Inside the Air Force highlights

By John Liang / November 2, 2018 at 8:56 AM

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

1. The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center plans to incorporate agile software development into its new Enterprise Space Battle Management Command and Control system, and is awaiting Pentagon approval for its acquisition strategy.

Full story: Space BMC2 acquisition strategy complete, awaiting Pentagon approval

2. The Air Force is urgently seeking contractors that can train F-35 Joint Strike Fighter pilots to avoid "dense advanced surface-to-air missile threats," in response to last month's directive from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis that four fighter jet fleets need to be 80 percent mission-capable by the end of fiscal year 2019.

Full story: USAF looks to improve SAM threat training to meet Mattis' readiness goal

3. ST. GEORGE, UT -- As the Air Force prepares to release a request for proposals for a next-generation ejection seat to meet new safety and performance requirements, the service is working with two leading seatmakers to reduce risk before the competition starts.

Full story: USAF staging ejection seat risk-reduction demo as it eyes 2019 competition

4. The Washington defense community returned to work Oct. 29 after a weekend spent digesting the potential impact of a White House-directed $33 billion cut to the Pentagon's budget in fiscal year 2020, a reduction Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan confirmed the previous Friday.

Full story: Washington adjusting to new budget conversation after WH orders defense cuts

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