Thursday, April 25, 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.
The initial and final phase of the Air Force's Gray Wolf project -- a short-lived effort to create a networked cruise missile capability -- will not come to an end this year as expected, since scheduling issues have delayed flight tests of the preliminary platform developed by Northrop Grumman.
The Air Force is conducting a safety investigation into the XQ-58A Valkyrie after the aircraft was damaged during a flight test at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ, yesterday. (UPDATED)
The Air Force intends to pay Northrop Grumman as much as $4.8 billion to develop, modernize and sustain all RQ-4 Global Hawk variants, according to a notice released today.
The New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology has received a $93 million award to provide facilities at its military training range where the Air Force can develop operational cyber and electronic warfare capabilities in an "austere environment."
The Air Force has awarded Raytheon a $200 million contract for Small Diameter Bomb II engineering and manufacturing development integration, production, sustainment and testing.
The Air Force has indefinitely delayed an effort to update the RQ-4 Global Hawk's communications network and is "in the process of assessing and realigning resources" for the unmanned aerial vehicle program's many development projects.
The Air Force intends to increase the maximum production quantities and purchases of Joint Air-to-Surface Missiles and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles -- including the first buy of the JASSM-D variant.
The Air Force will pay Boeing up to $280 million to integrate the Small Diameter Bomb I onto "selected weapon platforms" and provide engineering support for the fielded system.
The Air Force today announced a new initiative to sponsor ideas that advance functional challenges and transformational capabilities identified in the service's 2030 Science and Technology Strategy.
Schedule delays to the B61-12 life extension and W88 Alteration 370 programs revealed earlier this month are expected to cost between $720 million and $850 million -- which the National Nuclear Security Administration intends to pay for using internal funding.
During an upcoming experiment, the Air Force will demonstrate the ability of the Phaser high-powered microwave system to thwart adversary unmanned aerial systems in an overseas operational environment.
The Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program is scheduled to have a technical interchange meeting this fall that will help inform next year's decision to enter the engineering and manufacturing development phase.
The Air Force Tuesday declared milestone C for the Combat Rescue Helicopter, allowing the program to enter low-rate initial production, according to CRH provider Sikorsky. (UPDATED)
The Air Force's primary experimentation shop is gearing up for possible demonstrations of emerging capabilities -- including electronic warfare, low-cost aircraft and robust logistics -- while developing closer ties with the service's planning and acquisition officials.
Aiming to tap into technology innovation occurring in industry and academia, Air Force acquisition executive Will Roper may soon empower AFWERX -- a hub that promotes a startup culture among airmen -- with the authority to award contracts on behalf of the service.
By combining its intelligence and cyber organizations, Air Combat Command is laying the groundwork to offer warfighters information operations tools through the 16th Air Force in San Antonio, TX.
Under a new flight plan, the Air Force intends to grow its cyber warfare enterprise by fostering human capital, expanding offensive and defensive capabilities and accelerating development of emerging technologies.
The Advanced Battle Management System will be a major player in the Air Force's plans for air superiority and manned-unmanned teaming, by providing the networking backbone for the service's platforms and likely gaining a large influx of funding in the fiscal year 2021 budget proposal.
Raytheon is developing a new medium-range, air-to-air missile called Peregrine that will have reduced size and cost, the company announced in a press release yesterday.
The Air Force is considering the Skyborg autonomous drone research effort as the first program to demonstrate effects for the Advanced Battle Management System.