Air Force Magazine
Daily Report for Dec. 17, 2020

View in your Web Browser: [link removed]
Edited by Amy McCullough with Rachel S. Cohen, Brian W. Everstine and John A. Tirpak

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U-2 Flies with Artificial Intelligence as Its Co-Pilot
By Brian W. Everstine

One of the Air Force’s oldest planes flew a high-tech first Dec. 15, becoming
the first military aircraft to fly with artificial intelligence as its copilot.
A U-2 from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., flew with an AI algorithm, named ARTUµ
in a reference to the droid that serves as a copilot in the Star Wars film
franchise, that controlled the Dragon Lady’s sensors and tactical navigation
during a local training sortie. The algorithm, developed by Air Combat
Command’s U-2 Federal Laboratory, took over tasks normally handled by the
pilot, in turn letting the flier focus on the flying. “ARTUµ’s
groundbreaking flight culminates our three-year journey to becoming a digital
force,” said Will Roper, the Air Force’s assistant secretary of acquisition,
in a release. “Putting AI safely in command of a U.S. military system for the
first time ushers in a new age of human-machine teaming and algorithmic
competition. Failing to realize AI’s full potential will mean ceding decision
advantage to our adversaries.”

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skyborg Drone Translates Between F-35 and F-22 in Test
By John A. Tirpak

A XQ-58 Valkyrie drone payload translated the incompatible signals of stealthy
F-22 and F-35 fighters in a Dec. 9 test, enabling the aircraft to talk together
and pass combat information between them. Air Force Chief Architect Preston
Dunlap said the test shouldn't be viewed as defining a mission for the Valkyrie,
but that the communications payload was simply one of a number of modular
mission payloads such aircraft will be able to carry.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Top Military Space Official Calls Out Russian Anti-Satellite Missile Test
By Rachel S. Cohen

U.S. Space Command said Dec. 16 that Russia has again tested a direct-ascent
anti-satellite missile in a violation of space security norms. “Russia
publicly claims it is working to prevent the transformation of outer space into
a battlefield, yet at the same time Moscow continues to weaponize space by
developing and fielding on-orbit and ground-based capabilities that seek to
exploit U.S. reliance on space-based systems,” said SPACECOM boss Gen. James
H. Dickinson. “Russia’s persistent testing of these systems demonstrates
threats to U.S. and allied space systems are rapidly advancing.” The command
did not answer when the test took place or what it entailed.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Force Wins First Trans-Atlantic Esports Competition
By Amy McCullough

The U.S. Space Force took home the win in its first CODE Bowl appearance,
beating out seven other teams from the United States and United Kingdom in the
“Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War” tournament. The Space Force Team—made
up of Tech Sgts. Maurice Moyer and Josh Wilson and Senior Airmen Brandon
Cheatham and Brayden Belford, all from the Colorado-based Space Operations
Command—beat out 200 teams from the Department of the Air Force in November
for the coveted spot in the tournament. They then went on to beat all the other
military services in the CODE Bowl, taking out the Royal Air Force in the final
match.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Radar Sweep

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Force in Europe Seeks Defense Against Chinese Drones and Russian Cruise Missiles

The U.S. Air Force wants help defending military bases in Europe from
hypothetical attacks by Chinese drones and Russian cruise missiles, and it's
willing to pay close to $1 billion to get it. The service recently put out a
$925 million contract notice that calls for bidders to come up with an “Air
Base Air Defense” plan for U.S. Air Forces in Europe—Air Forces Africa.

[link removed]
(Subscription Required)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

White House Releases Space Nuclear Power Strategy

The White House released a new space policy directive Dec. 16 intended to serve
as a strategic roadmap for the development of space nuclear power and propulsion
technologies. Space Policy Directive (SPD) 6, titled “National Strategy for
Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion,” discusses responsibilities and areas of
cooperation among federal government agencies in the development of capabilities
ranging from surface nuclear power systems to nuclear thermal propulsion,
collectively known as space nuclear power and propulsion (SNPP).

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hack May Have Exposed Deep US Secrets; Damage Yet Unknown

Some of America’s most deeply held secrets may have been stolen in a
disciplined, monthslong operation being blamed on elite Russian government
hackers. The possibilities of what might have been purloined are mind-boggling.
Could hackers have obtained nuclear secrets? COVID-19 vaccine data? Blueprints
for next-generation weapons systems? It will take weeks, maybe years in some
cases, for digital sleuths combing through U.S. government and private industry
networks to get the answers.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

US Supreme Court Ruling Reverses Military Statute of Limitations on Rape Cases

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously overruled the military’s top appeals
court, which had put a five-year statute of limitations on rape cases that
occurred between 1986 and 2006.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Free 3-Year Memberships!

The Air Force Association offers more than $190,000 annually in scholarships,
program, grants, and educator awards. AFA is a top supporter of aerospace
education. Join today to be a part of the force behind the Air and Space Forces.
Airmen and Space Professionals—Active, Guard, Reserve, and civilian—are
eligible for free 3-year memberships with AFA!

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report: Japan's Potential Contributions in an East China Sea Contingency

In the Indo-Pacific region, the alliance the United States has with Japan is
arguably its most important. If a high-end contingency erupts in the East China
Sea and the United States becomes engaged in major conventional combat
operations with China, what roles can and might Japan play? In this RAND report,
Jeffrey W. Hornung assesses the strengths and limitations of Japan's
Self-Defense Forces (SDF), as well as legal issues pertaining to the SDF use of
force and U.S. base access in a contingency for combat operations that may not
be directly tied to the defense of Japan.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pandemic Prompts Scaled Back Christmas Tradition in Alaska

This year’s edition of Operation Santa Claus didn’t have the pomp and
grandeur of previous incarnations, but the mission of delivering gifts here and
two other largely Alaska Native villages was completed with COVID-19 safety
precautions in place. “For 65 years we have not missed a beat,” said Chief
Master Sgt. Winfield Hinkley, Jr., command senior enlisted leader of the Alaska
National Guard. “And I will tell you, COVID is rough,” he said, “but it
will not stop us from carrying out this tradition. It is an honor to do it.”

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One More Thing...
Here Is What The Air Force's New Robot Dogs Are Actually Capable Of

While the idea of robotic dogs patrolling a major Air Force installation seems
like a science fiction dream come true, it hasn't been exactly clear how these
mechanized hounds would be put to use. To help us understand their real
capabilities and why the U.S. military is interested in them, The War Zone spoke
with Jiren Parikh, CEO and founder of Ghost Robotics, the robots’ designer and
manufacturer.

[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Advertisement ]
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- Daily Report: [link removed]
- Contact Us: [link removed]
- Advertise With Us: [link removed]
- Purchase/Reprint: [link removed]

- Air Force Association: [link removed]
- Join AFA: [link removed]

- AF Mag on Facebook: [link removed]
- AF Mag on Twitter: [link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Published by the Air Force Association

All airforcemag.com material is under copyright of
the Air Force Association. All rights reserved.

The Air Force Association
1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA
22209-1198

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe or change your preferences, please visit the link below:
[link removed]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------