Air Force Magazine
Daily Report for Sept. 2, 2020

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Edited by Amy McCullough with Brian W. Everstine, Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory and John A. Tirpak

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China Now Tops US in Shipbuilding, Missiles, and Air Defense, DOD Says
By John A. Tirpak

In its 20th assessment of Chinese military power, the Pentagon said China is
leading the U.S. and the world in shipbuilding, ballistic missiles, and air
defenses. Its combined air and naval air forces are the third-largest in the
world and the largest in the Indo-Pacific region, and China is seeking to
develop a system of worldwide bases and power projection capabilities. While its
newest bomber is still a retread of the old Soviet “Badger” series, it is
working on a new stealth bomber, as well as upgrading its stealth fighter, the
J-20, now operational. Along with longer-ranged and precise cruise missiles,
China has an effective nuclear “triad,” according to the report.

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Raymond to Swear in New Space Force Members at AFA’s Virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference
By Brian W. Everstine

The approximately 2,400 Active-duty Airmen in the space systems operations and
space operations career fields selected to join the Space Force will formally
swear in to the new service this month in public and private ceremonies,
highlighted by a large virtual swearing-in by the Chief of Space Operations. The
Airmen, officers and enlisted members in the 13S and 1C6 career fields, were
initially selected to join the new service in July. CSO Gen. John W. “Jay”
Raymond will address the new members and lead a virtual swearing in during the
Air Force Association’s virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference on Sept. 15.

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B-52s Train With 6 Nations Over Baltic Sea
By Brian W. Everstine

Three USAF B-52s flew through the Baltic Sea region on Aug. 31, training with
aircraft from six nations and flying over Latvia just days after a Russian
aircraft reportedly violated NATO airspace to intercept another B-52. During the
Aug. 31 flight, the B-52s, which are deployed as part of the bomber task force
at RAF Fairford, England, trained with aircraft from Belgium, the Netherlands,
the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and Portugal, then flew over Riga, Latvia,
according to a U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa release. A USAF
KC-135 from RAF Mildenhall, England, supported the bomber flight.

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AETC’s Command Chief Talks Priorities, Fighting Sexism
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

Chief Master Sgt. Erik C. Thompson, Air Education and Training Command’s
newest command chief, doesn’t want to reinvent the way the command does
business. Instead, he wants to back up its already innovative educators—whom
he said are driving training change on a daily basis—in their efforts to reach
AETC’s Airmen. Further, he said, the entire service can learn from how 19th
Air Force—where he last served as command chief master sergeant—tackled
sexism and related climate issues within its 47th Flying Training Wing to foster
a healthier culture overall.

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Virtual Events: Soofer on Mitchell’s Nuclear Deterrence Forum, and More
By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory

Today, the Air Force Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies will
host a Nuclear Deterrence Forum featuring Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy Rob Soofer. Event video will tentatively
be posted to Mitchell's <a
href="[link removed]">website</a>
and <a href="[link removed]">YouTube
page</a> afterward.

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Radar Sweep

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Snapshot: DOD and COVID-19

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

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This Air Force Paint Additive Could Help Reduce COVID-19 Spread Indoors

The U.S. Air Force is stepping up its efforts to fight the spread of diseases
inside buildings. It has authorized Theriax LLC, a research and development
laboratory, to use a patented coating formula that greatly enhances protection
against airborne microbes, including COVID-19, inside buildings and homes, the
Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center announced Aug. 4.

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Pentagon's Latest Salvo against China's Growing Might: Cold War Bombers

Since late January, American B-1B and B-52 bombers, usually operating in pairs,
have flown about 20 missions over key waterways, including the South China Sea,
the East China Sea, and the Sea of Japan, according to accounts of these flights
from U.S. Air Force statements and official social media posts. These missions,
military analysts say, are designed to send a crystal-clear signal: The United
States can threaten China’s fleet and Chinese land targets at any time, from
distant bases, without having to move America’s aircraft carriers and other
expensive surface warships within range of Beijing’s massive arsenal of
missiles.

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Pentagon and State Department Could Be Compelled to Testify on Afghanistan War, House Democrats Say

The U.S. military and the State Department must agree to update Congress on the
war in Afghanistan and the peace process or they will face subpoenas, House
Democratic lawmakers say. A letter sent on Aug. 31 to Defense Secretary Mark T.
Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo demanded the two departments provide
witnesses to testify at a Sept. 9 hearing in Congress.

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Are Overseas Bases Worth the Cost?

The U.S. has tens of thousands of troops permanently stationed overseas—mostly
on bases that were established during the Cold War. But in a recent interview,
Stimson Center co-founder Barry Blechman said if the goal of the forces is
deterring adversaries, the defense budget would go a lot further if it were
geared toward quickly sending forces to trouble spots, rather than keeping them
in places like Korea and Germany. Those conclusions, by the Stimson Center, are
based on a study of more than 100 foreign policy crises.

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VIDEO: Aerial Refueling for E-2Ds Will Expand Reach of Carrier Strike Groups

The Navy is bringing an aerial refueling capability to its E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
command and control fleet, with the first operational squadron certifying its
pilots to refuel with Air Force tankers.

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Air Force Exploring Technology to Detect Electronic Intelligence Signals

The Air Force Research Laboratory is looking for white papers on existing and
emerging technologies that can help ground and aerial surveillance platforms
detect electronic intelligence signals, according to a broad agency announcement
the service released Aug. 31.

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The JADC2 Revolution

U.S. forces are redefining joint operations to be more tightly integrated. Joint
all-domain command and control (JADC2) accelerates the speed and complexity of
warfare by tying forces together across the air, land, sea, space, and cyber
domains. For the latest on what this means to operators and the industry, check
out our JADC2 landing page.

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One Year Later, U.S. Space Command Is Protecting, Defending the Space Domain

In only one year since the activation and stand-up of the nation’s 11th
combatant command, U.S. Space Command is celebrating the anniversary milestone
by focusing on the myriad of mission accomplishments.

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Air Force Buys Raytheon Datalink Radios for Standoff PGMs

The Air Force has awarded Raytheon a $92.5 million contract to deliver its
situational awareness datalink radios for U.S. Special Operations Command to use
on its standoff precision-guided munitions, the Pentagon announced Aug. 31.

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Russian Navy Conducts Major Maneuvers near Alaska

The Russian navy conducted major war games near Alaska involving dozens of ships
and aircraft, the military said Aug. 28, the biggest such drills in the area
since Soviet times. Russia’s navy chief, Adm. Nikolai Yevmenov, said that more
than 50 warships and about 40 aircraft were taking part in the exercise in the
Bering Sea, which involved multiple practice missile launches.

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Free Priority Mail Express Military Service for Casted Mail Ballots

Effective Sept. 1 through Dec. 8, customers can mail their general elections
"Casted Ballots" back to the United States free using priority mail express
military service. “The Department of Defense, in collaboration with the United
States Postal Service, is again offering this expedited, free service to ensure
ballots from American citizens stationed or living overseas arrive in time for
the upcoming general federal elections,” said Lionel Rivera, U.S. Air Forces
in Europe Air Postal Squadron command postal training manager.

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Pentagon Seeks TurboTax-Like Tool for Artificial Intelligence Purchases

It’s part of a new acquisition model that would explore the potential of
pursuing contracts outside the Federal Acquisition Regulation, mixed with
traditional contracts.

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Industry Says ‘Meh’ to DOD Cislunar Space Push

The possibility of future military activity around the Moon is en vogue in the
national security space community, with a plethora of seminars featuring senior
Space Force, Air Force, and Defense Department officials musing on the likely
need for the US to counter China in deep space.

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One More Thing...
NASA Takes Delivery of GE Jet Engine for X-59

Mark the big one-of-a-kind engine, designed and built just for NASA, as
delivered.

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