Daily Report

April 7, 2011

Just in Case

The Air Force is preparing for the eventuality that there will be a delay in the F-35 strike fighter acquiring the capability to deploy nuclear bombs, Maj. Gen. William Chambers, who oversees nuclear matters on the Air Staff, told lawmakers...

The Final 20

The Defense Department is still hashing out where it intends to make the remaining cut of 20 strategic nuclear weapons launchers so that the United States complies with the New START agreement with Russia. “Whether that 20 is bombers or...

Raptor versus Talon

The 1st Fighter Wing has grown its stable at Langley AFB, Va., by welcoming the first of seven T-38 Talon trainer aircraft. Transferred from Holloman AFB, N.M., this first T-38 forms the basis of Langley’s new Talon Adversary Air Program,...

SBIRS Gains Flexibility

The Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $460 million contract for the company to implement a more flexible ground infrastructure for Space Based Infrared System early warning satellites. Under this agreement, Lockheed will supply the next version of the...

Critical Infrastructure a Concern in Cyber Realm

Today, parts of the US critical infrastructure, such as power grids, pipelines, reservoirs, water systems, and other industrial nodes are more connected to the Internet than ever, said Greg Schaffer, assistant secretary for cyber security and communications at the Department...

Cyber Awareness and Exercises Key

It has long been true that policy in the cyber realm has lagged behind the technology. That’s one reason why President Obama’s 2009 Cyberspace Policy Review was so important, because it laid out steps to ensure that the nation’s cyber...

Ghost in the Smart Phone

Noted cybersecurity analyst and author Winn Schwartau warned the audience at AFA’s CyberFutures Conference last week that the proliferation of personal hand-held computing devices and use of 4G networks is making it that much easier for the bad guys to...

Dealing with Cheaters

There are unique challenges with carrying out counterintelligence in the cyber realm, especially having the situational awareness to know who’s doing what, said defense analyst and consultant Edward Timperlake during AFA’s CyberFutures Conference last week. “Can we ever get perfect...

An Easier Scramble

The Colorado Air National Guard’s 120th Fighter Squadron at Buckley AFB, Colo., has opened new aircrew alert quarters. This new $4 million building is christened “911” to commemorate Operation Noble Eagle, which began following the 9/11 terrorist attacks to protect...

Cluster of Wrath

B-1B Lancers may one day be able to deliver four times as many precision-guided munitions as the B-52 can on a single sortie thanks to a new Multiple Ejector Rack now in testing. Today, the B-1 can carry twice as...