Daily Report

July 30, 2012

Welsh Nomination on Hold

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) placed a hold on the nomination of Gen. Mark Welsh to be the next Air Force Chief of Staff, citing his concerns over the incidents of sexual misconduct by Air Force military training instructors at Joint...

F-22s Deploy to Japan

A contingent of airmen and F-22s from the 1st Fighter Wing at JB Langley-Eustis, Va., deployed to Kadena AB, Japan, as part of a normal rotation of US combat forces to the Pacific, announced Pacific Air Forces officials. The F-22s...

Air Force Buys 10th WGS Satellite

The Air Force awarded Boeing $338.7 million for production of the 10th Wideband Global Satellite Communications spacecraft, announced service space acquisition officials. WGS-10, like WGS-8 and WGS-9 that are currently in manufacture, will feature a new wideband digital channelizer that nearly doubles the satellite's bandwidth compared to the earlier WGS satellites, according to the Air Force's July 27 release. WGS satellites are designed to support simultaneous X- and Ka-band communications. The first three WGS satellites are already operating on orbit. The Air Forces is preparing WGS-4, launched into space in January, to assume operations. WGS-5, WGS-6, and WGS-7 are currently in production, with the first two slated to launch in 2013. The transaction for WGS-10 is part of the commercial-like operating model that the Air Force has had in place with Boeing for procurement of WGS-7 through WGS-10. This model has resulted in "significant savings to the US government," states the release.

Ever Vigilant

State Department counterproliferation officials have been engaged in Libya since NATO military operations commenced there in March 2011 to round up small arms, such as man-portable air defense systems, before they proliferate, said Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs...

US-Vietnam Defense Trade Still “Nascent”

A steady stream of US officials has visited Vietnam in the last year, as the United States is investing more time and effort in building ties with Vietnam, said Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro. The bilateral...

JASSM Added to Strike Eagle’s Weapons Portfolio

An F-15E launched a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile over White Sands Missile Range, N.M., in a recent test. The missile then successfully destroyed the intended target, thereby completing the integration of the stealthy cruise missile on the multirole fighter, announced...

Kelly Confirmed for SOUTHCOM Leadership

The Senate last week approved the nomination of Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Kelly to lead US Southern Command, which oversees the US military’s engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean, including counternarcotics activities. Kelley will receive a fourth star...

Good Luck, Air Force Olympians!

Two airmen are participating in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials. Capt. Seth Kelsey, a supply officer with Air Force Reserve Command’s 310th Force Support Squadron at Buckley AFB, Colo., will compete in...