Inside the Air Force highlights

Some must-reads from this week's Inside the Air Force:

1. The E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System program office is still working through myriad technical problems discovered in the fleet's Block 40/45 overhaul, and an AWACS official expects the Air Force will keep seven jets it planned to divest.

Full story: Problems continue to slow AWACS upgrade process; wing staffs study BMC2

2. SIMI VALLEY, CA -- The Pentagon acquisition chief said Dec. 2 a much-anticipated Defense Acquisition Board review of the F-35 will not convene until the joint program office's modernization plan has the necessary buy-in.

Full story: Lord: Pentagon needs more details, buy-in before F-35 DAB review

3. SIMI VALLEY, CA -- U.S. Strategic Command Chief Gen. John Hyten wants the Air Force to deliver a next-generation missile warning satellite faster than the fiscal year 2029 time frame proposed in a recent request for information.

Full story: STRATCOM chief wants next-generation SBIRS satellites before FY-29