Inside the Air Force highlights

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

1. The Air Force plans to publish a final request for proposals this summer to guide its next investments in new launch systems, intending to move away from Russian propulsion technology and set up long-term competition in the national security space launch market.

Full story: Air Force says final launch services RFP slated for August

2. The Air Force's Enterprise Capability Collaboration Team studying multidomain command and control will wrap up its concepts development phase this month and kick off the start of experimentation, according to the team's deputy.

Full story: ECCT experiments to shape push toward cloud-based, autonomous C2

3. Another $351 million added to the fiscal year 2017 omnibus spending bill will fund the Trump administration's priorities for Air Force programs, half of which will help pay for classified projects and boost the accounts of a half-dozen unclassified programs.

Full story: Trump FY-17 budget boost nets USAF increases for handful of research efforts

4. The Air Force Sustainment Center is working now to prepare a depot maintenance infrastructure for the KC-46 and expects a customized maintenance plan from prime contractor Boeing in November.

Full story: Air Force Sustainment Center preparing for KC-46 maintenance plan