The Air Force is nearing a decision on whether to recompete an ejection seat contract held by Collins. If the service changes course, it will send shockwaves through the duopoly that fights over every potential ejection seat sale.
By Michael MarrowIntegrating commercial off-the-shelf computing on military platforms and how to make it work
The systems may be off-the-shelf, but the packaging for integration on vehicles and ships provides cradle-to-grave resiliency.
The Air Force is “tak[ing] a few months right now to figure out whether we’ve got the right design and make sure we’re on the right course,” said Secretary Frank Kendall, while other NGAD elements move forward.
By Michael Marrow
Breaking with service leadership, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach said he opposes divesting certain F-22 Raptors, whose retirements have been repeatedly blocked by Congress.
By Michael Marrow
“The deliberations are still underway, there’s been no decision made. We’re looking at a lot of very difficult options that we have to consider,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said today when asked about the sixth-generation fighter.
By Michael Marrow
In what would be a stark reversal for a high-profile program, Gen. David Allvin appeared to include the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter among “choices” the service is still making amid budget constraints.
By Michael Marrow
“We’re very, very fixated on being competitive with the pacing challenge [of China],” said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. “I think the budget that we’ve submitted moves us forward — not quite as fast as we would like to, but it moves us forward in the right direction while maintaining current capabilities that are essential to the nation.”
By Michael Marrow
Despite disagreements with Boeing on pricing for the E-7A Wedgetail, Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter said officials still see the radar plane “as a capability that makes sense and that we need to field in the near term.”
By Michael Marrow
MILSATCOM for the most critical no-fail missions
With multiple nuclear-capable threats and space itself being a contested domain, assured and protected MILSATCOM are more critical than ever before.
The Air Force has big plans for 2024, but lawmakers could throw a wrench into them.
By Michael Marrow
“We have 25 fighter squadrons in the Guard right now. And when I look at the global demand, my personal view is I think we need to keep all 25 of those. I think our nation needs that capability,” said National Guard chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson.
By Michael Marrow The Air Force worked with engine-maker Pratt & Whitney to fix the planes in the field and during regular maintenance over three years.
By Michael Marrow
Despite confidence from the Air Force secretary that Congress would greenlight the F-22 divestments, lawmakers are once again inclined to keep the fighters around.
By Michael Marrow
Little is known about the secretive sixth-generation Next Generation Air Dominance fighter, other than it will be extremely expensive.
By Michael Marrow
Rejected by Congress in fiscal 2023, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the service’s second go at retiring older F-22s stands a much better chance of surviving the upcoming round of budget negotiations.
By Michael Marrow
Lt. Gen. Richard Moore, Air Force deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, also defended the Air Force’s urge to mothball some old F-22s, citing the high cost to maintain the non-combat fighters.
By Michael Marrow
