Radar Sweep
Snapshot: DOD and COVID-19
Here's a look at how the Defense Department is being impacted by and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Bass on Enlisted Promotions, Developing Leaders, and Creating a Culture of Respect
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass has already made history as the first woman to serve as a top enlisted adviser in the military. And now, Bass is planning to put an even bigger mark on the Air Force. In an Oct. 26 interview with Air Force Times, Bass said she’s working on a series of short, medium and long-term plans to improve how the Air Force manages its enlisted Airmen.
US Seeks to Sell Up to 50 F-35s to UAE for $10.4B
The State Department notified Congress Oct. 29 that it backs the proposed sale of as many as 50 F-35A fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates for $10.4 billion, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Will COVID-Stressed Countries Slow Their Arms Buys?
The coronavirus pandemic might prompt U.S. allies to restructure arms deals for American-made weapons, a top State Department official said. But R. Clarke Cooper, assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said there is still an appetite for U.S. weapons overseas—especially F-16 fighter jets and Patriot missile batteries.
Air Force Secretary Barrett: Space Force Proving Naysayers Wrong
The Space Force has been the subject of snark since it was first proposed. But the naysayers are coming around, Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett said Oct. 28.
AFRL to Award Raytheon Sole-Sourced Contract for Directed-Energy Weapon
The Air Force Research Laboratory is sole sourcing an 18-month contract to Raytheon Technologies to experiment with the company's directed-energy weapon prototype called the Counter-Electronic High Power Microwave Extended Range Air Base Air Defense (CHIMERA).
4 Startups Tapped to Pilot Capabilities at Defense’s 5G Living Lab
Four startups this week won $50K a piece and an opportunity to pilot and test out their technologies at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar’s 5G Living Lab in San Diego. The chosen companies—COMSovereign, GenXComm, Omnispace, and vRotors—competed against nearly 50 total for the top spots through the National Security Innovation Network or NSIN’s Navy/USMC 5G Pitch Competition. That network is an organization within the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit.
Journey to JADC2
Joint all-domain command and control is driving change throughout the Air and Space Forces. Check out our latest on the quest for greater interconnectedness across the battlefield.
US to Use Iranian Fuel Sale Proceeds to Aid Terror Victims
The Trump administration plans to use proceeds from the sale of fuel confiscated from Iranian tankers to benefit victims of terrorism, officials announced Oct. 29.
F-16 Fighter Jet Fires Flares at Unauthorized Aircraft Near Trump Rally
An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon was scrambled to intercept a civilian aircraft flying near President Donald J. Trump's latest rally in Arizona on Oct. 28, setting off flares to get the aircraft's attention, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command.