The Air Force aims to split $30 billion in savings from accelerating the retirement of legacy assets in four “bins,” according to Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, who offered the most detailed picture yet of investment initiatives coming in the 2021 budget request. Savings over five years in the future years defense plan would support investments of: $9 billion to connect the joint force; $9 billion to fund new offensive and defensive space capabilities, $9 billion to help generate increased combat power, and $3 billion to fund expeditionary logistics.

An airman assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., is still missing after falling from a C-130 into the Gulf of Mexico during a Nov. 5 training exercise. Dozens of USAF aircraft are searching the waters south of Hurlburt, along with Coast Guard, US Army, and local emergency personnel, according to a Nov. 6 release.

Boeing may be bowing out of the competition to build the next intercontinental ballistic missile, but the work it has accomplished so far could get new life under other programs. The defense giant revealed its concerns with the Air Force's Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent program over the summer and indicated it would not continue its bid against Northrop Grumman unless the service agreed to certain changes. But significant design work was already underway, and as the team disbands, the parts they've prototyped and processes they've refined for one of the Air Force's most complex systems can now help others.

The US and South Korea will hold a scaled-down “flying training event” instead of the large-scale Vigilant Ace exercise again this year. Vigilant Ace, which exercised the pre-position air tasking order that simulates the first few days of conflict on the Korean peninsula, was one of several exercises canceled following President Donald Trump’s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last summer.

Former Air Force Chief Scientist Mark J. Lewis has been appointed Director of Defense Research and Engineering for Modernization, the Pentagon confirmed. Lewis will oversee the directors of 12 technologies the Defense Department deems its highest priorities, and their implementation roadmaps, ranging from hypersonics to biotech. He will particularly focus on rationalizing the various hypersonics efforts of the military services and defense agencies. Lewis started November 4, and will serve as deputy to Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin, who has long regarded hypersonics as his top priority.

American troops in Japan must “train as hard as we can” and continue to strengthen joint and bilateral relationships to be able to oppose a potential threat from China, the US Forces Japan command senior enlisted leader told other leaders at a symposium at Kadena AB, Japan, this week. Dealing with the “seemingly unstoppable China accelerating towards being a world superpower” is a “challenge that will shape our world,” said Navy CMSgt. Rick Winegardner.