Space Force Unveils Logo | Lockheed, Lawmakers Spar Over F-35 Sustainment

July 23, 2020

Edited by Amy McCullough with Rachel S. Cohen and Brian W. Everstine

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The U.S. Space Force unveiled its motto and logo on July 22, 2020. Graphic via the U.S. Space Force on Twitter.

Space Force Debuts New Delta Logo, Motto

By Rachel S. Cohen

The Space Force is continuing its delta theme with a triangular new logo unveiled July 22. The silver, arrowhead-like delta symbol honors the heritage of the Air Force and Air Force Space Command, the predecessor to the Space Force, according to a USSF release. “The silver outer border of the delta signifies defense and protection from all adversaries and threats emanating from the space domain. The black area inside embodies the vast darkness of deep space,” the Space Force said. “Inside the delta, the two spires represent the action of a rocket launching into the outer atmosphere in support of the central role of the Space Force in defending the space domain.”

House Oversight Probes F-35 Sustainment Problems

By Rachel S. Cohen

House lawmakers hammered Lockheed Martin for persistent problems in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter enterprise during a July 22 hearing, as the defense giant declined to promise it would fully reimburse the Pentagon for defective equipment files. At issue are electronic equipment logs, which act as digital medical records to show the history of the most crucial F-35 parts throughout their lifespans. The files help track when a part will fail, what parts are compatible with which planes, and more. Lockheed is trying to use logs only for 400 parts that need them, down from 1,000 parts that use them now, and grow the number of parts delivered with complete histories.

OIR: Withdrawing Forces From Iraq a Sign of Success in ISIS Fight

By Brian W. Everstine

The U.S. will hand over control of bases in Iraq and is likely to reduce its overall troop level within the country as progress against the remnants of the Islamic State group continues, a senior official with the American-led coalition said. USAF Maj. Gen. Kenneth P. Ekman, the deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, told reporters via videoconference July 22 the group’s military, logistics, and media power is a “shadow of what it used to be.” While the group still has fighters largely hiding out in the mountains and caves of Iraq and Syria, it “does not, and cannot, control terrain,” Ekman said. While ISIS will likely never be fully eradicated, the coalition’s focus is limiting the group’s influence as much as possible, and ensuring it is not more than a “low-level insurgency,” he said.

USAFE Conducts All-Domain Training Mission in the Black Sea

By Brian W. Everstine

USAF F-16s, KC-135s, MC-130Js, and MQ-9s linked up with U.S. Navy aircraft and ships as well as support from U.S. Space Command during a large-scale exercise in the Black Sea on July 22. The mission in Eastern Europe, with Russia watching, “was designed to train U.S. forces to integrate, operate, and communicate while executing all-domain operations,” U.S. Air Forces in Europe said in a release. The same day, the Russian Ministry of Defense posted a video claiming to show an intercept of a P-8 in the Black Sea region, adding its forces also identified a U.S. U-2 and a German P-3. USAFE said in a statement that no USAF aircraft came in contact with any Russian aircraft on July 22.

Rolls-Royce Formally Enters B-52 Re-Engining Competition

By Brian W. Everstine

Rolls-Royce formally entered the competition to re-engine the B-52 as expected, offering its F130 engine already in use in some USAF aircraft to power the bomber. The Air Force on May 19 issued its request for proposals for the B-52 Commercial Engine Replacement Program, with responses due on July 22 and a contract award expected in June 2021. In addition to Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation and Raytheon Technologies’ Pratt & Whitney will compete for the award. The service wants to buy 608 engines for 76 B-52s to keep the bomber flying through 2050.

Virtual Events: Mitchell, ANWA DC Host Verdon on NNSA Series, and More

By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

On July 29, AFA's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, in partnership with the Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance Deterrence Center, will present a Nuclear Deterrence Forum with Charles Verdon, deputy administrator for defense programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, as part of their NNSA Series. Event video will tentatively be posted on Mitchell’s website and YouTube page after the event.

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.

In Error, TRICARE Tells 600K Beneficiaries They've Had COVID-19

Military.com

More than 600,000 Tricare users in the military health system's East Region received emails Friday asking them to consider donating blood for research as "survivors of COVID-19." But given that just 31,000 persons affiliated with the U.S. military have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, the email came as a surprise to beneficiaries.

BlackSky Gets U.S. Air Force Contract to Monitor Coronavirus Outbreaks

SpaceNews

Earth-observation company BlackSky announced July 21 it received a U.S. Air Force contract to monitor overseas U.S. military bases, detect outbreaks, and analyze the spread of COVID-19.

Chinese Hackers Indicted for Stealing Trade Secrets, Coronavirus Research

Justice Department release

The indictment charges the defendants with conspiring to steal trade secrets from at least eight known victims, which consisted of technology designs, manufacturing processes, test mechanisms and results, source code, and pharmaceutical chemical structures. Such information would give competitors a market edge by providing insight into proprietary business plans and savings on research and development costs in creating competing products, the Justice Department announced July 21.

Mitchell Institute Space Power Forum Featuring Chuck Beames

AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies on YouTube

Chuck Beames, founder and chairman of the SmallSat Alliance and former principal director of space and intelligence systems in the Pentagon, discusses how the U.S. government can better partner with space industry to promote innovation and deliver lower-cost, more resilient space capabilities.

Pentagon's Number 2 Officer Says Military Must Do Better on Diversity

National Public Radio

Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten, the No. 2 American military officer as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke with National Public Radio on efforts to create a diverse force, the rising problem of sexual misconduct (as well as addressing allegations that were made against himself), and the military’s efforts to tackle and trace the coronavirus.

'I Never Looked Back': Goldfein Says Trump's Joint Chiefs Chairman Pick Wasn't Personal

Military.com

The Air Force's top general said he doesn't dwell on losing out on the chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after President Donald J. Trump picked Army Gen. Mark A. Milley over him.

OPINION: F-35 Is Performing Far Better Than Critics Would Have You Think

Forbes

“The F-35 has not had a trouble-free path in its fielding—nor has any new combat aircraft,” writes retired USAF Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. “The reality is that each generation of combat aircraft push technology to the edge and this involves distinct challenges and a learning curve. The real question is whether the trends of mission capability, availability, unit, and operational costs are headed in the right direction. In the case of the F-35, this is certainly the case.”

Rapid Acquisition & Sustainment

Air Force Magazine

The Air Force and U.S. defense establishment are breaking down barriers and injecting speed, innovation, and creativity into the procurement system. Check out our new page to learn more about these efforts.

Kunsan Airman Who Died after Being Found Unresponsive in Dorm Room Identified

Air Force Times

The Airman from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, who died on July 20 has been identified as Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Arndt.

‘This Is Discrimination’: Germany Seeks Income Taxes from US Airman Because He's Married to Local Woman

Stars and Stripes (Subscription Required)

Tax authorities are demanding a Ramstein-based Airman pay German income taxes because he is married to a local woman, setting up a potentially precedent-setting case that could have financial implications for scores of U.S. troops in the country. The move levies double taxation on an Airman who already pays U.S. income taxes and potentially threatens service members who marry Germans or take any number of steps to integrate into life outside the base gates.

One More Thing

Fully Armed Kadena F-15 Eagles Soar over Saudi Arabia Wearing Some Awesome Nose Art

The Drive

U.S. Air Force F-15 squadrons lead the way when it comes to keeping the tradition alive of painting-up their aircraft while on deployment.