Two P-8As from VP-5 searching for missing cargo ship El Faro
The U.S. Navy has activated two P-8As, assigned to VP-5, to help the U.S Coast Guard 7th District Command Center search for the missing cargo ship El Faro.
By U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joshua Hammond [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The first aircraft was launched at approximately 10 a.m., from Cecil Field.
Source: Two P-8As from VP-5 searching for missing cargo ship El Faro
AC-130 might have attack Afghan hospital
A deadly air strike on a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan on Oct. 3 might have been caused by a U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunship.
By Ken Hackman (Defense Imagery) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
An anonymous U.S. official said the gunship had been operating in the area, firing at Taliban targets for close air support to ground troops.
The strike killed 19 staff and patients, including three children.
The U.S.-led coalition has dispatched a Brigadier General to Kunduz to investigate the incident.
Source: AC-130 might have attack Afghan hospital
U.S. Forces Japan commander reconnects with Japanese service members who saved his life
Twenty-three years ago, Lt. Gen. John L. Dolan was forced to eject over the Pacific Ocean and a Japanese US-1A flew out from MCAS Iwakuni to save him.
Photo: Cpl. Jessica Quezada
Currently the commander of U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force, Dolan paid a visit to the air station on Sept. 23 to thank the Japanese service members who saved his life.
Source: U.S. Forces Japan commander reconnects with Japanese service members who saved his life
RAND: China could shut down Kadena AFB for 16-43 days with missile attacks
A RAND report found that by 2017, China would have amassed enough missiles to prevent U.S. fighters operating out of Kadena Air Force Base, Japan from helping Taiwan for 16 to 43 days during an attack.
Source: RAND
The think tank recommends dispersing military aircraft to more bases and to disrupt Chinese efforts to gather information on the locations and status of those aircraft.
Effective missile defenses would force China to expand more missiles than required to achieve its aim of destroying American air wings on the ground.
Source: RAND: China could shut down Kadena AFB for 16-43 days with missile attacks
Britain’s Watchkeeper fleet struggling to become fully operational
A joint investigation by the non-profit Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the Guardian found that Britain’s Watchkeeper fleet has been struggling to find the necessary manpower and overcome technical obstacles to become fully operational.
Photo: Andrew Linnett/MOD [OGL], via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Britain’s Watchkeeper fleet struggling to become fully operational
Dutch Safety Board investigation on MH-17 completed, four critical factors would be answered
The Dutch Safety Board announced on Oct. 2 that it has completed its investigation on the loss of MH-17 over Ukraine and a final report will be published in a fortnight.
By Ministerie van Defensie [CC0 or CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
A spokesman for the Board said four critical factors would be answered: the cause of the crash, the issue of flying over conflict areas, why Dutch surviving relatives of the victims had to wait two to four days before receiving confirmation from the Dutch authorities that their loved ones were on board flight MH17 and lastly the question “to what extent the occupants of flight MH17 were consciously (sic) of the crash.”
Source: Dutch Safety Board investigation on MH-17 completed, four critical factors would be answered
U.S. Navy reactivates HM-12
The U.S. Navy has re-established HM-12 to train aircrews flying the MH-53E Sea Dragon on Oct. 1.
Photo: U.S. Navy
The unit was first was commissioned on Apr. 1, 1971 at Naval Air Station Norfolk and was last deactivated on Sept. 30, 1994.
The fleet replacement squadron took five helicopters from HM-14, which previously handled Sea Dragon training.
Source: U.S. Navy reactivates HM-12
F-15Es descend on Barksdale to avoid Hurricane Joaquin
F-15Es and KC-135s from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina started to arrive at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana on Oct. 1 to avoid potential damage from Hurricane Joaquin along the East Coast.
U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey
Source: F-15Es descend on Barksdale to avoid Hurricane Joaquin
First time F-35 released an external weapon
F-35C, CF-2, carried out the jet’s first external weapon release on Sept. 23 over the Atlantic Test Range.
Photo: Andy Wolfe
Four GBU-12 laser guided inert bombs were dropped in the single flight.
Source: First time F-35 released an external weapon
Russia: Tracking the X-37B is a piece of cake
A Russian general told radio RSN that his country’s space monitoring system has no problem tracking the location of the X-37B in real-time.
By United States Air Force [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
“It is so big that if it is to turn left or right, we have already noted its every move,” said Maj. Gen. Anatoly Nestechuk.
Source: Russia: Tracking the X-37B is a piece of cake