Defense Watch: B-1s Grounded, Aerojet Deal, India ASAT Test

摘要

Japan Stands Up First F-35 Operational Unit. The Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) has officially stood up its first operational F-35A fighter squadron, dubbed the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, the F-35 Joint Program Office said Friday. The F-35 replaces Japan’s F-4EJ Kai fighter aircraft. “The F-35As of the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron will serve as an important addition to the security and stability of the region,” Vice Adm. Mat Winter, F-35 Program Executive Officer, said in a press release. “The JPO is proud of the accomplishments of the JASDF as they transit from this stand-up to their normal operating tempo, and we look forward to further supporting the Japan F-35 Program as they continue to operate the F-35 for many years to come.” B-1 Grounded. Air Force Global Strike Command Commander Gen. Timothy Ray on Thursday ordered a safety stand-down of the B-1B Lancer fleet, citing issues with the rigging of the drogue chute that were identified during a routine inspection. “As a precautionary measure, the commander directed a holistic inspection of the entire egress system,” the command said in a release. “As these inspections are completed and any issues are resolved, aircraft will return to flight.” The drogue chute’s primary function is to right the ejection seat when it leaves the aircraft. This is the second time the Air Force has grounded its B-1 fleet for ejection seat issues in less than a year, and were initially grounded from June 7-19 2018. HASC on Space Force. HASC Strategic Forces Chair and pro-Space Force congressman Rep. Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.) made it clear in a Tuesday hearing that while he supported the move to create a new Space Force under the Air Force, Congress reserved the right to make changes to the Trump administration’s proposed legislation. “I am assuming the president’s budget proposal is not written in stone,” he said to Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan during the hearing, adding that the House would identify and remove any “poison pills” they may find in the proposal. HASC Chair Adam Smith (D-Wash.) has previously expressed his intent to rewrite the Space Force proposal due to the amount of Pentagon brass positions that would be created under the current plan.