Daily Report

June 9, 2011

Preparing for a Post-Qaddafi Regime

Brussels—All 28 NATO defense ministers agreed to extend operations in Libya for another 90 days and to provide the necessary capabilities to complete the mission, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters Wednesday during a briefing at NATO headquarters...

Escalating the Air War over Libya

Brussels—US and coalition forces have flown more than 10,000 sorties over Libya since mid March and struck roughly 1,800 legitimate military targets, Italian Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola told reporters Tuesday during a briefing at NATO headquarters here. The announcement coincided...

Defining the Transition in Afghanistan

Brussels—Although Afghanistan will be a major topic of discussion through Thursday at NATO’s defense ministerial meetings here, the alliance members are more likely to focus on the December 2014 deadline for turning over combat responsibility fully to the Afghans than...

NATO, Russia Discuss Missile Defense:

Brussels—NATO defense leaders on Wednesday attempted to convince Russian officials that it’s in their country’s best interest to partner with NATO on its European missile defense. These talks took place during the alliance’s defense ministerial meetings at NATO headquarters here....

Future ICBM Study Work Under Way

Air Force officials anticipate completing by July the initial study that is supporting the search for a ground-based strategic deterrent that will replace the Minuteman III ICBM fleet after 2030. Air Force Global Strike Command is working with USAF headquarters...

USAF Seeks Industry Input on Prompt Global Strike

The Air Force issued a draft request for information to industry for ideas on conventional prompt global strike systems. "The Air Force desires to understand the concepts, architectures, and designs that will provide the capability to strike globally, precisely, and rapidly with conventional kinetic and non-kinetic effects against high-payoff, time-sensitive targets in a single or multi-theater environment," reads the solicitation, which is posted at the Federal Business Opportunities website. A CPGS could be a long-range ballistic missile that releases a boost-glide vehicle that flies a non-ballistic trajectory to deliver weapons to the target. The industry input will help Air Force officials to prepare "realm-of-the-possible" options for a material development decision in Fiscal 2012 by the Pentagon's acquisition executive, states the document. The Pentagon has proposed spending approximately $2 billion from Fiscal 2011 through Fiscal 2016 for research and development of CPGS capability.

First Reservists Train as Combat Advisors

Five special operations airmen recently became the first Reservists to complete baseline certification to become combat air advisors. Assigned to Air Force Reserve Command’s 919th Special Operations Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla., the pilots, loadmasters, and engineer began training in...

Flying Command Posts Get Air Traffic Upgrade

The Air Force awarded Boeing the first phase contract of the three-phase Communications Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management upgrade of the E-4B fleet, announced the company. The four Boeing 747-based airborne command post aircraft will receive new flight management computers and...

An App for Aspiring Airmen

Air Education and Training Command has released a free mobile phone application that is geared toward persons entering the Air Force. The app has multiple features, with an emphasis on physical training, they said. “The application will help Air Force...

Cadets’ Design Could Replace C-130 Support Block

C-130 loadmasters may soon be able to replace the aircraft’s bulky 75-pound “milk stool” ramp-support block with a sturdy, lightweight alternative designed by Air Force Academy engineering cadets. The cadets’ 20-pound aluminum model “could help the C-130 community,” said Cadet...