterprise is too decentralized, leading to confusion among combatant commands as to who has the authority and responsibility to implement cyber operations, warned Government Accountability Office auditors Monday. They acknowledged that the standup of US...

An ‘Unshakeable’ Bond

The US commitment to Israel on missile defense is “robust, enduring, and unshakeable,” said Frank Rose, deputy assistant secretary of state for arms control. In the face of missile and rocket threats to Israel posed by Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and...

Hawg Pilot for the Day

Seven-year-old Michael Castillo, accompanied by several family members, toured Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., as an honorary A-10 pilot and participant in the Pilot for a Day program. This initiative gives local children with illnesses an enjoyable day completely devoted to them...