Friday, May 3, 2024
Key Issues Budget 'parity' Summer CUAS demo EW in Ukraine
The Missile Defense Agency is expected soon to announce plans to restructure the Space Based Infrared System Low program and consolidate competitors working on the space-based missile tracking system under TRW's leadership, according to industry and defense officials.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has submitted his plan for a Northern Command focused on homeland security to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and defense sources suggest Air Force Gen. Ed Eberhart, the top officer at NORAD, is the principal candidate to lead the new organization.
The Pentagon has delayed the development of a second engine for the massive, multinational F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, sparking concern among lawmakers and some in industry who feel two propulsion sources are needed to keep costs down and ensure the fleet can operate if one engine encounters problems.
Pentagon acquisition czar Pete Aldridge yesterday approved low-rate initial production of 17 Air Force Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles and a modified spiral development program for the high-altitude intelligence collector, according to an internal Defense Department directive.
A congressionally mandated commission assessing the U.S. aerospace industry has suggested the president overhaul the current export control policy limiting export of domestic aerospace technology abroad.
Congressional auditors say in a recently completed report that the Air Force is not fully investing in preplanned improvement efforts that promise to save billions for its F/A-22 fighter program, which has encountered more than $18 billion of cost growth to its production program alone in the past six years.
The Air Force's fourth Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance vehicle began flying Friday after an extended stand down following a costly December 2001 crash, according to service and industry officials.
Air Force Secretary James Roche and Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper announced today the service is establishing a new deputy chief of staff for warfare integration to ensure all service efforts fold into an interoperable command and control and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance network.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has signed an order to deploy the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, according to Pentagon sources.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper hinted today that the military's burgeoning fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles could be used -- and, in some cases, tested -- during the air war over Afghanistan.
Pentagon acquisition czar Pete Aldridge has issued a memo to defense contractors asking for "discretion" in dealing with the media as the U.S. and allied war on terrorism kicks into high gear.
Air Force Secretary James Roche this week asked Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to push for the addition of nearly $200 million to the fiscal year 2002 budget request for new C-17 strategic airlifters, Inside the Air Force has learned.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld informed senior military leaders this week that the fiscal year 2003 budget and program reviews will be conducted concurrently, a break with tradition he says will be followed in future budget cycles as well, sources tell InsideDefense.com.
The Air Force's space operations and integration director, Brig. Gen. Michael Hamel, has been approved for a second star by the Senate after a month-long controversy stemming from a hold placed on his promotion by Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH).
LE BOURGET, FRANCE -- Reacting to a House committee's decision to cut the Pentagon's request for supplemental Global Hawk funding and demand a sensor fly-off, a program official said this week that the Air Force should be provided additional funding for the demonstration.
LE BOURGET, FRANCE -- Lockheed Martin officials are designing a concept aircraft called the U-X to penetrate deep into hostile territory and provide the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance necessary to assure U.S. access to any area.
LE BOURGET, FRANCE -- The Supreme Allied Commander Europe took issue last week with press coverage of recent meetings between President Bush and other NATO leaders, saying the "press wasn't in the meetings" and that the leaders actually made progress on several issues discussed.
The Defense Department's plan to finalize its fiscal year 2002 budget request this week has hit a snag as debate over details continues, according to Pentagon sources.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Ryan scrapped plans to conduct a scheduled four-star meeting today on internal service issues, in order to participate in Quadrennial Defense Review discussions with other top Pentagon officials and the commanders-in-chief, according to Air Force officials.
The Air Force has picked Boeing to receive contracts worth nearly $1.5 billion to overhaul the C-130's avionics systems, the Defense Department announced today.