Among the unclassified programs listed, the Space Force could use an additional $160 million to establish a “working capital fund” to be used for purchasing commercial satellite communications.
By Lee Ferran and Valerie InsinnaThe test’s results could determine the ultimate fate of the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or at least help “further a range of hypersonic programs.”
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 MarrowDespite 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“So there’s a sweet spot for where we can prime it and there’s a stretch area. … What I hope is you see the sweet spot increases and the stretch area is moving to higher” program sizes and complexities, Kratos’s Steve Fendley told Breaking Defense.
By Michael MarrowDevelopment of the Air Force’s first two rapid prototype radar planes proved more difficult than expected, according to acquisition chief Andrew Hunter.
By Michael MarrowInternational partners could join in on drone development for a next round of CCA work planned for the FY25 budget, according to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.
By Michael MarrowUnder the “reoptimizing” effort, changes are coming across the Department of the Air Force, from new training approaches to the establishment of high-level offices.
By Michael Marrow and Theresa Hitchens“This is just crazy,” agreed Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante.
By Michael MarrowThe Air Force has big plans for 2024, but lawmakers could throw a wrench into them.
By Michael MarrowFrom more sophisticated systems like the Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft to cheap kamikaze weapons, the drone had its heyday in 2023 — and promises, coupled with AI, to be a much bigger part of future warfighting.
By Michael MarrowOver 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.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
After a top Air Force official strongly hinted at coming changes to the Air Force’s structure, Adam Lowther and Curtis McGiffin warn that one particular option would be bad news for America’s nuclear readiness.
By Adam Lowther and Curtis McGiffin