President Obama signed off on an update to Unified Command Plan 2011 that, among its modifications, reflects the disestablishment of US Joint Forces Command that occurred in August, announced Defense Department officials Wednesday. The Pentagon in April issued UCP 2011, the newest version of the strategic document that defines the missions and responsibilities of the US military’s combatant commands. Obama on Monday approved “Change 1” to that plan. Change 1 also removes responsibilities for information operations, military deception, and operations security from US Strategic Command. The Joint Staff will assume them. Meanwhile, STRATCOM gains the Joint Warfare Analysis Center, previously a subordinate command to JFCOM. And, US Transportation Command adds responsibility for global standing joint force headquarters held under the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, another asset formerly under JFCOM.
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.