1st USAF Arctic Strategy Coming Soon | DOD Bans Confederate Flags

July 20, 2020

Edited by Amy McCullough with Tobias Naegele, Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory, John A. Tirpak and Shaun Waterman

Air Force Lt. Col. Russell Reese, the 354th Range Squadron commander, briefs Air Force Secretary Barbara M. Barrett on the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) during her visit to Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, on July 7, 2020. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Larue Guerrisky.

Air Force, Space Force to Debut New Arctic Strategy

By Amy McCullough

Air Force Secretary Barbara M. Barrett, Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, and Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond will launch the Department of the Air Force’s first-ever Arctic Strategy on July 21 during a virtual event with the Atlantic Council. Despite a long history of Arctic operations, USAF has never had its own strategy for operating in the region. The White House first released a National Strategy for the Arctic in 2012 under the Obama Administration, and the Department of Defense followed suit with its first Arctic Strategy a year later. That strategy was updated in 2016 and then again in 2019. During her keynote address at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., in February, Barrett stressed the growing importance of the Arctic, calling it a “central mission” for the Air Force.

Esper’s Flag Policy Bans Confederate, Rainbow Flags

By Tobias Naegele

The Defense Department banned the display of unapproved flags in a new policy issued July 16. The change effectively blocks display of controversial flags such as the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia—better known as the “Confederate Flag”—as well as rainbow flags used to express gay pride. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper established the policy in a memo to the service Secretaries and other military and defense leaders, and mentions only those flags that are permissible, including national, state, territory flags; official military and unit flags; the POW/MIA flag, and a few others. He never mentioned the confederate symbol.

End of 747 Production Isn’t a Parts Crisis for Air Force

By John A. Tirpak

Boeing's anticipated closure of the 747-8 line won't create a parts crisis for the Air Force, which expects the company to support the type until the newest “Air Force One” aircraft retire in 2055. The Air Force hasn't yet decided what it will do to replace the E-4B flying command post, also based on the iconic airliner, but the solution is unlikely to be more 747s.

Air Force Cyber Weapons Factory Moves Ahead with Blockchain Project

By Shaun Waterman

The Air Force is making a big push to move blockchain, the much-hyped cryptographic technology that powers Bitcoin and most other digital currencies, from the lab to the battlefield. Because it creates an unforgeable and unalterable record, advocates see blockchain as invaluable for protecting data, ensuring the integrity of communications, and immutable record-keeping. Now, the Air Force’s new software cyberweapons factory, LevelUP, is starting to use the technology for global, joint all-domain command-and-control.

USAF Weapons School Tests New Students for COVID-19 Antibodies

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

The U.S. Air Force Weapons School kicked off its latest course on July 7 by testing its newest cohort of students—Class 20B—for COVID-19 antibodies, its commandant, Col. Jack Arthaud, told Air Force Magazine in a July 10 interview. “We're testing for antibodies across the entire student population, and then, if anybody tested positive ... we did a rapid COVID test to see if they had an active infection,” he said, adding that no active infections were detected. As an additional preventative step against the pandemic, he explained, any students who headed to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., from bases outside of the continental U.S. had to quarantine for two weeks before starting class.

Virtual Events: Goldfein Discusses State of USAF at Brookings, and More

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

On July 21, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein will appear in conversation with Mara Karlin, director of the Merrill Center and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies’ Strategic Studies program, to discuss the state of the service, including issues such as USAF modernization, and deterring Russia and China. Webinar registration is required, but free, and you can sign up here.

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.

DOD Putting $36.9M into Aviation, Shipbuilding Aid

Inside Defense

The Defense Department has announced it will spend $36.9 million in Defense Production Act Title III funds to help prop up the domestic aviation and shipbuilding industries beset by challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suppliers Face Existential Decisions After COVID-19 Crisis

Aviation Week Network

Suppliers across the western aerospace and defense industrial base faced an existential crisis entering the second half of 2020.

Trump Administration Weighs Troop Cut in South Korea

The Wall Street Journal (Subscription Required)

The Defense Department has presented the White House with options to reduce the American military presence in South Korea as the two countries remain at odds over President Donald J. Trump’s demand that Seoul greatly increase how much it pays for the U.S. troops stationed in the country, U.S. officials said.

The Pentagon Is Playing Its C Team with So Many Top Positions Left Unfilled

Task and Purpose

Of the Defense Department’s top 60 leadership positions, a total of 20 are currently vacant, said Pentagon spokesman Chuck Prichard. Ten people have been nominated for some of those positions, but the Senate has not scheduled their confirmation hearings. The White House has not nominated anyone to fill the remainder of the open positions.

Point Blank Ups the Ante on Collective Defense

USAF release

For the first time, Royal Netherland Air Force F-16s and F-35As partnered with 4th and 5th generation aircraft from the Royal Air Force and F-15s from the 48th Fighter Wing during exercise Point Blank 20-3 on July 16, 2020. More than 60 aircraft took off from home stations and met in the skies over the North Sea for a realistic, high-fidelity training environment that included KC-135 Stratotankers and a RC-135 Rivet Joint from RAF Mildenhall, along with NATO Airborne Warning and Control Systems.

Legion Pod Achieves Major Milestones

USAF release

The Legion Pod, known for its advanced IRST (infrared search and track) capabilities, hit two major milestones at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., with the first missile shot of an AIM-9X using the Legion Pod on an F-15C Eagle and the first-ever flight of an operational F-16 Fighting Falcon with the Legion Pod on July 8 and 13, 2020, respectively.

Lord Hopes to Loosen Weapon Export Restrictions in Next Six Months

Defense News

The Pentagon’s top weapons acquisition official on July 16 called for another review of what defense technology is export-restricted, in an attempt to ensure the United States remains a defense technology provider of choice for other nations.

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.

Two Su-24 Combat Jets Seen in Satellite Image of Libyan Air Base as Air War Intensifies

The Drive

Turkey sent air defense assets to Libya following the arrival of the Russian-supplied jets, underscoring growing foreign involvement in the conflict.

One More Thing

A-10 Demo Pilot Gives One of the Most Detailed Walkaround Tours of the Warthog We’ve Ever Seen

The Aviationist

Now you can get up close and personal with that very same A-10 (aka “Warthog” or “Hog” or “Hawg”) as Major Cody “ShIV” Wilton, the commander of the A-10 Demo Team, performs a really detailed walkaround of his aircraft in a stunning video filmed by Erik Johnston