47th Flying Training Wing Identifies Airman Killed in T-38 Crash at Laughlin
The pilot killed in a Tuesday night T-38C Talon crash at Laughlin AFB, Texas, has been identified as 28-year-old Capt. John Graziano, of Elkridge, Md. Graziano was an instructor pilot assigned to the 87th Flying Training Squadron at Laughlin, according to a Wednesday evening release from the 47th Flying Training Wing. The second airman involved in the crash has been identified as Capt. Mark Palyok, a fellow 87th FTS instructor pilot, who was “treated for his injuries” at Val Verde Regional Medical Center in Del Rio, Texas, and released. Read the full story from Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory.
California Air National Guard Activates to Fight Massive Wildfires
All five California Air National Guard wings have activated airmen in support of firefighting efforts. Two MAFFS-equipped C-130s from the 146th Airlift Wing at Channel Islands Air Guard Station in Ventura County, Calif., were activated on Sunday, but they couldn’t fly their first mission until Tuesday because of winds. Meanwhile, the Woolsey fire is getting dangerously close to Guard base. In Northern California, airmen assigned to the 195th Wing have set up a tent city near the destroyed town of Paradise, are providing security, and the wing’s intelligence analysts are monitoring live feeds from remotely piloted aircraft and other ISR platforms to help plot fire lines and inform evacuation decisions. Read the full story by Amy McCullough.
Vice Chief Wilson Says 386 Squadron Goal May be Adjusted
EA/EW Study WIll Reveal USAF ‘Not Paying Attention to Spectrum Dominance’’
The Air Force electronic attack/electronic warfare Enterprise Capability Collaboration Team study underway for a year will be outbriefed at the “webtech” meeting at Nellis AFB, Nev., in January and there could be some kind of public release of the findings soon after, USAF Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Seve Wilson told reporters Wednesday. “I think what you will find is, in general, we haven’t been paying attention to spectrum dominance,” Wilson said. “Almost everything we do” goes by wavelengths, he noted, from communications and navigations to radars and weapons, and failing to dominate spectrum warfare “means we go back to World War II” levels of capability in key areas if an enemy overpowers the US in this domain. —John A. Tirpak
USAF to Take Lead in Multi-Domain Command and Control with “Five Eyes” Nations
Study Warns Congress of Erosion of US Military Power, Air Force Capacity
The rise of China and Russia, coupled with the sustained harm done by budget cuts under sequestration, has atrophied US military superiority to a “dangerous degree,” an independent commission warned Congress on Wednesday. The National Defense Strategy Commission, a collection of bipartisan former lawmakers and military officials, was convened under the Fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act to review the Pentagon’s National Defense Strategy. Its final report, released this week, call on the Pentagon and Congress to increase the size of the Air Force and grow the industrial base so it can build more weapons to ensure the military is prepared for a large conflict. Read the full story by Brian Everstine.
House Armed Services Committee Leaders Appoint Members to AI Commission
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RADAR SWEEP
Operation Roundup Targets ISIS Remnants
Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve and its partners continue to pursue the lasting defeat of ISIS in designated parts of Iraq and Syria. CENTCOM
US Air Force KC-135 Damage in Australia Interrupts Bomber Training Mission
A US Air Force Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker was damaged Tuesday during a ground-handling incident at an Australian airport. Defense News
Norway Says Russia Jammed GPS Signal During NATO Drill
The Norwegian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Russian forces in the Arctic disturbed GPS location signals during a recent large NATO drill in Norway. C4isrnet.com
Trump Nominates Retired Gen. John Abizaid To Be Ambassador To Saudi Arabia
President Trump on Tuesday announced the nomination of retired Army Gen. John Abizaid as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia — a move that would fill a vacancy that has been open since the administration’s first days. NPR
One More Thing:
MacDill’s Military Working Dogs, Handlers Train at Adventure Island
From vigorous barking to dashing through water-based obstacles, military working dogs and handlers with the 6th Security Forces Squadron participated in water aggression training to maintain full spectrum readiness at Adventure Island amusement park in Tampa, Florida, Oct. 29. Air Force News