Defense Secretary Robert Gates told reporters during a visit to Air Force and Army units in Washington State that he has ordered the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to help cover operations in Afghanistan, where anti-Afghan government attacks have increased, particularly along the Pakistan border. The Lincoln has been supporting coalition action in Iraq, working from the Persian Gulf and is now to operate from the Gulf of Oman, where it will be closer to Afghanistan. US and NATO commanders in Afghanistan have been asking for more air and ground support.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
