The Drive
Northrop Grumman is going to repurpose four ex-U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk drones as Range Hawk surveillance platforms to monitor hypersonic missile tests. The change of role for the drones is part of the Air Force’s efforts to divest itself of the oldest Global Hawks and reflects the rapidly growing importance of the many hypersonic weapons now in development in the United States, across the services.
Federal News Network
The Pentagon is preparing to hand down harsh punishments to civilian employees who do not comply with the executive mandate that government workers get their coronavirus vaccine. A memo released by the Defense Department states that civilians will ultimately be fired from their jobs if they are not fully vaccinated. DOD wants all of its civilians to get the shot and go through the required waiting period for antibodies to flourish by Nov. 22.
Air Force Times
The Air Force’s KC-135 Stratotanker fleet has returned to regular operations after the service discovered that a faulty power supply was to blame for causing two jets to unexpectedly nosedive earlier this year. Problems with the power supply, a subcomponent of the autopilot system, in May led the tankers to malfunction and suddenly tilt toward the ground. Neither jet crashed because of the issue.
Defense One
Like any family road trip, future missions to the moon and beyond may require a few pit stops. U.S. Transportation Command and the U.S. Space Force see a future space superhighway system where the United States, commercial partners, and allies would be able to make repeat, regular trips to the moon or beyond by using multiple hubs where they could gas up, have maintenance done, and even throw out their trash.
Heritage Foundation
“The United States is a global power with global commitments. As such, it cannot focus on a single problem or threat to the exclusion of others, nor can it seek to minimize risk across the board. To do so would be financially infeasible. Instead, the United States must seek to manage risk, setting priorities and allocating scarce resources to the most salient threats while accepting risk in other, less critical areas,” writes retired Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
Military.com
After three years, Walmart is leaving Tricare's pharmacy network—a departure that pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts says is a result of the retail giant's reluctance to offer "more highly competitive discounts" to military health beneficiaries. At the same time CVS Pharmacy will return to the Tricare network after a five-year hiatus, a change Express Scripts spokeswoman Jennifer Luddy said would expand choice within the network.
Politico
The Space Force is here to stay. But the debate over whether the military's newest branch should have its own weekend warriors has turned into the latest space-based political brawl. Lawmakers from Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, and other states that are home to space operations are pushing for a dedicated Space National Guard that can provide a talent pool for the technical space branch. But the White House “strongly opposes” the move, arguing it “would not deliver new capabilities” and only “create new government bureaucracy.”
The Associated Press
Iran on Oct. 21 kicked off an annual air force drill across the country, a week after holding another massive exercise in air defense, state TV reported. The report said bombers, jet fighters, and attack and surveillance drones will participate in the drill, using heavy weapons including laser-guided missiles.
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Reuters
The U.S. Navy and Army tested hypersonic weapon component prototypes Oct. 20 that will inform development of new weapons, the Pentagon said, calling the three tests successful. The tests occurred the same day that President Joe Biden said he was concerned about Chinese hypersonic weapons.
Defense News
With one month before the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, retires, the Biden administration has yet to name a successor. Experts are growing increasingly concerned that, even if a nomination were to come in the next few days, time is running out to get a new vice chair approved before Hyten’s term expires Nov. 21. And having a gap in the vice chair position could create multiple problems as the Pentagon does crucial work on future budgets and resource allocations, they say.
One More Thing
EcoWatch
The aviation industry contributes 2.5 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and is responsible for 3.5 percent of human-caused climate change. But now, researchers from the University of Georgia say a sustainable aviation fuel made from a type of mustard plant could reduce flying's carbon footprint by as much as 68 percent.
