Thursday, September 19, 2019

To view the Daily Report in a browser, go to ([link removed])

AMC Looking for Faster Fixes to KC-46 Problems; New Info Warfare Group; Air Superiority Diminishing

—Rachel S. Cohen, Brian Everstine, Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory, and John A. Tirpak
([link removed] 2019/September 19 2019/1000w_q95.jpg)
​A KC-46A Pegasus prepares to land July 28th, 2019, at McConnell AFB, Kan. Air Force photo by SrA. Skyler Combs.

AMC: KC-46 Can’t Deploy for at Least 3-4 Years
Air Mobility Command is pressuring Boeing to speed up its fixes for multiple Category One deficiencies on the KC-46 tanker, especially the aircraft’s remote vision system. “I’m looking at the fact that we’re eight months into accepting our airplanes, and Boeing has not presented a solution that has met all the parameters,” AMC boss Gen. Maryanne Miller told reporters Sept. 18 at AFA’s Air, Space Cyber Conference. “In a couple months, that’s what I’m looking for,” meaning a fix that can meet all the Air Force’s requirements. Read the full story by Brian Everstine and John A. Tirpak ([link removed]).

USAF’s New Info Warfare Group Coming Into Focus
Air Combat Command on Sept. 18 announced that its new organization spearheading information warfare is called 16th Air Force and will tentatively be led by now-25th Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Timothy Haugh, pending his confirmation by the Senate. Haugh is also nominated to receive a promotion to lieutenant general. Sixteenth Air Force is the result of an ongoing merger between 24th Air Force, which manages cyber operations, and 25th Air Force, which handles intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, cryptology, and related fields. It will take on other missions like weather analysis as well. “Can you imagine a world where we’re able to go take some ax in cyberspace, trying to see what their response is, and preposition intelligence tools to be ready to measure that response?” ACC boss Gen. Mike Holmes asked. Read the full story by Rachel S. Cohen. ([link removed])

Esper Warns of Eroding Air Superiority Advantage
Defense Secretary Mark Esper, not even two months into the job as the leader of the Pentagon, made his first major appearance before airmen on Sept. 19 and reminded them the domination the service has enjoyed in the skies is coming to an end. Read the full story by Brian Everstine ([link removed]).


Most USAF Fighters Won’t Meet 80 Percent Directive, but Process Has Lessons Learned
While the bulk of the Air Force’s fighter fleet will not meet the directive to increase its mission capable rate to 80 percent, the increased funding and focus on readiness under the effort has identified issues Air Combat Command can address to improve the health of the fleet. Air Combat Command boss Gen. Mike Holmes said Sept. 18 at AFA’s Air, Space Cyber Conference he is “really happy with the shift made in the Air Force” to emphasize readiness, moving “significant money” during the fiscal 2019 budget. That trend will continue in the fiscal 2020 budget. Read the full story by Brian Everstine. ([link removed])

Wright: USAF Considering PT Test Changes to Safeguard Airmen’s Health
The Air Force is considering spacing out the time between when an airmen’s abdominal circumference is measured and when they complete the other components of the Air Force physical fitness test to lessen the likelihood of them going to potentially lethal lengths to pass, CMSAF Kaleth Wright said Sept. 18. Read the full story by Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory. ([link removed])

Esper Confident Congress Supports Coming DOD Changes
Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sept. 18 he expects Congress will get on board with sweeping changes the Pentagon is planning in future budgets, even if it means lawmakers’ pet projects could be cut. “I think Congress is very anxious for reform,” Esper said at AFA’s Air, Space Cyber Conference. “I think there's broad appreciation for the challenges we face. They are looking for leadership. And I think, for the most part, they will be supportive.” The Defense Department is revamping its investments ([link removed]) to better meet the needs of conflict with advanced adversaries, which requires bigger boosts in long-range weaponry, cyber, electronic warfare, data-sharing networks, and more, while still keeping up with counterterrorism operations in the Middle East. Read the full story by Rachel S. Cohen. ([link removed])
ANG Considering Placing Top Secret-Cleared Support Staff in RPA Squadrons

The Air National Guard is exploring the possibility of placing first sergeants, chaplains, and ANG mental health staffers with top secret clearances in its RPA squadrons so Guard airmen can confide in and seek assistance from mental health and/or emotional support staff without breaking the law, CMSgt. Ronald Anderson, command chief master sergeant for the ANG, told Air Force Magazine in a Sept. 18 interview at AFA’s 2019 Air, Space Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Md., near Washington, D.C. Read the full story by Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory ([link removed])

–––––––––– RADAR SWEEP

Boeing Starts Assembly of First KC-46A Tanker for Japan
Boeing has started assembling the first of four KC-46A tankers the US State Department approved for Japan under a $1.9 billion deal nearly three years ago. UPI ([link removed])

This is the Pentagon’s Plan for Dealing with Toxic Chemical Contamination on Bases
Back in July, Defense Secretary Mark Esper stood up a task force to address cancer-causing chemicals found in base water sources. Now, it has four months to do its research and report back. Military Times ([link removed])

NATO Chiefs Look to Alliance's Future
NATO's military chiefs of defense worked diligently to ensure the alliance is served in deterrence and defense both today and tomorrow, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said. DOD release ([link removed])

Collins Aerospace Signs Enterprise Partnering Agreement With USAF
Collins Aerospace Systems and the US Air Force have signed an enterprise partnering agreement to streamline maintenance, repair and overhaul services. airforce-technology.com ([link removed])

“We Owe Airmen Better” Than Moldy Lackland Dorms, but Situation Improving
The Air Force has finished removing the rampant mold ([link removed]) that was infesting some dormitories at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Air Force Times ([link removed])

Cybercriminals Target Military Online to Set Up Imposter “Romance Scams”
Romance scams are part of a new 200-page report released Tuesday by Vietnam Veterans of America, which has spent the past two years on a study of online trolls and their tendency to target veterans and servicemembers. Stars and Stripes ([link removed]) (subscription required)

Lone 737 MAX Criss-Crossed Canada for Pilot Checks During Grounding
While the world’s Boeing 737 MAX fleet remains grounded after two fatal crashes, a solitary Air Canada plane has been spotted in the skies, shuttling between Quebec and Ontario. Reuters ([link removed])

One More Thing …

Esper Pleads the Fifth on 2019 Army-Air Force Football Game
Defense Secretary Mark Esper might not be afraid to talk about tough issues—such as Pentagon transparency and the US military’s future in space ([link removed])—but there’s one thing he’s not touching with a ten-foot pole: the 2019 Army-Air Force football game. Following brief remarks at AFA’s 2019 Air, Space Cyber Conference—his first major address to an Air Force audience since his confirmation as SECDEF—an audience member asked the Army veteran and former service chief to comment on his former branch’s upcoming on-field face-off with USAF. Watch the moment from Day 3 of AFA’s Air, Space Cyber Conference. ([link removed])


FOLLOW AIR FORCE MAGAZINE ([link removed])

About Us ([link removed])
Contact Us ([link removed])

Advertise With Us ([link removed])
Get the Daily Report ([link removed])
News ([link removed])
Air Force Magazine ([link removed])
Accident Reports ([link removed])
Air Force Association ([link removed])

Air Frame ([link removed])
Editorials ([link removed])
Contributor Guidelines ([link removed])
Join AFA ([link removed])

Reprint Permission ([link removed])
Almanac ([link removed])
Defense Writers Group ([link removed])
CyberPatriot ([link removed])

Hangar Store ([link removed])
Mitchell Institute ([link removed])

Published by the Air Force Association airforcemag.com material is under copyright by the Air Force Association. All rights reserved. The Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va., 22209-1198 To unsubscribe or to change your preferences, please visit options ( [link removed] )