Shelley K. Mesch

Shelley K. Mesch joined Inside Defense as an Air Force reporter in 2022. She had previously reported on business, technology and innovation at The Salt Lake Tribune and the Wisconsin State Journal.

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Daily News | March 20, 2023

The Air Force will need more anti-ship weapons to gain air superiority in a conflict with China over Taiwan, Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said Monday.

Daily News | March 16, 2023

The Air Force is trying to rapidly replace its decaying E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System platform, but efforts to speed up the timeline for fielding the E-7 Wedgetail aren’t looking fruitful, service Secretary Frank Kendall said.

The Insider | March 16, 2023

The Air Force plans to buy 268 Norwegian-made Joint Strike Missiles over the next five years, according to a notice posted Wednesday.

Daily News | March 16, 2023

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said this week that if he had one regret with his fiscal year 2024 budget request, it would be the decision not to move forward with the Adaptive Engine Transition Program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Daily News | March 13, 2023

The Air Force will not seek any procurement funding for hypersonic missile efforts, but research funding has been requested for two of the service's highest-profile hypersonic programs, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget Maj. Gen. Mike Greiner said Monday.

Daily News | March 13, 2023

General Electric doubled down Monday on its belief that it has the best solution for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter engine update despite the Air Force's decision not to move forward with an Adaptive Engine Transition Program.

Daily News | March 13, 2023

The Air Force will not move forward with the Adaptive Engine Transition Program that would have refitted F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft with a new engine and will instead pursue an engine core upgrade for the platform, Secretary Frank Kendall said.

Daily News | March 10, 2023

DENVER -- The Air Force Research Laboratory moved forward its "digital transformation" effort by standing up a Digital Capabilities Department to better share data and digital tools among AFRL's teams, lab Commander Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle announced at the Air and Space Force Association's Warfare Symposium Tuesday.

Daily News | March 10, 2023

DENVER -- The Air Force expects to fall short of its recruitment goals this year, the service's top leaders said this week at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium.

The Insider | March 9, 2023

DENVER -- Boeing and Shield AI have signed an agreement to collaborate on autonomous capability development and artificial intelligence on defense programs, the companies announced Wednesday at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium.

Daily News | March 8, 2023

DENVER -- The MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter program reached milestone C and will enter low-rate initial production after the Air Force successfully negotiated data rights, service acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told reporters Monday.

Daily News | March 8, 2023

DENVER -- Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman expanded upon his three lines of effort for "Competitive Endurance" at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium on Tuesday.

Daily News | March 8, 2023

DENVER -- The Air Force is moving away from a previous aerial refueling modernization blueprint to instead develop what it’s calling the Next Generation Aerial-refueling System, or NGAS, service acquisition chief Andrew Hunter told reporters this week.

Daily News | March 7, 2023

DENVER -- The Air Force will seek to procure roughly 1,000 uncrewed collaborative aircraft as part of its Next-Generation Air Dominance plan for the future fighter fleet, service Secretary Frank Kendall said Tuesday morning.

Daily News | March 7, 2023

DENVER -- Despite neither side securing domain dominance, air warfare has remained a key component for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, highlighting areas for investment in future counter-unmanned aerial systems programs, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa Gen. James Hecker said.

Daily News | March 3, 2023

F-35 Joint Strike Fighters grounded by an engine problem discovered in December will undergo an immediate retrofitting procedure to return to flight, the Joint Program Office said Thursday, and all other F-35s should be retrofitted within 90 days.

Daily News | March 1, 2023

In the nearly eight years since Northrop Grumman inked a contract to design the Air Force's new nuclear bomber, lawmakers and Defense Department officials have touted it as an example of acquisition done right amid years of cost overruns and schedule delays in other programs.

Daily News | February 28, 2023

The Air Force awarded Boeing a $1.2 billion initial contract for the E-7A Wedgetail, which will replace the aging E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft, the service announced Tuesday evening.

The Insider | February 17, 2023

Northrop Grumman's LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile has completed a series of wind tunnel tests, the company announced Thursday.

Daily News | February 16, 2023

Lockheed Martin could see a loss on one of its contracts for a classified program in its Missiles and Fire Control section as the effort goes into production, Chief Financial Officer Jay Malave said Thursday at the Cowen Aerospace/Defense and Industrial Conference.

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