Daily Report

June 21, 2012

Air Force Marks 50th Successful EELV Launch

The Air Force and its industry partners successfully launched a National Reconnaissance Office payload into space on June 20. A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carried the classified payload aloft from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. “This morning’s flawless launch...

Fighter Strike

With a strike by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers in its ninth week, Lockheed Martin is producing F-35 strike fighters at about half the rate it was before the work stoppage, according to company officials. Larry Lawson,...

To Compete or Not to Compete

The Pentagon and Congress need to be aware that it costs substantial money for companies to make proposals in competitions for new weapon systems, said Lockheed Martin chairman and CEO Bob Stevens. Companies—which are already slashing internal research and development...

New Cyber Course Churns Out First Class

Air Force weapons officers are adding cyber security to their arsenal of expertise. On June 16, eight of these airmen completed the first cyber weapons instructor course at the Air Force Weapons School at Nellis AFB, Nev., said base officials...

Not Yet an Arms Race in Asia

Not Yet an Arms Race in Asia: This year, for the first time in modern history, Asian military spending is projected to exceed Europe’s military outlays, according to international security experts. While there is not yet an “arms race” in...

Leveraging Northeast Asian Allies

While a great deal of attention has focused on renewing strategic ties with allies around the South China Sea, such as the Philippines, US allies in Northeast Asia—Japan and South Korea—remain vital to maintaining peace and security in the Asia-Pacific...

Rethinking Taiwan

Taiwan often gets left out of East Asia security discussions although it has much to offer the United States, said Mark Stokes, executive director of the Project 2049 Institute. Taiwan is the “hidden center” of Asian security, asserted Stokes during...

View from the Airborne Crow’s Nest

An Air Force E-8 JSTARS surveillance aircraft teamed with Navy and Customs Service patrol airplanes to hone interoperability. They jointly identified, tracked, and helped to engage maritime targets off the South Carolina coast during Exercise Iron Dagger. The E-8 worked...

Missing Airman’s Remains Identified

On June 21, the remains of Capt. Clyde W. Campbell of Longview, Tex., will be buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery, Va., announced the Pentagon. Campbell had been missing in action for 43 years since his A-1J...

Australia’s Sixth C-17 Ordered

The Pentagon ordered the sixth C-17 meant for the Royal Australian Air Force, awarding Boeing a $171.5 million foreign military sales contract, announced US defense officials. Back in March, the Australian defense ministry announced its decision to acquire the sixth...