Inside the Air Force highlights

Check out some must-reads from this week's issue of Inside the Air Force:

1. The 2019 Missile Defense Review directs a dozen follow-on studies with implications to dramatically expand the $180 billion Ballistic Missile Defense System by potentially growing the land- and sea-based interceptor fleets, adding the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter into the missile defense sensor network, initiating a hypersonic defense program and expanding space-based capabilities.

Full story: MDR directs a dozen follow-on studies with potential to launch new starts

2. The Air Force has achieved critical design review for a major upgrade to the B-2 bomber's defensive management system.

Full story: B-2 bomber's DMS overhaul passes critical design review

3. The Defense Department has received final recommendations from a special advisory panel on intellectual property rights indicating the struggle between defense contractors and the Pentagon over ownership and access to technical data is far from over.

Full story: Pentagon's intellectual property debate with industry poised to continue

4. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has narrowed a pool of potential competitors in its responsive launch challenge from 55 to 18 and plans to announce those companies by the end of February.

Full story: DARPA narrows pool for launch challenge, discusses future applications with DOD