News
One month in, Iraq still faces grueling urban combat in Mosul –
Layers of hastily erected barricades built from rubble and twisted metal trace Mosul’s eastern front line where Iraqi forces and Islamic State group fighters are facing off in the dense neighborhoods and narrow alleyways of the country’s second largest city.
Business
Embraer Responds to New Zealand RFI for airlift, surveillance aircraft –
Embraer has responded to a recent New Zealand request for information for a Future Air Mobility Capability, with an offer for five KC-390 multi-mission transport aircraft.
Kuwait, Qatar deals move forward, likely putting Boeing fighter jet production into the 2020s –
The State Department approved two potential high-profile fighter jet sales of up to 40 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to Kuwait and 72 F-15QA planes to Qatar.
Brazilian Air Force to begin major restructuring –
The Brazilian Air Force will start fully implementing an ambitious restructuring plan beginning in December, the commander of the service General Nivaldo Luiz Rossato told IHS Jane’s in Brasília.
Officials announce missile cooperation between U.K., France –
Government officials from Britain and France have agreed to cooperate further on missile defense development.
Defense
John McCain says ‘idiots’ are behind the decision to delay military spending bill –
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain blasted congressional leaders as “idiots” for their decision to pursue a short-term budget plan instead of yearlong appropriations bills, saying the move will harm national security.
This poll of U.S. military personnel suggests 1 in 4 troops is worried about life under Donald Trump –
Despite overwhelming support for President-elect Donald Trump among active-duty troops, one in four service members worries he may issue orders that violate military rules or traditions, according to a new Military Times/Institute for Military and Veterans Families Poll.
Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office takes center stage –
In one of his final acts as Secretary of Defense, Ashton Carter is implementing plans to integrate the Strategic Capabilities Office permanently into the Pentagon bureaucracy. Earlier this week, Carter signed a memo that would turn the fledgling office into a permanent structure.
Army Secretary to Trump: Don’t rush to grow force –
Amid calls for adding more soldiers to the Army’s ranks, the service’s top official cautioned an incoming Trump administration to avoid judging the service purely by its size.
This strike group made China nervous — even without an aircraft carrier –
The three-destroyer pack that set China on edge in the contested South China Sea are back from their Western Pacific deployment.
Navy identifies mystery plane over Denver; Its mission still a secret –
A plane shrouded in mystery captured the attention of thousands on Wednesday. Nobody knew why a high-altitude plane circled the City of Denver for hours. Now the Navy has some answers.
F-16s to move to Holloman AFB, according to New Mexico members of Congress –
Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation say the U.S. Air Force has made an interim decision to move two F-16 training squadrons to Holloman Air Force Base from Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
U.S. Air Force to study future command-and-control requirements –
The U.S. Air Force is to shortly begin work on a study to assess its command-and-control capability requirements out to 2030 and beyond, an official said Nov. 16.
Air Force: Engine failure caused F-16 crash in Afghanistan –
An F-16CM Fighting Falcon crashed in Afghanistan March 29 after at least one turbine blade failed in its engine, according to an accident report released Nov. 16.
Air Force selects Holloman for F-16 pilot training mission –
To combat the ongoing shortage of fighter pilots, the Air Force will stand up two interim F-16 pilot training squadrons at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., service officials announced Nov. 17.
Veterans
CFC funds help boost pets-for-veterans program –
Donations to the Combined Federal Campaign make a big difference to charities both large and small, and to their beneficiaries — both two- and four-legged.
Three voices: Tracking military, veteran student success in higher education –
Several new government websites now report on college student outcomes by institution, including sites specific to the Post-9/11 GI Bill and military tuition assistance. Higher education officials who serve military students fear that some information being reported could reflect poorly on the GI Bill in particular, making it likelier to be reduced, or eliminated, down the road.
Advocates want more veterans on Congress’ policy staff –
The number of veterans in Congress will increase slightly next year, but the number of veterans working as congressional staff has remained alarmingly low in recent years, according to new findings from one advocacy group.
Space
New super Earth is discovered nearby –
The exoplanet was spotted by the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias and the University of La Laguna in the Canary Islands.
Two Chinese astronauts return from the nation’s longest manned space mission –
China’s Shenzhou-11 space capsule landed safely in northern Mongolia today with two astronauts aboard.
The spacesuit we could wear on Mars –
A new spacesuit developed by Dutch company Mars One will protect users from cosmic radiation, extreme temperatures and blinding dust storms.