Radar Sweep
Trump Announces Death of Al-Qaeda Leader in Yemen after U.S. Strike
President Donald Trump on Feb. 6 confirmed the death of an al-Qaeda leader in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen. Trump said the U.S. carried out a successful counterterrorism operation that killed Qasim al-Rimi, the founder and leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), an affiliate of the terrorist group.
Pentagon's Lethality Task Force Is 'Dead' if Army Put in Charge, Top Adviser Says
Defense Secretary Mark Esper put forward a plan Feb. 6 to place the Army in charge of the Close Combat Lethality Task Force, a move that drew immediate opposition from a top adviser to the task force. Esper's proposal drew fire from retired Army Maj. Gen. Robert Scales, a member of the task force advisory board who worked closely with Mattis in setting up the group.
AETC Partners with UTSA to Refine Pilot Candidate Selection
More effectively targeting pilot candidates may help the Air Force solve its pilot manning shortage. Air Education and Training Command has turned to the data analytics program at the University of Texas-San Antonio to help them refine and validate the Pilot Candidate Selection Method as part of an Educational Partnership Agreement.
Pentagon Withholding Funds from Army’s Top Medical Bio and Chem Labs
The Defense Department has withheld $104 million from research labs at Fort Detrick and Aberdeen Proving Ground, a decision that has Maryland lawmakers scratching their heads, given the expanding threat of the Wuhan coronavirus.
OPINION: As Coronavirus Spreads, China’s Military Is Largely MIA
“As the 2019 novel coronavirus spread into a full-fledged epidemic, China’s government took an extraordinary series of responses, effectively quarantining some 50 million people in the Wuhan area,” write New America strategist Peter Singer and BluePath Labs analysts Peter Woods and Alex Stone. “But even as the government [somewhat belatedly] sprung into action, its limited mobilization of Chinese military assets and personnel has been notable—both because militaries traditionally play significant roles in battling pandemics and Beijing has in recent years been at pains to trumpet its burgeoning military capability.”
Navy Issues New Rules on Foreign Military Students and Firearms
Acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly released new guidance late last week that will prohibit foreign military students training in the United States from owning personal firearms.
Veterans Affairs Launches Its First 5G-Enabled Hospital
The Veterans Affairs Department’s health care facility in Palo Alto, California, is poised to become the agency’s first 5G-enabled hospital—and one of the first in the world. During a “State of the VA” speech in Washington, Feb. 5, VA Secretary Robert Wilkie unveiled the agency’s plans to tap into fifth-generation wireless technology to provide veterans with ultramodern medical care.
Airman Receives Remedial Training after RAF Mildenhall’s Twitter Account ‘Likes’ Pro-Trump Political Tweets
The 100th Air Refueling Wing has taken "immediate corrective action" after its official Twitter page for RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom "liked" a tweet from President Donald Trump's re-election campaign and another tweet from the President himself attacking one of his political rivals, a spokeswoman said.
Rapid Acquisition & Sustainment
The Air Force and U.S. defense establishment are breaking down barriers and injecting speed, innovation, and creativity into the procurement system. Check out our new page to learn more about these efforts.
Watch Six A-10 Warthogs Execute a Glorious Mass Flare Release Over the Persian Gulf
The wall of Warthogs put on quite the fireworks show off the coast of Dubai.