DOD Starts to Lift Travel Restrictions | Russia Deploys Fighters to Libya

May 27, 2020

Edited by Amy McCullough with Rachel S. Cohen, Brian W. Everstine and Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

62nd APS Airmen conduct new COVID-19 screening at SeaTac

Senior Airman Kevin Gray II, 62nd Aerial Port Squadron passenger service specialist, takes the temperature of a passenger traveling to Asia at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Wash., on April 30, 2020. Passengers with a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher are denied travel as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tryphena Mayhugh.

DOD to Loosen Movement Restrictions Despite Recent COVID-19 Deaths

By Brian W. Everstine

The Pentagon announced May 26 it will start rolling back restrictions on movement, even though a third U.S. service member and two people affiliated with the Air Force recently died from COVID-19. A Wisconsin Army Reservist died of the disease caused by the new coronavirus over the Memorial Day weekend, according to the Pentagon’s daily tally of COVID-19 cases. Additionally, an Air Force civilian and a service contractor also died of the disease in recent days, bringing the Air Force total to four—none of whom were uniformed Airmen. In a May 22 memo, Defense Secretary Mark Esper wrote that while COVID-19 remains a risk, “improving conditions warrant a transition in our approach to domestic and overseas personnel travel to a conditions-based, phased approach to personnel movement and travel.”

AFRICOM: Russia Deploys Fighter Jets to Libya, Hides Military Insignia

By Brian W. Everstine

U.S. Africa Command says Russia deployed fighter jets to Libya to provide air support for state-sponsored mercenaries on the ground, and surveillance photographs show Moscow is intentionally hiding the origin of the aircraft. Images show MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-24 Fencer aircraft deployed to Al Jufra Air Field in Libya. AFRICOM says its intelligence shows the aircraft deployed from a home base in Russia, then transited through Syria, where they were repainted to hide Russian military insignia. “Russia is clearly trying to tip the scales in its favor in Libya,” AFRICOM boss Gen. Stephen Townsend said in a release. “Just like I saw them doing in Syria, they are expanding their military footprint in Africa using government-supported mercenary groups like Wagner.”

USAF to Hold BMT at Keesler, Lackland Until COVID-19 Surge Operations End

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

The Air Force will host Basic Military Training at two locations—Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, and Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.—starting June 2 and lasting until COVID-19 surge operations wrap up, Air Education and Training Command announced May 26. However, the service doesn't intend to host BMT outside of Lackland once the new coronavirus pandemic ends, the command noted in a release. The decision follows a six-week proof of concept held at the Mississippi base that looked to show that the Air Force could host BMT outside of Lackland in case of contingencies.

USAF Tripling Data-Driven Maintenance Efforts in 2020

By Rachel S. Cohen

The Air Force’s fledgling Rapid Sustainment Office plans to triple the number of aircraft using predictive maintenance algorithms in 2020, the service told Air Force Magazine. The Conditions-Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+) program, which started last year, and related initiatives use sensors and algorithms to collect data on which weapon system parts need to be replaced before they fail. As of May 14, the RSO was using predictive maintenance on the B-1, KC-135, C-5, C-130, and F-15. By the end of September, it wants to expand that effort to include the B-52, C-17, AC-130J, MC-130J, CV-22, HH-60, RC-135, MQ-9, F-16, RQ-4, A-10, and Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.

Virtual Events: Hinote on Mitchell Institute’s ‘Aerospace Nation,’ and More

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

Today, Brig. Gen. S. Clinton Hinote, deputy director for Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability, will appear on the latest installment of the "Aerospace Nation" series presented by AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. Event video will tentatively be posted on the think tank's website and YouTube page later in the day.

Radar Sweep

Snapshot: DOD and COVID-19

Air Force Magazine

Here's a look at how the Defense Department is being impacted by and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More Than 1,300 Veterans Given Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19

Military.com

Roughly 1,300 patients at Veterans Affairs Department medical facilities have received hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 since late March, according to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie.

Live Nuclear Testing Could Resume in ‘Months’ if Needed, Official Says

Defense News

A live nuclear test could be arranged within “months” if requested by the president, a top defense department nuclear official said Tuesday, following a report that the Trump administration has discussed the first American nuclear test in decades.

The Air Force Thunderbirds Say They Are Done with America Strong Flyovers

The Drive

The team says the recent flyover of Southern California was their last even though it was thought more were originally in the works.

China is Stepping Up Its Preparedness for Armed Combat, Will Spend $178 Billion on Its Military This Year

Newsweek

China's President Xi Jinping has stressed his desire to bolster the nation's military, days after it was revealed the country is to spend $178 billion on its forces this year. Xi is said to have "stressed achieving the targets and missions of strengthening the national defense and armed forces for 2020, while maintaining effective epidemic control on a regular basis," according to state media.

Can NASA and Elon Musk Lift Off?

Politico

May 27’s historic launch from Cape Canaveral would make Musk's SpaceX the first private company to carry people into orbit—and open a new era for America's space program. If it works.

DOD Moves AI Development to Air Force’s Cloud One as JEDI Protest Drags on

Federal News Network

Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center director, said his organization has decided to start using the Air Force’s Cloud One environment for its AI work for the foreseeable future. Time is of the essence, he said, since the U.S. military only has about five years before it’s decided whether the United States or China will be the dominant force in AI.

Faster Acquisition

Air Force Magazine

The Air Force is leveraging emerging technologies and new legislation to accelerate acquisition decisions and streamline sustainment. Read more here.

Air Force Seeks Industry Partner for Data Loss Prevention Program

GovCon Wire

The Air Force is looking for a contractor to develop and demonstrate a proof of concept for an enterprise data loss prevention system at a military installation. A solicitation notice posted May 20 stated that the service branch wants a potential vendor to test the POC with at least 100 users and its ability to protect data on-premises or in cloud computing environments.

Army Eyes Kessel Run Model to Boost Software Capabilities

Federal Computer Week

The Army is looking to bolster its in-house software capabilities by building software factories like Kessel Run, the Air Force's agile software development program. The Army's chief technology officer, William Robinson, said the service is planning to emulate the Air Force's model as part of a larger effort to better prepare soldiers to manipulate cloud-based applications, including those that perform data analytics, in the field.

One More Thing

The Inside Story of Two Supersonic Flights that Changed How America Operates the F-35

Defense News

The F-35 pilot who flew the two infamous supersonic missions that inflicted damage to the jet’s stealth coating and tail wants to set the record straight.