Daily Report

Dec. 6, 2012

Pride and Performance

At the direction of Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh, commanders across the Air Force began conducting health and welfare inspections on Dec. 5 in order to emphasize a workplace environment of respect, trust, and professionalism, announced service officials. The...

Getting Ready

The Defense Department is now planning for budget sequestration after receiving guidance this week from the White House budget office to pursue internal preparations, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told reporters on Dec. 5. Little said DOD still hopes Congress...

SpaceX Wins its First EELV-Class Missions

The Air Force has tasked SpaceX to provide the space launch vehicles for two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle-class missions, announced the company on Wednesday. This marks the first time that the company has secured launch work for these types of...

Sequester . . . and the Hangover:

The impending budget sequester will have terrible consequences for the defense industrial base, but even if it is somehow averted or its full effect blunted, there will be a “hangover” that will adversely affect the nation, said Aerospace Industries Association...

In the Black for Now

The aerospace industry, both civil and defense-related, “continued to be one of the bright spots in the 2012 economy,” said Marion Blakey, Aerospace Industries Association president, on Wednesday. Overall aerospace sales are projected to increase by 3.4 percent in 2012...

Air Force Seeks Airdrop Kit for Afghan Cessnas

The Air Force is looking to modify Afghan air force Cessna C-208 light airlifters with specialized equipment for cargo airdrop, according to a solicitation to industry. Under the Afghanistan C-208 Airdrop Program, contractors would initially ferry two Afghan C-208s from...

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Again

The House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday selected Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.) to continue to serve as ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee in the 113th Congress that begins in January. “Is has been an honor and a privilege...

F-22 Work Heads to Fort Worth

Now that F-22 production has ended, Lockheed Martin is shifting F-22 sustainment and engineering work from its plant in Marietta, Ga., to its facility in Fort Worth, Tex., where it is consolidating its fighter business, reported the Marietta Daily Journal....

Australian Tanker Deliveries Complete

The Royal Australian Air Force received its fifth and final new-build KC-30A tanker on order from Airbus Military, announced the company. “We are very pleased with the in-service testing of the KC-30A and we expect to declare [initial operational capability]...