Breaking Defense
This year Japan celebrated Halloween by taking ownership of its first KC-46 aerial refueling tanker, becoming the first international operator of the often-troubled Boeing plane. Boeing delivered the first KC-46 to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on Oct. 31, about four years after a $289 million contract was signed in December 2017.
The Associated Press
China’s growing military muscle and its drive to end American predominance in the Asia-Pacific is rattling the U.S. defense establishment. American officials see trouble quickly accumulating on multiple fronts—Beijing’s expanding nuclear arsenal, its advances in space, cyber, and missile technologies, and threats to Taiwan. “The pace at which China is moving is stunning,” says Gen. John Hyten, the No. 2-ranking U.S. military officer, who previously commanded U.S. nuclear forces and oversaw Air Force space operations.
Politico
Defense and industry officials are sounding warning bells that weapons programs crucial to America's defense could face delays if enough skilled workers walk off the job instead of following President Joe Biden’s executive order for all federal employees and contractors to take the COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 8.
GE Aviation
Fighter jet engines are an inherent compromise. If you want more power, you pay by giving up range. Want more range? It’s going to cost you in power. Each generation of jet engines has dealt with this unbreakable rule. But maybe there really is another way to meet that challenge. GE’s work in the Air Force’s Adaptive Engine Technology Program overcomes that inherent trade-off by incorporating the ability to change the power dynamics on the fly.
Defense One
The first U.S. national cyber director wants the government to take a tougher, more proactive approach to those who threaten America’s networks: degrade their capabilities and demonstrate how they would suffer should they attack. John "Chris" Inglis’ vision for his brand-new office somewhat resembles the match-day strategy employed by the Cobra Kai dojo in the original Karate Kid: Aim to cause your opponent pain. In other words: Sweep the leg.
Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
In episode 47 of the Aerospace Advantage podcast, Mitchell Institute team members talk about some of the top aerospace headlines in the news recently. Whether discussing why the Chinese are pursuing a new strike technology, ACC’s desire to rethink how it trains pilots, whether “over the horizon strikes” with UAVs will continue to present value, and the latest considerations when it comes to replacing the E-3 AWACS, a lot of issues are in play.
Defense News
President Joe Biden has taken executive action to boost Buy American requirements, but―in spite of loopholes to protect allied countries―not everyone is happy about it. The defense industry is pushing back, wary the protectionist policy will trigger a backlash that shuts out American-made weapons and gear from overseas markets.
Air Force release
The 18th Operations Group partnered with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the 36th Airlift Squadron from Yokota Air Base, Japan, to complete Exercise Southern Beach, Oct. 25-29. The large force exercise primarily focused on offensive and defensive counter air operations, personnel rescue, and airdrop missions. The 44th and 67th Fighter Squadron F-15C Eagles, 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotankers, 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron E-3 Sentry aircraft, and MC-130J Commando II aircraft assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing all participated in the exercise.
SpaceNews
Two Space Force missions on SpaceX Falcon Heavy rockets that had been scheduled for 2021 have slipped into next year. There is now a third U.S. national security launch that will be added to the Falcon Heavy’s crowded 2022 manifest. USSF-67, a classified national security mission to geostationary Earth orbit awarded to SpaceX last year under a $332 million contract, is “on track for mid-to-late 2022 launch,” a Space Systems Command spokesperson confirmed Oct. 30.
Task and Purpose
Most Air Force bases are city-sized complexes with thousands of employees, heaps of supplies, and layers of infrastructure and bureaucracy to keep the whole thing running. By contrast, Austin Sewell had pinned on the rank of captain just two weeks before the start of Pacific Iron, when he found himself in command of a one-runway, 70-person airstrip that F-15E Strike Eagle attack jet pilots were counting on for fuel and support so they could patrol hundreds of miles of open ocean surrounding them.
AFCEA
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory is opening a scientific research facility in Melbourne, Australia, to be co-located with that country’s Defence Science and Technology Group. The new office will enhance cooperation between the two countries on basic scientific research that will benefit both militaries.
One More Thing
The Associated Press via Air Force Times
U.S. Air Force veteran Carroll William Joye loves to fly. “I think it’s the greatest thing in the world that I ever did, other than give my life to God,” the 82-year-old said. Joye has been doing what he loves for a long time. He celebrated his 50th anniversary of flying on July 18. The feat was recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration on Oct. 26.
