Defense Operations Blog

Access to Data is Key for Indo-Pacific Operations

July 2, 2020

By Kimberly Underwood

Speaking to the AFCEA Hawaii Chapter on June 30 during a virtual luncheon, Gen. Charles Brown, USAF, who is the outgoing commander, Pacific Air Forces; air component commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; and executive director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, advises the industry to help quickly field capabilities to the warfighter, rather than delivering a solution "late to need."

Lt. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, USAF, commander of 7th Air Force, speaks with U.S. Army Soldiers during a base visit at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea in May. Gen. Wilsbach, who is awaiting U.S. Senate confirmation and his fourth star, will be taking over as the commander of Pacific Air Forces. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Hetlage

Air chiefs from countries across the Indo-Pacific region join Commander of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Gen. Charles Brown, USAF, (c, in white shirt) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in December for the 2019 Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium hosted by PACAF Headquarters. During his role as PACAF commander, the general made building relationships with allies and international partners across the region a priority, as a deterrence against adversaries. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Hailey Haux

Pacific Air Forces leaders calls for improved communications and information in a challenging region.

Space Force Sends Additional GPS Capability into Space

July 1, 2020

By Kimberly Underwood

The successful launch of the GPS III Space Vehicle 03 and the recovery of the Falcon 9 rocket booster represents another step in innovation. Credit: SpaceX

The GPS III SV03 is the third launch by the 6-month old U.S. Space Force, and the second National Security Space mission launched by Space X's Falcon 9 rocket, according to the Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, which is leading the effort in conjunction with industry partners and the 45th Space Wing, Florida. Credit: Space X

The payload faring, which contains the military's GPS III SV 03 satellite system, is connected to Space X's Falcon 9 rocket in preparation for a June 30 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force station. Credit: Space X

The third launch of the GPS III system adds performance and protection.

Hypersonic Cruise Missiles Pose Greatest Area Defense Threat

June 25, 2020

By Robert K. Ackerman

A Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptor is launched from the Reagan Test Site in Kwajalein Atoll. THAAD is one component of a layered missile defense system being configured to stop incoming missile attacks. (Credit: Missile Defense Agency)

Combining hypersonic technologies with cruise missile capabilities offers a serious threat to U.S. forces as well as the homeland.

Moving Forward with Agile Combat

June 18, 2020

By Kimberly Underwood

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 31st Fighter Wing perform a preflight inspection of an F-16 Fighting Falcon before takeoff during exercise Agile Buzzard at Decimomannu Air Base, Italy, in January. The Air Force is expanding its concept of Agile Combat Employment to apply to Europe. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Heidi Goodsell

The Air Force is taking its force generation concept to provide a more lean, agile and lethal force in Europe.

Air Force Performs Key Exercise in North Sea Air Space

June 5, 2020

Posted by Kimberly Underwood

A F-15E Strike Eagle from the 492nd Fighter Squadron takes off from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England on May 27 during a large force exercise. The U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa and airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing conducted the dissimilar air combat training to advance combat readiness and increase tactical proficiency to help strengthen the NATO alliance. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Sparks

The 48th Fighter Wing and U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa conducted the exercise to maintain readiness and ensure a strong NATO defense.

Brig. Gen. Collins Takes the Reins of the Army’s Tactical Communications Effort

June 1, 2020

By Kimberly Underwood

Program Executive Office Command Control Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T), through its Program Manager Tactical Network, equips a brigade combat team in the 82nd Airborne Division with the an inflatable satellite communications system known as T2C2. Brig. Gen. Robert Collins, USA, takes over as the new PEO C3T on June 1 and says he will continue the key efforts to modernize the service's tactical communications. Credit: U.S. Army photo by Amy Walker, PEO C3T

Leader will continue PEO C3T’s robust modernization of the Integrated Tactical Network.

Army Scientists Tap Partners for Next Stage of Robotics Technologies

May 29, 2020

By Robert K. Ackerman

For the U.S. Army to develop truly autonomous driverless vehicles, it must realize advances being pursued by the Army Research Laboratory. (U.S. Army photo)

The Army Research Laboratory has distributed research among eight partners to advance vehicle autonomy to the next stage.

Creating a Sustained Environment for Multidomain Experimentation

May 20, 2020

By Kimberly Underwood

The Army tests an integrated mounted reconnaissance capability on a manned Stryker and an unmanned ground system called the Squad Maneuver Equipment Transport during the Joint Warfighter Assessment (JWA) 2019 in December. The Army is preparing Joint All-Domain Command and Control, or JADC2, capabilities to test at the next JWA in 2021. Credit: U.S. Army photo by Jack Bunja.

The Army is establishing a persistent atmosphere for development of Joint All-Domain Command and Control, or JADC2, capabilities.

DOD's Top Tech Priorities Shift to Microelectronics and 5G

May 19, 2020

By Julianne Simpson

The director of defense research and engineering for modernization provided an update on the department's modernization efforts during the Critical Issues in C4I Symposium.

Ellen Lord: The United States Is Too Reliant on China for Medical Gear

April 30, 2020

By George I. Seffers

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has revealed weaknesses in the medical industrial base, including a dependency on China, indicates Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. Credit: Tumisu/Pixabay

The military cranks out protective gear for COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Space Force Launches Data Governance Council

May 6, 2020

By Kimberly Underwood

Col. Laurel Walsh, 50th Operations Group commander (l), and Airman 1st Class Michael McCowan, satellite systems operator and mission planner, 2nd Space Operations Squadron, give the final command to decommission Satellite Vehicle Number-36 at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado in January. As part of steps to create a modern, agile U.S. Space Force, the new service is creating a data management governance council. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Amanda Lovelace

An Atlas V AEHF-6 rocket successfully launches from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida in March. This was U.S. Space Force's first launch. And as it pursues a new era of military space operations, the service is creating a data management governance council to help make sure information gets to warfighters when needed. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Joshua Conti

The council is part of the service’s emerging data management effort.

Air Force Looks Past the Initial Onset of COVID-19

April 23, 2020

By Kimberly Underwood

Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfein, USAF, speaks to airmen at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, in June 2018. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gen. Goldfein is taking steps as part of a second retooling effort for the service to operate over the next year under the "new abnormal" environment. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Sara Hoerichs

Chief of the service considers operations over the next year in an altered environment.

Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team Stays on Track Despite COVID-19

April 22, 2020

Posted by Julianne Simpson

The development of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System continues to move forward despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adding the Force to the Space Force

April 17, 2020

By Kimberly Underwood

U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. Raymond speaks at the Pentagon on March 27, 2020. The general, speaking at a virtual town hall on April 16, explains how the new service will pull together its personnel for its Force. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Wayne Clark

The new service is organizing how it is pulling together its personnel.

DISA’s Internet Isolation Tech Aids Workers in COVID-19 Isolation

April 13, 2020

By George I. Seffers

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Witzel, USAF, inspects a customer's laptop on Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana on March 20. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many Defense Department personnel to work from home, the Defense Information Systems Agency is seeing increased demand for its Cloud-Based Internet Isolation technology. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Daniel Martinez

A new telecommuting normal related to COVID-19 drives a surge in demand for DISA's Cloud-Based Internet Isolation technology.

DOD Successfully Tests Hypersonic Glide Body

March 23, 2020

Posted by Julianne Simpson

A common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB) launches from Pacific Missile Range Facility during a Defense Department flight experiment, Kauai, Hawaii, March 19, 2020. Credit: DOD

The U.S. Department of Defense successfully tested a hypersonic glide body in a flight experiment held at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii.