Sunday, April 28, 2024
Key Issues Optical clocks Prototype funding SPAFORGEN
Sara Sirota was an associate editor for Inside the Air Force until April 2021. Previously, she reported for The Hill and The Cazenovia Republican. She has a master's degree in security studies from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a bachelor's degree in political science from Colgate University.
Northrop Grumman has submitted its bid to develop the nation's next intercontinental ballistic missile system, a key nuclear deterrent program the Air Force is hoping to keep on a tight schedule amid concerns about the legacy ICBMs' deteriorating condition and upheaval in the competition for the prime contract.
The Office of the Secretary of Defense has sent the Air Force's list of programs for potential waivers under the ongoing continuing resolution to the Office of Management and Budget amid negotiations on Capitol Hill over fiscal year 2020 spending.
A nascent program that's developing the shared architecture for 21st century nuclear command, control and communications technology has begun to define requirements, explore readiness of current systems and consider approaches for a total NC3 modernization cost analysis.
Congressional conference members have agreed to include a House provision in their fiscal year 2020 defense policy bill that requires the Air Force to share information on progress in the Advanced Battle Management System program.
House and Senate conference members released a fiscal year 2020 defense policy bill Monday night that would require the Air Force to prepare a report on its fielding plan for the new Combat Rescue Helicopter program stemming from schedule issues with a restoration effort for legacy platforms.
The defense authorization bill that House and Senate conference members released Monday night requires the Air Force to identify risks and costs if the service receives only one proposal to develop the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent.
The Air Force is finishing up an acquisition plan for a new beyond-line-of-sight receiver that allows aerial and ground-based nuclear platforms to accept "emergency action messages" from the president.
The Air Force has completed system-level reviews of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon's respective designs for the Long-Range Standoff Weapon and has given its stamp of approval for both contractors to continue with their plans.
The Air Force has sent the Office of the Secretary of Defense a list of priority programs for potential waivers from Congress under the ongoing continuing resolution.
The Air Force will hold an event with industry to discuss pre-engineering activities for a new command-and-control aircraft system that's intended to replace the aging E-4B National Airborne Operations Center.
The Air Force Research Lab is setting up a rapid contracting opportunity -- worth up to $490 million -- for the development and transition of capabilities that can defend military personnel and equipment against commercial off-the-shelf small unmanned aerial systems.
The Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $989 million contract for the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon critical design review, test and production readiness support, according to a Dec. 2 Defense Department contract notice.
The Air Force Test Center officially activated a new detachment within the 47th Cyberspace Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, on Nov. 19.
The Air Force's armament directorate is planning more tests of the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon and Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon and expects to conduct system-level critical design reviews of the two Lockheed Martin platforms during the first half of calendar year 2020.
The Air Force intends to begin soliciting proposals to upgrade its new personnel recovery aircraft next May and plans to award a contract in September 2021, according to a recent presentation to industry.
The Air Force has approved a $386 million modification to Raytheon's contract to supply Paveway laser-guided bombs to foreign customers, according to a Defense Department contract notice released Wednesday.
The Air Force's strategic development planning and experimentation office says it's exploring the possibility of a small proof-of-concept effort to examine the feasibility of a "palletized munitions" concept.
The National Nuclear Security Administration is starting a new assessment of the B61-12 Life Extension Program and W88 Alteration 370 delays that are resulting in $720 million to $850 million in unexpected costs.
The Defense and Energy Departments’ inspectors general are conducting a joint review of the Aircraft Monitor and Control system’s nuclear certification process, according to a memorandum released today.
The Air Force Research Lab has finished a round of counter-drone testing that featured five directed-energy weapons that management officials are considering for a possible program of record.