Minuteman III Test Launch Showcases Readiness of U.S. Nuclear Force’s Safe, Effective Deterrent

Nov. 6, 2024

A joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen and Navy aircrew launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with multiple targetable re-entry vehicles from aboard the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) Nov. 5, 2024, at 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

Airmen from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron out of Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, were aboard the U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft to demonstrate the reliability and effectiveness of the ALCS system.

"This Minuteman III test launch exemplified the mission readiness, agility, and professionalism of the personnel at Vandenberg, Global Strike Command, and the U.S. Navy," said Col. Dorian Hatcher, Space Launch Delta 30 deputy commander.

"Every test of this deterrent system at Vandenberg underscores the nations robust capabilities and highlights the indispensable support our Airmen and Guardians provide to ensure national security."

This test launch is part of routine and periodic activities intended to demonstrate that the United States’ nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective to deter 21st century threats and reassure our allies.

Such tests have occurred over 300 times before, and this test is not the result of current world events.

“These tests are demonstrative of what Striker Airmen bring to the fight if called by the president,” said Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command.

“An airborne launch validates the survivability of our ICBMs, which serve as the strategic backstop of our nation’s defense and defense of allies and partners.”

The ICBM's reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command's Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site located within Republic of the Marshall Islands at the Kwajalein Atoll.

Reagan Test Site sensors, including high-fidelity metric and signature radars, as well as optical sensors and telemetry, support the research, development, test and evaluation of America's defense and space programs.

For these tests, RTS team members collect radar, optical and telemetry data in the terminal phase of flight to evaluate system performance.

“RTS is honored to be the nation's only long-range land impact site providing our strategic partners a safe environment and truth in testing for the continued development of the ICBM modernization efforts,” said Army Lt. Col. Casel Rumfelt, RTS Range Director.

“This range and testing facilitate America’s technical advantage on the global stage.

Our team brings decades of experience and a level of professionalism that makes the impossible seem easy in a no-fail environment. I couldn’t be prouder of this incredible team.”

The test launch is a culmination of months of preparation that involve multiple government partners.

The LG-35A Sentinel will replace the Minuteman III ICBM with an initial capability of 2029.

Until full capability is achieved in the mid-2030s, the Air Force is committed to ensuring Minuteman III remains a viable deterrent.

https://www.vandenberg.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3957637/minuteman-iii-test-launch-showcases-readiness-of-us-nuclear-forces-safe-effecti/

CHAPPIE: An innovative advancement in CBRN defense

Nov. 5, 2024

Buckley Space Force Base is home to one of the Defense Department's only two chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicles.

"You spend enough time around him and start to forget he's a QUGV," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dominic Garcia, Installation Office of Emergency Management section chief. Garcia refers to this innovative QUGV, affectionately known as CHAPPIE, representing a significant technological advancement in CBRN defense.

CHAPPIE, one of the only two QUGVs in the DoD repurposed for CBRN field operations, stands out with its extensive list of capabilities and customizations.

These include remote CBRN sensing capabilities using our current inventory of detectors, which distinguishes it from other systems and makes it a significant technological advancement in CBRN defense.

"This QUGV is not only an operational game-changer for CBRN defense but also serves as a proof of concept for technological innovation within the Air and Space Forces," Garcia explained.

"The AFWERX vehicle allows end-users from the force, regardless of rank, to collaborate directly with industry to develop what the multi-capable warfighter needs at the speed of relevance, not 10-15 years later."

AFWERX, an investment program and the Department of the Air Force's innovation arm accelerates agile and affordable capability transitions by teaming innovative technology developers with Airman and Guardian talent.

Garcia's passion for this project dates back six years to his time at Dyess Air Force Base.

"The idea came after a deployment to Syria where we were locating and destroying ISIS chemical weapons while facing novel chemicals," Garcia recalled.

"I thought there had to be a safer and faster way. In 2022, while stationed at Minot, I applied for a Small Business Innovation Research Grant through AFWERX.

I received $1.24 million to develop a remote CBRN sensing capability using our current inventory of detectors. Within 20 months, we reached 90% of our goal, conducting tests at the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and Dugway Proving Ground."

CHAPPIE is more than just a tool for saving lives and improving CBRN efficiency. According to Garcia, it represents a legacy of innovation and a testament to the power of new ideas.

"The QUGV's functionality provides a significant capability to support every mission at every base across the Air and Space Force.

The message ingrained in this project transcends to every Airman and Guardian, emphasizing the importance of innovation."

Garcia's message extends to all enlisted and commissioned Airmen across all branches. He emphasizes,

"Every service member has unique skills, knowledge or background that should be leveraged. Leaders should offer empowering words of support.

Rank does not define intelligence, capability or competency. Many high-potential grassroots innovations and ideas never advance past the first line of supervision.

We need to start recognizing and promoting these innovations to meet current challenges." This recognition of the potential in every service member is what drives the success of this project.

The development of the CBRN QUGV is ongoing, with plans to enhance CHAPPIE's agility, competitiveness and effectiveness in the Great Power Competition.

Future upgrades aim to further improve its mobility, enabling it to navigate more complex environments.

Additionally, advancements in sensor technology and artificial intelligence will allow CHAPPIE to detect and respond to threats with unprecedented accuracy and speed.

These enhancements and tests of effectiveness will allow CHAPPIE to remain at the forefront of CBRN defense, providing unparalleled support to missions and reinforcing the United States' commitment to maintaining an even stronger technological edge in global defense operations.

"It is a refreshing change to how we have traditionally tested and fielded new equipment," said Master Sgt. Jacob Schrader, Installation Office of Emergency Management superintendent.

"We have opened a new world of opportunity by enabling the end users to be creative and use their existing skills to create equipment designed around their needs.

Ultimately, this will help us meet the pacing challenges faster and allow the use of existing technologies to increase our capabilities."

As Buckley Space Force Base continues to innovate and push the boundaries of what is possible, CHAPPIE symbolizes the future of military technology and the ongoing pursuit of excellence within the Air and Space Forces.

https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3956759/chappie-an-innovative-advancement-in-cbrn-defense/

DAF announces 2024 Spark Tank winner

Nov. 6, 2024

A prototype F-16 Fight Falcon cockpit collapsible ladder for agile combat employment and contingency operations emerged as the 2024 Spark Tank winner following presentation and judging at the Pentagon, Oct. 30.

Spark Tank is the flagship competition in which innovators from across the Department of the Air Force pitch their ideas to a panel of top leadership and industry experts in pursuit of sponsorship to realize their idea.

The Spark Tank judging panel included Under Secretary of the Air Force Melissa Dalton; Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Jim Slife; Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Mike Guetlein; Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Coleman with the Space Force Chief Technology and Innovation Office Futures Task Force; and Chief Master Sgt. Courtney Freeman with the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Manpower and Reserve Affairs.

“What a tough set of decisions and just a remarkable opportunity today to be able to engage with our innovators in the Department of the Air Force,” Dalton said.

“So inspirational. Please keep innovating, please keep leading yourselves and encouraging others to lead innovation.”

The program encourages both Airmen and Guardians to find ways to innovate and improve operations around the department.

“If you look at what our competitive advantage is going to be to get after the threat, it’s our allies, it’s our industry, and it’s our people – our people are the ones innovating and bringing forward smart ideas,” Guetlein said.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Nick Atkins, 31st Fighter Wing project lead, was the innovator of the winning idea - a collapsible ladder that can be stored inside an F-16’s map case - allowing commanders the flexibility to dynamically deploy and redeploy the jets to or from austere locations.

This simple solution to one specific task actually has broader benefit to solve “a logistical problem by enabling resilient basing requirements and equipping our F-16s with enhanced readiness to deploy and fight,” Atkins said.

Out of 138 entries, the six innovation proposals were selected to compete as 2024 finalists were:

Flyways Defender: Integrates Flyways Defender’s Artificial Intelligence platform to streamline decisions to detect, assess, and alert threats faster.

F-16 Collapsible ACE Ladder: A prototype collapsible ladder that can be stored inside the aircraft’s unused cockpit map case.

LoadPlan+: An automated digital load plan app that streamlines mission prep and aircraft configuration processes to optimize existing aircrew tablets.

Autonomous Flightline Resupply Vehicle: Aims to use commercial technologies and internal capabilities within Air Force Research Laboratory to build a cost-effective autonomous flightline resupply vehicle for maintainers.

Project Lavoy: The Spark Tank 2024 Fan Favorite award winner pioneers a solution by equipping medics with comprehensive training, supplies and sustainment for field whole-blood transfusion during contingency operations.

Cyber Assess: Simplifies complex gathering data for the authority to operate package using understandable workflows.

https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3957807/daf-announces-2024-spark-tank-winner/

STORM SIGHTING Eerie moment UFOs appear in sky above Spain next to double rainbow – before deadly flash floods hit

Updated: 16:52, 6 Nov 2024

THIS is the moment ominous 'UFOs' were spotted hovering next to a double rainbow in Spain - just before the devastating floods hit.

Ambiguous footage seems to show a cluster of unidentified lights weaving through the brooding sky next to the rare rainbow.

The bizarre moment in Barcelona was filmed just days before the horrific floods that have battered the country.

The clip shows little white specs of light contrasted by the gorgeous rainbow, in what feels like an unsettling image in hindsight.

As the cameraman zooms into the unexplained moment, the bright lights whizz through the clouds.

He can be heard saying: “What the hell are they?

“What the f**k.

“They are f**king UFOs, bro.”

A young child is heard saying “holy s**t” in the background.

The most morbid explanation from the incident has come in the form of extraterrestrial warnings about the impending floods.

One reaction joked: "They are aliens from Galaxy 5383837, and we are all going to die.”

Another quipped: “Now intergalactic tourists are to blame for the weather.”

A third said: “It is common to see lights or spaceships before a disaster.

“It is as if they are carrying out surveillance on us, analysing what happens and how we react to tragedy.”

Whilst reports say that many locals believe the 'UFOs' to be genuine, others have said suggest it could have been drones

Others have suggested it could simply be a flock of birds reflecting light.

One local reasoned: “Because of the way they fly, they’re either birds of angels, although the latter is harder to prove if so.”

This theory was supported by another local, Rita.

Rita assured: "Whenever there are stormy nights over coastal cities, you often see seagulls flying in circles, they shine in the darkness because they’re illuminated from below.

“Apart from that, the double rainbow effect is very beautiful.”

It is yet to be proven what the soaring lights were.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/31545311/ufos-next-to-double-rainbow-before-spain-floods/

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