Can a risk-averse procurement bureaucracy recapture the pioneering spirit of its past? The Air Force’s acquisition chief says yes.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.“We would see within 45 to 90 days an impact of the slowing down or stopping of those parts to the three production lines,” Vice Adm. Mat Winter told Congress.
By Paul McLearyThe US Navy now says it’ll reach 355 ships by 2034, while whacking F-35Bs and a carrier from its five-year plan. What’s the strategy?
By Paul McLearyHow are Air Force pilots training for a war with Russia or China?
By James KitfieldHow bad is the F-35’s computerized maintenance system, ALIS? So bad the plane may be better off without it.
By Colin ClarkThe Cold War has not returned, but the Russians have. The challenge for the Trump Administration is less about whether the US cares about European defense; it is much more about a strategic shift of American attention to dealing with the Chinese and North Korean threats.
By Robbin LairdWASHINGTON: The first concrete step to creating an independent force of trained and equipped space warriors occurred today — but that’s not the most important step on space the nation should take, the Air Force Chief of Staff said today. Setting up Space Command, so the US can more effectively fight any war that involves space assets,…
By Colin ClarkFrance’s commitment to a cutting-edge sixth-generation fighter — working in tandem with drones and long-range sensors — is a sign of its commitment to deterring Putin’s Russia.
By Colin ClarkAFA: The Air Force won’t issue a Request For Information on possible Light Attack aircraft, originally scheduled to come out December, in favor of doing a lot more experiments, Air Force Undersecretary Matt Donovan told reporters this morning. The service has been dithering for over a decade about whether to buy propeller-driven aircraft for affordable close…
By Colin ClarkCroatia, a NATO member, was ready to sign off on the largest defense deal in its history: $500 million for 12 Israeli F-16 fighters. But the State Department didn’t like the looks of the deal.
By Paul McLeary
The best way for America to develop a consensus on what our defense and global security commitments should be is for Congress to have a lengthy series of posture hearings that delve deeply into these issues. They could be jointly held by the Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees from the two chambers, patterned…
By Peter Huessy