Air Force release
Thousands of people gathered to witness performances by some of the military’s most elite units during the celebratory Air Force 75th Anniversary Tattoo at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The Tattoo featured performances by the United States Air Force Band, the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard, and guest performer, multi-platinum singer-songwriter Andy Grammer. Attendees also had the opportunity to witness firsthand the Air Force’s air superiority during a flyover by U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.
Politico
Ukraine has stopped publicly asking for high-end U.S. weapons such as Patriot air defense systems, F-16 fighter jets, and Gray Eagle drones. But behind the scenes, the push hasn’t stopped for weapons that could turn the tide of the war. Kyiv is just getting savvier about its requests. Both sides are discussing whether to send all three items as long-term financing deals are being hammered out, according to advisers to the Ukrainian government, Pentagon officials, and defense industry executives.
Defense News
The Pentagon expects to complete the transfer of 24 decommissioned Global Hawk drones this month, advancing its plan to use the systems to support hypersonic testing as soon as 2024. The RQ-4s are part of the SkyRange program, which aims to use unmanned aircraft to track hypersonic systems during flight tests.
SpaceNews
U.S. defense and intelligence agencies that increasingly rely on commercial satellites for imagery and other services are discussing how they might compensate companies if their spacecraft is damaged during an armed conflict. If private-sector satellites become part of a hybrid public-private space architecture, “then we have some obligation to think about commercial protection,” said David Gauthier, director of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency’s Commercial and Business Operations Group.
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Forbes
A new paper from the Mitchell Institute details an underfunded U.S. Air Force that may not be able to win against China. Titled “Decades of Air Force Underfunding Threaten America’s Ability to Win,” the paper outlines the decline in relative spending on the Air Force, the decreasing number and increasing age of its tactical aircraft fleet, and the prospects it faces if funding for modernization and new aircraft is not made available.
Air Force Times
The Air Force has been quietly investigating potential procurement fraud for nearly two years, service officials revealed. The Office of Special Investigations opened its probe in January 2021, said spokesperson Linda Card. She declined to provide details on the scope of the case or whether fraudulent products were used in military aircraft.
Breaking Defense
Lockheed Martin announced that it has delivered a 300-kilowatt laser to the Defense Department and will integrate it into an Army high-energy laser demonstration later this year. The defense giant developed the laser under the Pentagon’s High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative (HELSI), an effort by the department to strengthen the directed energy industrial base and improve the quality of laser beams.
Military.com
U.S. military training for Taiwan could be stepped up under a proposal making its way through Congress. The mandate for a "comprehensive training program" between the U.S. and Taiwanese militaries is included in a sweeping bill passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Known as the Taiwan Policy Act, the bill would be a far-reaching deepening of U.S.-Taiwan relations and seeks to escalate U.S. military, diplomatic, and economic support for the island that could be a flashpoint in any war between the United States and China.
Defense One
The Air Force has been a leader in the Defense Department’s efforts to develop, deploy, and buy software using modern techniques, and Kessel Run has helped lead that charge since its inception in 2017. Since then, the organization has been recognized for how quickly it has been able to deliver software. But after working through its growing pains, its new leader says, it’s time for Kessel Run to work on sustaining its output.
One More Thing
FOX 5 DC
A special flyover at Arlington National Cemetery honored twin brothers who were founding members of the original Thunderbirds team. Lt. Gen. Charles "Buck" Pattillo and Maj. Gen. Cuthbert "Bill" Pattillo were recognized Sept. 14 in the rare dual service by the Air Force.
