Ethical Terminators, or how DoD learned to stop worrying and love AI: 2023 Year in Review

Ethical Terminators, or how DoD learned to stop worrying and love AI: 2023 Year in Review
Ethical Terminators, or how DoD learned to stop worrying and love AI: 2023 Year in Review

Over the last 11 months, the US has made major progress in defining “Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence” and even getting other nations to sign on the idea — without ever actually precluding the kind of automated “killer robots” activists want to ban.

X-37B’s Next Mission To Demo Space-Based Solar Power

X-37B’s Next Mission To Demo Space-Based Solar Power
X-37B’s Next Mission To Demo Space-Based Solar Power

Given “aggressive and warlike actions, threatening actions, by space competitors, it’s important for us to have an entity that is focused entirely on space defense, and space capability,” said Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett of the new Space Force.

DoD Wants Army, Navy To Join Space Force; May Ask Hill For Help

DoD Wants Army, Navy To Join Space Force; May Ask Hill For Help
DoD Wants Army, Navy To Join Space Force; May Ask Hill For Help

Space Force is looking to establish an independent identity, based on the legacy of the Air Force space community, but focused on “22nd century warfare,” says Maj. Gen. John Shaw.

16,000 AFSPC Head To Space Force; What About The Rest?

16,000 AFSPC Head To Space Force; What About The Rest?
16,000 AFSPC Head To Space Force; What About The Rest?

And there are rumbles about a bureaucratic food fight between planning cells at Air Force headquarters here and at AFSPC in Colorado Springs.

Sen. Blumenthal Blocks Barrett, Demands Ban on AF Use of Trump Resorts

Sen. Blumenthal Blocks Barrett, Demands Ban on AF Use of Trump Resorts
Sen. Blumenthal Blocks Barrett, Demands Ban on AF Use of Trump Resorts

Sen. Richard Blumenthal says he was “disappointed” by Barbara Barrett in “her responses to questions during her office visit and public testimony” during her confirmation hearing, “factors that have also contributed to my uncertainty about her ability to lead the Air Force.”

King Blasts DoD Wall Funding, But Smooth Sailing For Air Force, Army Secretaries

King Blasts DoD Wall Funding, But Smooth Sailing For Air Force, Army Secretaries
King Blasts DoD Wall Funding, But Smooth Sailing For Air Force, Army Secretaries

“I believe we need the Space Force, in fact, in my opinion, a domain-specific service to organize, train, and equip space forces is overdue,” Air Force Secretary nominee Barbara Barrett said.

Air Force Expands 5G As It Transforms to Multi-Domain Ops: Donovan

Air Force Expands 5G As It Transforms to Multi-Domain Ops: Donovan
Air Force Expands 5G As It Transforms to Multi-Domain Ops: Donovan

Enabling multi-domain command and control (MDC2) is “how the Air Force becomes the quarterback, the play-caller of the joint warfighting force,” says Acting Air Force Secretary Matt Donovan.

Trump Surprises With SecAF Nomination Of Barbara Barrett

Trump Surprises With SecAF Nomination Of Barbara Barrett
Trump Surprises With SecAF Nomination Of Barbara Barrett

Trump nominee for Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett “is a force to be reckoned with and has the leadership, experience, and knowledge to lead our Air Force into the future during a time of increased global threats,” says Sen. Martha McSally.

Air Force Sec Says US May Demo New Space Weapon To Deter

Air Force Sec Says US May Demo New Space Weapon To Deter
Air Force Sec Says US May Demo New Space Weapon To Deter

The US has more to lose in space than our competitors, so the Pentagon is considering firing a warning shot to showcase what it can do.

Wilson: DoD Study Finds ‘Exquisite’ Satellites Still Needed

Wilson: DoD Study Finds ‘Exquisite’ Satellites Still Needed
Wilson: DoD Study Finds ‘Exquisite’ Satellites Still Needed

“Launching hundreds of cheap satellites each year as a substitute” for current milspace systems “will result in failure on America’s worst day if we relay on them alone,” Wilson says.

Space Development Agency Opens; To Tackle Hypersonics From LEO

Space Development Agency Opens; To Tackle Hypersonics From LEO
Space Development Agency Opens; To Tackle Hypersonics From LEO

As the Pentagon rushes to implement defenses against advanced hypersonic weapons, it’s battling the old way of doing acquisition and requirements.

Air Force Secretary Wilson Heading to University of Texas

Air Force Secretary Wilson Heading to University of Texas
Air Force Secretary Wilson Heading to University of Texas

Insiders were blindsided by her departure. So who fills her seat in the Pentagon?

All Services Sign On To Data Sharing – But Not To Multi-Domain

All Services Sign On To Data Sharing – But Not To Multi-Domain
All Services Sign On To Data Sharing – But Not To Multi-Domain

“We need to have any sensor connect to any shooter at very rapid machine-to-machine speed,” Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said, “if we’re going to multi-domain operations.” But aye, there’s the rub: Are we?

No Light Attack Planes Any Time Soon: Air Force Undersecretary

No Light Attack Planes Any Time Soon: Air Force Undersecretary
No Light Attack Planes Any Time Soon: Air Force Undersecretary

AFA: 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…