Saturday, April 27, 2024
Key Issues Optical clocks Prototype funding SPAFORGEN
Courtney Albon was senior editor for aviation and space at Inside Defense until December 2021. She covered the Air Force since 2012, reporting largely on space programs and fighter aircraft acquisition, development and budget from inside Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, and from military installations around the United States. Courtney previously worked as a general assignment reporter at The Ashland Times-Gazette in Ashland, OH, covering education and local government. She graduated from American University in 2008, where she studied journalism and sociology.
As an investigation continues into the cause of an engine malfunction during an October Delta IV launch, the head of Air Force Space Command said this week the service has pinpointed the problem as a fuel leak in the vehicle's combustion chamber.
The Air Force secretary told reporters today that the service will likely stick to its plan to initiate divestment of all of its C-27J aircraft in fiscal year 2013.
Lockheed Martin executives estimate that the consolidation of the company's F-16 and F-22 programs will increase the efficiency of both programs by a minimum of 10 percent, leading to greater collaboration and innovation among its fighter platforms.
The Missile Defense Agency last week issued new information about its search for industry expertise on the development of additional satellites for its space-based missile tracking system and how industry competitors and a five-laboratory team will work together to develop them.
The Air Force's training command is looking to learn from industry about the capabilities and efficiencies associated with using very light jets in training scenarios.
The Air Force on Monday awarded a $900 million contract to three companies for its Rocket Systems Launch Program.
Discussions at a recent Air Force cyber summit could have an impact on the fiscal year 2014 program objective memorandum, according to a senior service official.
As the Army works to certify a new, more comprehensive variant of the Hellfire missile for use on its rotor-wing aircraft, the service is discussing with Air Force officials their future procurement plans for the missile.
As Lockheed Martin begins production on the fifth and sixth geosynchronous Earth orbit satellites in the Space Based Infrared System constellation, the company and the Air Force are learning from past experience and are positioned for a cheaper, more efficient production process, according to a company official.
The Air Force recently partnered with Canada to test and demonstrate an aviation biofuel blend on the Canadian air force's C-130s.
Lockheed Martin will issue WARN Act notices to employees impacted by sequestration should the measure take effect in the new year, the company's chief executive officer said today.
The Air Force and Lockheed Martin recently completed readiness reviews for upcoming fatigue testing on one of the service's most advanced F-16 variants with an expectation that testing will commence in the next two months, according to a company official.
The Air Force is continuing its efforts to mitigate the impact of volatile fuel prices by reducing flying hours and pursuing more energy-efficient operations, according to the service's energy chief.
The Defense Department has awarded a $394 million contract to General Electric Aviation for its Adaptive Engine Technology Development program, DOD announced late Friday.
Testing of a synthetic fuel blend is on schedule to be completed in mid-September and certified soon after, according to Air Force officials, providing the service another alternative for fueling its aircraft.