US says Rafah attack will threaten ceasefire talks as Biden threatens to cut off more aid to Israel
Associated Press
The United States warned on May 9 that Israel would hand Hamas a strategic victory if it goes ahead with plans for an all-out assault on Rafah, the militants’ last major stronghold in Gaza. The warning was backed up by a new threat from President Joe Biden: He says he will withhold more offensive military aid to Israel if it goes ahead with the operation in the city, which shelters more than 1 million civilians.
Ukraine will strike more Russian oil facilities in an attempt to disrupt military logistics
The New York Times
Ukrainian drones struck two oil storage facilities and refineries across Russia in a 24-hour period, including one deep inside Russian territory, officials from both sides said on May 9, as Kiev mounts a campaign to disrupt and destabilize the country’s military operations. The most important industry.
Opinion: Space Economics 101: Why Refueling Math Doesn’t Work
SpaceNews
“U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman told lawmakers at a recent hearing that the service is struggling with the math of satellite refueling. And we can’t blame him,” wrote Charles Beams, chairman of both York Space Systems and SpiderOak, as well as the SmallSat Alliance.
Air Force seeks $18 billion in new investment to retire 938 ‘legacy’ jets by 2029
within defense
The Air Force wants to harvest $18 billion for new modernization priorities by retiring 938 aircraft — including fighters, bombers, cargo planes, trainers, rotorcraft and more. 2025 and 2029 to fund new capabilities such as unmanned combatants.
US Special Forces Want Greater Access to Missiles, Snipers, Robots
Defense news
Special operators are clamoring for more firepower in their small teams, asking the industry for lighter missiles, long-range sniper rifles and drones with both ground- and air-based weapons.
Former Korean Air 747s are slated to become USAF doomsday planes
war zone
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which won the contract to build the US Air Force’s highly specialized Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft just last month, has purchased five Boeing 747-8s from Korean Air. It seems certain that they will become successors to the Air Force’s aging 747-200-based E-4B Nightwatch “doomsday planes,” although at this point we still don’t know exactly how many new SAOC aircraft there will be. on the square.
The AFSOC Autonomy Effort seeks to connect MQ-9s to drone swarms
Aviation Week
After demonstrating that a single aircraft can control multiple General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) MQ-9, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is trying to demonstrate that Reapers can, in turn, launch smaller drones.
DIU develops new emerging technology portfolio, calls on industry for quantum sensing capabilities
DefenseScoop
The Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Division has created a new portfolio to develop new technologies for military operations, and it’s kicking off that effort by asking industry for quantum sensors that can provide alternative position, navigation and timing (PNT) capabilities.
Florida deputy shot dead seconds after opening apartment door, body camera footage shows
Military.com
A Florida deputy fired six shots, killing Chief Airman Roger Fortson seconds after the plane’s door opened, according to police body camera footage released May 9. The footage shows an unidentified deputy shooting Fortson in the chest as the airman opens his apartment door and appears to be holding a gun at his side.
Air Force closes in on Wedgetail deal with Boeing after Jostle
Violates the defense
The Air Force and Boeing are close to resolving a price dispute that has stalled a deal for the first two E-7 Wedgetail jets, and a final agreement could be reached within weeks, a top Air Force acquisition official said May 8.
The Pentagon is preparing a Build-a-Cloud program for defense agencies
Protection one
The Pentagon’s IT agency wants to make it easier for defense organizations to build their own cloud solutions. So he’s launching a program to demystify the process. The program, called DOD Olympus, will be a ready-to-use kit for defense agencies to seamlessly launch commercial cloud solutions.
A mother speaks out after the Air Force rescued her son from a cruise ship
ABC News
Angela Bridges was on the Carnival Venezia cruise ship with her family, including son Aiden, en route from the Caribbean to New York when she became seriously ill at the hands of the on-board medical team. … The ship was off North Carolina and more than 350 nautical miles from the coast when the critical medical incident occurred. The Air Force’s 920th Rescue Wing, consisting of two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, two HC-130J Combat King II aircraft, and two teams of combat rescue officers and paramedics, flew to the ship’s position to safely remove the patient for transport. to the nearest competent medical center.
