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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
For B-21, Quantity Is Its Most Critical Quality Top Bomber Officer Says
For all the new capabilities the B-21 Raider will bring as an individual aircraft, the U.S. Air Force's top bomber officer says he is most excited about the sheer numbers of those aircraft that are set to enter service in the coming years. The Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities underscored how vital existing B-2 stealth bombers are to U.S. national security, but also the inherent limitations imposed by how few of them were ever built. Air Force Maj. Gen. Jason Armagost touched on the B-21 and related topics during an online talk that the Air & Space Forces Association's Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies hosted today. Armagost is the commander of the Eighth Air Force, to which the Air Force's current B-2, B-1, and B-52 bombers are all assigned, as well as the officer in charge of the Joint-Global Strike Operations Center (J-GSOC) at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. At present, the Air Force plans to acquire at least 100 B-21s, but senior U.S. military officials have been increasingly advocating for a fleet of 145 of the bombers. A single pre-production Raider is now in flight testing, with a second expected to join it soon. At least four other B-21s are in various stages of production, and a number of non-flying airframes are being used to support ongoing test work. The Raider is expected to eventually replace the Air Force's current fleet of 19 B-2 bombers, as well as its more than 40 remaining B-1s. 'So, the B 21, … it's in flight test now, it's a phenomenal capability,' Maj. Gen. Armagost said today. In 'the job prior to this … I was interacting with acquisition, RCO [the Air Force Rapid Capbilities Office], and Northrop Grumman in how we work together to drive the concepts, drive the requirements, drive the fielding and the manufacture, actually, of this airplane, so that it can become something different when we have it in numbers.' 'That's what I'm most excited about,' he continued. 'Sixth-generation stealth brings with it, it brings its own set of pretty amazing capabilities, but what I'm most excited about is the ability to build a campaign force.' In addition to its advanced broadband low-observable (stealthy) characteristics, the B-21 is expected to have an extremely long unrefueled range enabled by a highly efficient airframe optimized for high-altitude flight and advanced engines. This will notably impact the demand for aerial refueling tanker support during operations. As TWZ often points out, the B-21 will really be more than just a bomber with its extensive suite of networking, battle management, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The Raider could act as an aerial controller for uncrewed platforms in the future, too. The B-21 is smaller than the existing B-2, and will carry less ordnance per sortie as a result. The Raider is also not exquisite in all ways, with the design understood to be a balance between proven technology, as well as evolutionary and revolutionary developments, to create a capable platform that is affordable and sustainable. Keeping to schedule and cost targets has been a central focus of the program from the beginning. 'If we get our numerical force build-out correct, which is always going to be a thing we have to be concerned about, we can build a campaign tempo. We can build diversity of munitions and options for attack. We can build out a range of capabilities that not only hold one theater at risk in conflict, but can be a ready force available if there's … [other] things that are taking place around the globe,' he explained. 'I think it really does involve a diverse set of capabilities that are able to access contested or denied space together in different ways. And actually, the different ways piece is very important, and it requires adversaries to rethink their investments or be punished for the investments they have made, and how they try and deny airspace or deny our access to an airspace.' As part of this discussion, Armagost briefly highlighted the forthcoming F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter as another important component of that future 'campaign force.' The B-21 is itself just one part of a larger Long-Range Strike (LRS) family of systems, details about which remain heavily classified, as you can learn more about here. The best known other element of the LRS ecosystem is the still-in-development nuclear-armed and stealthy Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) cruise missile. Armagost also used Operation Midnight Hammer as a real-world metric for the scale and scope of future missions he is envisioning. 'We got a lot of attention, I would say, for seven [B-2] aircraft, 14 aviators, flying a global power mission for hours and hours, right? But what goes past that is that there were 125 aircraft involved in that [Operation Midnight Hammer]. There was a global push to really make that happen in a way that showed we can access in ways that are surprising and interesting,' he said. 'All of that tracks into that moment where that [deeply buried hardened targets like Iran's nuclear facilities] can be now held at risk with assurance, with real predictability. And so it does go beyond that kind of, that flash moment of 14 aviators and seven airplanes, in that case, back to the system that is built that makes that possible. It really does involve a system of systems, and we can't assume that that is going to be a given.' To reiterate, the Air Force has 19 B-2s, so seven of them represent just over a third of the entire fleet. That number also doesn't include the B-2s that flew out in the Pacific as part of an elaborate deception effort to support the operation against Iran, or spares set aside in case any of the bombers had to abort after launch. In general, the B-2 fleet is also notoriously maintenance-intensive, and not all of them are ever available for operational taskings at any one time. TWZ's Tyler Rogoway previously highlighted how almost the entire available B-2 force was committed to Operation Midnight Hammer. Nearly the entire available B-2 fleet was used in this gambit, if you factor in the decoys in the Pacific (were actually there?). A portion of the tiny fleet is down for maintenance or in depot at any given time, although they had time to ready what they could. One test jet etc. — Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) June 22, 2025 During the talk today, Armagost further highlighted the small size of the B-2 fleet and acknowledged questions about the Air Force's current ability to execute missions like Midnight Hammer at any appreciable tempo, as well as the potential risks this raises, especially when it comes to nuclear deterrence. In addition to the unique conventional strike capability the B-2 offers, especially when paired with 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker busters, which were first employed operationally in the strikes on Iran, the bombers are a key component of America's nuclear arsenal. 'It's somewhat miraculous to me, actually, that we even have 19 B-2s at this point, because, you think about when that airplane was fielded, and in the [post-Cold War] 'peace dividend' that could have gone to zero very easily,' he said. 'The original plan was for 132 B-2s to ultimately replace the B-52. Clearly, that didn't happen, and the fact that we have 19 was again, somewhat of a minor miracle.' It should be noted here that the Air Force originally expected to buy 165 aircraft as part of the Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) program, which led to the B-2, before that number shrank first to 132, and then down to just 21. The current fleet of 19 reflects the total loss of two of the bombers in separate mishaps in 2008 and 2022. 'My position as [head of] the numbered Air Force for bombers, right, is, I can never assume that any single strike is going to be enough,' Armagost continued. 'Many might imagine we would get to inhale a little bit on June 23 [after Operation Midnight Hammer], and that was not the case, right? We had to be ready for what was the next question to be asked, or what was the next problem to be confronted.' 'In this specific case, it resulted in a ceasefire about 30 hours after the strike,' he noted. 'You can't count on that, though.' In particular, sustaining B-2 combat operations in the Pacific during any future high-end fight with China would be very challenging. A much larger fleet of B-21s will allow for great overall flexibility, including for supporting a more persistent forward presence, if needed, as well as less predictability. Expected greater reliability and lower maintenance and sustainment demands will also help contribute to a higher operational tempo for the Raider. Speaking more broadly, and in the context of potentially being called upon to execute nuclear strikes, 'you have to be able to operate on the worst day that the world has ever seen, not even just our nation has ever seen, but the worst day the world has ever seen,' the Eighth Air Force Command explained. 'We have to be able to operate, because if we can't, then that calls into question our very ability to deter.' Armagost took this opportunity to also underscore his view of the importance of 'organic kill chains,' which is to say his command's ability to execute missions in a highly independent manner if required, especially due to any loss of connections with various critical networks. 'On the worst day ever, where there's been attacks in space or [an] electromagnetic pulse, where communications or GPS, for example, are denied, it is not optional for a nuclear-capable bomber to get to a target and hold it at risk. So you have to have, inherent to the systems on the airplane, the ability to know where you are, know kind of your status, and your ability to command and control and communicate,' he said. 'Any resilience you gain from the long-range kill chain or long-range nuclear command and control communications is a bonus, and it actually increases your ability to deter.' As it stands now, the Air Force's goal is for the B-21 to begin entering operational service before the end of the decade. Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota is set to be the first operational Raider base, with the new bombers replacing B-1s stationed there now. At least a portion of the pre-production B-21 test fleet could form part of this initial operational force. The operational B-2 fleet also includes a number of aircraft originally built as test jets. In the meantime, the Air Force's top office in charge of the service's bomber fleets is already eager to begin reaping the benefits that the Raider fleet will bring, including just by virtue of its overall size. Contact the author: joe@
Bloomberg
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Retired Lt. Gen. Deptula on Israel, Iran & Trump
Retired Air Force Lieutenant General David Deptula - Dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Power Studies - discusses the escalation between Israel and Iran and how President Trump might respond. He speaks with Julie Fine and Joe Mathieu on the late edition of Bloomberg's "Balance of Power." (Source: Bloomberg)
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Space Force weighs options for boosting launch resiliency, capacity
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways The Space Force is eyeing options to increase its launch capacity and resiliency as demand for U.S. national security and commercial launch continue to strain existing launch infrastructure. Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, who serves as program executive officer for assured access to space and oversees the service's launch range operations, said this week the service is exploring a range of leads for increasing launch access — from new spaceports to international partnerships to newer models like sea-based launch. At the same time, it's also investing in overburdened insfrastructure at its current sites. The Space Force operates two of the busiest spaceports in the world at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The ranges have seen a steady, annual 30% increase in launch business for several years, Panzenhagen said during a May 6 Mitchell Institute event, conducting 144 missions in 2024 — 93 of those from Cape Canaveral. The service is 'not in dire straits,' when it comes to launch capacity, she said, but its infrastructure is supporting a higher mission cadence than any other spaceport in the world — most of that driven by commercial launch business. 'Where we're seeing the need for added capacity is to be able to continue to support those commercial payloads,' Panzenhagen said. 'What we need for the national security space launch, what we're always looking for, is that added resiliency.' To ensure access to more reliable and frequent launch opportunities for both military and commercial missions, the Space Force is investing nearly $1.4 billion through 2028 to improve its existing infrastructure. The program, called Spaceport of the Future Infrastructure, aims to reduce disruption on the service's ranges and sets a goal of conducting at least one launch every day. It also aims to improve the resiliency of infrastructure to things like extreme weather and interference, and reduce the impact an increased launch pace has on personnel and operations. To get after those goals, Panzenhagen said, her team has projects underway to widen roads to accommodate larger rockets, improve airfields, secure communication lines and increase power redundancy. The service is also in talks with international and commercial partners about expanding access to other spaceports or ways of launching. While Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg are the Space Force's primary launch sites, the service has also conducted launches from other domestic sites, including the Pacific Spaceport Complex in Alaska and NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. But the service is also in talks with other countries about taking advantage of their launch infrastructure. Panzenhagen pointed to Japan, New Zealand and France as potential partners in this effort — which she described as still preliminary. She also noted that Norway, the United Kingdom and Sweden have nascent launch capabilities that could be designed with built-in interoperability that makes it easier for international allies to leverage in the future. 'We're at the very early stages of that, but I'm really excited about building those international partnerships,' she said. Panzenhagen said she's also met with several companies that are developing sea-based launch capabilities. While past attempts at a viable sea-launch system have hit technical and financial snags, China has seen some success with that modality. The Space Force is studying options offered by firms like The Spaceport Company, which is building mobile, offshore launch sites. Panzenhagen said these firms still need to prove their business case, but sea-based launch potentially could help relieve congestion at ranges and give the military access to more orbital locations. Among the key considerations for the service are funding — whether companies would rely on government contracts or see opportunities for private investment — and the logistics of transporting a rocket and any associated commodities to a barge. 'It's something that we're interested in seeing what the possibilities are,' Panzenhagen said.
News.com.au
05-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
‘Tighten your seatbelts': International students celebrate Albo victory
International students have taken to social media to celebrate Anthony Albanese's re-election. 'It's big, big news for all international students, which means more chances, more work rights, better support are on the way,' one man said in a viral clip shared on X. 'So if you are planning to stay or study in Australia, this is your moment, OK? Just tighten your seatbelts and consider Australia for your future. Congratulations.' Another TikTok user hailed it as a 'big sigh of relief for international students'. 'No more $5000 international student visa fees, no more international student visa cut each year, no more international student visa issues,' he said. 'It's great news for everybody.' Other clips showed international students doing celebratory TikTok dances. 'As an international student this is a happy moment for us,' one woman captioned her video. Migration agents also welcomed Mr Albanese's win. 'It is obviously good news in and around Australia and so far around the world too,' one said. 'Hope this good news brings good fortune for Nepalese international students who are in Australia and who are willing to apply Australia.' Another said 'it will be good news for students and immigrants but not today or maybe in three months but after some time, maybe after six months or one year'. 'So congratulations Labor and students as well,' he said. Immigration became a heated topic during the election, with particular focus on international students who account for the bulk of temporary visa holders. A record 197,000 international students arrived in February alone. Today Australia receives roughly one in 10 of the world's estimated 6.4 million international students. Last year a record 853,045 international students studied in Australia — equivalent to about 3 per cent of the population. China was the top source (189,282), followed by India (139,038) and Nepal (65,815). Pathways to residency available for students who complete courses in occupations on skilled migration lists have driven much of the trend over the past two decades, particularly in the vocational sector. In 2023, cookery was by far the most popular course for international students with 45,250 enrolments. Business management was the second most popular vocational course with 39,127 enrolments, and the top choice for university students with 22,069 enrolments. Peter Dutton went into the election vowing large cuts to international student numbers to ease pressure on the housing market. The opposition leader pledged to cut total numbers by 80,000, with a cap of 240,000 overseas student commencements each year. Public universities would have been limited to 115,000, with 125,000 places available for the vocational, private university and non-university higher education sectors under Mr Dutton's plan. The move would have cost the large universities $2.9 billion in lost revenue, according to analysis by the Mitchell Institute. Labor last year tried legislating international student caps, but was defeated by the Coalition and the Greens. The government then moved to plan B by slowing down visa processing, amounting to a de facto cap that has already led to massive budget and staff cuts at universities including ANU, UTS and Western Sydney University.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The US Space Force needs a 'warfighting ethos' and increased funding to compete with China in space: report
The US Space Force needs a "warfighting ethos" to compete with China in space, a new report has said. Failure to adapt could threaten the force's long-term chances of success in the space domain, it said. The Space Force also lacks a clearly defined role and resources, the authors said. The US Space Force needs a change in mindset and increased funding to compete with China in the space domain, two retired US colonels argued in a new report for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. The report, which was released earlier this week, summarizes the findings and recommendations from a two-day workshop held in October at the Mitchell Institute's Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence. The event brought together 55 space experts to examine the Space Force Chief of Space Operations' theory of success — called "Competitive Endurance" — against a set of potential crises over the next 25 years, including the Russian deployment of a nuclear antisatellite weapon and an attempted Chinese space blockade. The workshop found that the role of the Space Force was not well understood by many Americans and that it lacked resources and a "warfighting ethos," which the authors of the new report said threatened its long-term chances of success against China in the space domain. "Systemic issues exist within the Space Force and Department of Defense that threaten the success of the Space Force in a long-term competition with China," Charles Galbreath, a retired US Space Force colonel, and Jennifer Reeves, a retired US Air Force colonel, wrote. "Chief among these are: inadequate authorities and resources, a lack of clearly defined and understood roles and missions, and the need for increased warfighting ethos." Drawing on the workshop's findings, the authors, both senior fellows at the Mitchell Institute, called on Congress to increase funding to the USSF and loosen policy restrictions to allow the deployment of offensive and defensive weapons, which they said would enable the force to "create a stronger posture, capable of deterring hostile actions and conflict." They also urged the force to develop educational and training programs that aimed to "foster an assertive, warfighting culture," adding that Space Force members — known as Guardians — "must see themselves as warfighters and project a war-winning ethos." While Galbreath and Reeves praised the "three tenets of Competitive Endurance" — avoiding operational surprise, denying first-mover advantage, and undertaking responsible counter-space campaigning — they said the theory did not "normalize space as a warfighting domain" or allow Guardians to "pursue victory and space superiority," which they said made it difficult for the public and Congress to grasp its military importance. "If this loophole is not addressed, the Space Force and U.S. Space Command could find itself in a death spiral of waning support and funding, ultimately precluding the fielding of capabilities and conducting of operations necessary to secure U.S. interests in space," they added. A Space Force spokesperson told Business Insider that "as China and Russia accelerate the development of counter-space capabilities, the need for a well-resourced Space Force has never been more critical." "Our Guardians remain committed to ensuring space superiority while safeguarding the long-term stability and sustainability of the domain," they said. Maj. Gen. Timothy Sejba, commander of Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM), said in 2023 that a warfighting mindset was vital to the USSF's work. Speaking to attendees at the Air & Space Forces Association's 2023 Air, Space & Cyber Conference, Sejba, then Brigadier General, said that STARCOM's mission was to instill the warfighting mindset in every Space Force recruit. "Even though the Space Force is only four years old, we've built the warfighting mindset for almost 40 years," he said, adding that he thought it was "critical" for the force to train "like we potentially have to fight in the future." "I think that exists in other domains and other services, but it's one that we just haven't necessarily had to put into place for space in the past," he added. Officials have long warned of growing international threats facing the US in the space domain. In an interview with Politico in October, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, the Chief of Space Operations, said China was developing counter-space capabilities at a "mind-boggling" pace and was of particular concern for the US. John Plumb, a former assistant secretary of defense for space policy, also warned in 2023 of the increasing quantity and quality of global counter-space threats. Plumb pointed to China fielding ground-based counter-space weapons and Russia developing its own systems designed at "degrading and denying US space-based services." "Our competitors have watched us, they have learned from us, they've stolen from us, and they have developed capabilities to hold us at risk. But they are not ready for us. They're not ready for us today," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider
