Daily Report

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert attempted to break down the AirSea Battle initiative during a joint discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., May 16. AirSea Battle is more of a mindset really intended to guide the Air Force and Navy to "unprecedented" levels of collaboration and cooperation that will preserve US access to air and maritime commons, they said. "We're not thinking about things in the 'airman' and 'sailor' stovepipes anymore," said Schwartz. Furthermore, attempts by many to connect the concept strictly to China's growing military prowess are misguided at best, he added. "This solution should not be hijacked by any particular scenario," said Schwartz. Greenert said limiting the concept to a particular region would be "short-sighted" and a "mistake." "We would like to make this cross-domain operation more of an assumption for the future," he said. One example of such collaboration, said Greenert, could include using a submarine to defeat an enemy's air defenses, either kinetically or through electronic countermeasures. "The idea is to broaden the aperture and make that the standard approach," said Greenert. (Schwartz's prepared remarks) (Brookings webpage with event audio)

In order for the AirSea Battle scheme to reach its maximum potential, each of the services will have to put aside their "moderated parochial tendencies" and significantly enhance cooperative efforts, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz May 16. That will mean utilizing complementary and cross-domain capabilities with common data links so that, for example, Navy submarines may communicate with Air Force remotely piloted aircraft, or an F-22 can retarget a Tomahawk cruise missile launched from a submarine, as has already been tested, said Schwartz during a discussion with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. "The ultimate goal is interoperable air and naval forces that can execute networked, integrated attacks in-depth to disrupt, destroy, and defeat an adversary's [anti-access, area-denial] capabilities," said Schwartz. This will, in turn, sustain "the deployment of US joint forces . . . wherever and whenever they are needed to help counter potential aggression or hostile actions against US and partner-nation interests," he added. (Schwartz's prepared remarks) (Brookings webpage with event audio)

AirSea Battle is not about developing and acquiring new weapons systems. "It's about making sure we are making the best use of the existing capabilities that exist in a much better way," said Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz during a May 16 talk at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. However, the Pentagon's joint office, created late last year to advance the ASB concept, will have a say in future naval and air investments, such as the new long-range-strike bomber, data links, tankers, and anti-surface weapons, said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert, who appeared together with Schwartz. "AirSea Battle is a framework for us to organize, to train, and equip our efforts," said Greenert. He added: "We will continue to refine it and we'll continue to apply it. And, at this national security inflection point, it's essential that we have an effective and efficient means ahead. We think this is one means to get that." (Schwartz's prepared remarks) (Brookings webpage with event audio)

President Obama on Wednesday awarded Army Spc. 4 Leslie H. Sabo Jr. a posthumous Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, during a ceremony in the White House’s East Room. Obama presented the medal to Sabo’s widow Rose Mary...

The Air Force is accelerating the delivery schedule for the F-22’s auto backup oxygen system by approximately one year based on Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s directive to speed the fielding of this important in-cockpit safety measure, service spokeswoman Jennifer Cassidy...

The United States should adopt a new nuclear posture that eliminates its first-strike capability by reducing the strategic arsenal to 900 warheads or less, said retired Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, former Joint Chiefs vice chairman, in a media teleconference May 16. "It is a significant departure from our posture [and] it is one that we would have to enter into with the Russians," explained Cartwright in introducing the Global Zero initiative's new report (caution, large-sized file) advocating this new doctrine and structure. "We're talking about having about 300 weapons . . . that are available at any given time . . . so the numbers are not there for the pre-emptive, decapitating strike," he stressed. Cartwright further advocated eliminating the ICBM force, asserting that fixed missile sites are "malpositioned" and "vulnerable" in comparison to ballistic missile submarines and the strategic bomber force. Asked for comment during a May 16 appearance at the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C., Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said "Cartwright's supposition is farfetched and it introduces the likelihood of instability in a deterrence equation, which is not healthy." Schwartz added: "I don't agree with his assessment, nor the study that is referenced."

B-1B bombers from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., became the first operational Lancers to employ the 500-pound GBU-54 laser-guided joint direct attack munition during the just-completed Combat Hammer air-to-ground weapons system evaluation at the Utah Test and Training Range near Hill AFB,...

Offutt AFB, Neb., is the preferred location for the new satellite central identification lab for the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, according to base officials. “The 55th Wing is proud to welcome the JPAC as a new member of Team Offutt,”...

Simulating slow-moving, low-altitude threats for the first time at the Air Force Weapons School, turboprop T-6A Texan II trainers began flying “aggressor” sorties from Nellis AFB, Nev., this month. “It is difficult for fighter aircraft to simulate low and slow...

Russia has fallen behind the United States in hypersonic technology and must rekindle its research and development efforts to overcome the widening gap, stressed Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin. “Sadly, today we see Russia lags noticeably in this sphere,”...