Boeing aims for annual output of 6 E-7 Wedgetails to fill global early warning ‘gap’

Boeing aims for annual output of 6 E-7 Wedgetails to fill global early warning ‘gap’
Boeing aims for annual output of 6 E-7 Wedgetails to fill global early warning ‘gap’

As Breaking Defense toured Boeing’s Seattle area facilities where the E-7 radar plane will take shape, company officials talked about getting the bird in the air — and their vision for what it can do.

LMXT exit: Lockheed to skip KC-135 recap race, focus on next gen tanker

LMXT exit: Lockheed to skip KC-135 recap race, focus on next gen tanker
LMXT exit: Lockheed to skip KC-135 recap race, focus on next gen tanker

The surprise withdrawal of the aerospace giant could give Boeing a leg up as the Air Force moves toward a contract award for a new fleet of refuelers, analysts told Breaking Defense.

Fleet Decentralization Focus For AF Budget Beyond 2023

Fleet Decentralization Focus For AF Budget Beyond 2023
Fleet Decentralization Focus For AF Budget Beyond 2023

How the Air Force embodies its ‘agile combat employment’ concept depends in part on the future fleet composition — with the F-22’s fate a central question.

AI Copilot Based On Gaming Software Takes Flight

AI Copilot Based On Gaming Software Takes Flight
AI Copilot Based On Gaming Software Takes Flight

“For flying an instrument approach, having an AI copilot makes sense,” says retired general ‘Hawk’ Carlisle, former head of Air Combat Command.

Air Force To Army, Navy: Pay The Tax For Space, Air Power; Protect Our Bases

Air Force To Army, Navy: Pay The Tax For Space, Air Power; Protect Our Bases
Air Force To Army, Navy: Pay The Tax For Space, Air Power; Protect Our Bases

“I would argue, that’s the tax. If you want airpower, if you want space power, then you have to be able to defend,” Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations, told the Mitchell Institute today. 

Eye On Arctic, Congress Pushes More C-130Js; Including Ski Planes

Eye On Arctic, Congress Pushes More C-130Js; Including Ski Planes
Eye On Arctic, Congress Pushes More C-130Js; Including Ski Planes

“The C-130 has been the most plus-upped aircraft in history,” says Teal Group’s Richard Aboulafia.

Aerospace Cos Wary Of Digital Design Revolution

Aerospace Cos Wary Of Digital Design Revolution
Aerospace Cos Wary Of Digital Design Revolution

“With a flattening budget topline (at best) and many competing Air Force investment priorities, it’s not at all clear that this program will continue. We might just be left with a museum-ready prototype,” Teal Group’s Richard Aboulafia says.

Air Force Flight Tests B-21 Avionics; Program ‘On Right Track’

Air Force Flight Tests B-21 Avionics; Program ‘On Right Track’
Air Force Flight Tests B-21 Avionics; Program ‘On Right Track’

“I know we’re not going to be immune from design flaws,” Air Force RCO head Randy Walden said of the B-21 program. “We’re going to have to work through those, and we’re doing some of that today.”

AF Tests F-35, Stealth Fleet For Integrated Electronic Warfare

AF Tests F-35, Stealth Fleet For Integrated Electronic Warfare
AF Tests F-35, Stealth Fleet For Integrated Electronic Warfare

“Many believe that stealth is perishable,” says Teal Group’s Richard Aboulafia, thus increasing the need for suppression of enemy air defenses. Of course, a key requirement for the F-35 is that it can take out advanced air defenses.

SOCOM Multi-Mission Plane Competition Heats Up

SOCOM Multi-Mission Plane Competition Heats Up
SOCOM Multi-Mission Plane Competition Heats Up

SOCOM has budgeted $106 million in 2021 to buy the first five of up to 75 Armed Overwatch aircraft to perform close air support for its troops on the ground, light attack and ISR missions. The planes would replace Air Force Special Operations Command current fleet of U-28 Draco aircraft.

Air National Guard F-16s First To Fly Fifth-Gen Radar

Air National Guard F-16s First To Fly Fifth-Gen Radar
Air National Guard F-16s First To Fly Fifth-Gen Radar

The radar upgrade is aimed at countering Russian cruise missiles.  

GE’s ITEP Win & The Army’s Inch-By-Inch Revolution

GE’s ITEP Win & The Army’s Inch-By-Inch Revolution
GE’s ITEP Win & The Army’s Inch-By-Inch Revolution

Having wasted tens of billions and almost 30 years since the end of the Cold War, the Army is out of time. But after decades of incremental improvements, its existing weapons — including the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that GE’s new engine will upgrade – are overweight, underpowered, and running out of room to grow. Meanwhile, the Army’s attempts at a high-tech great leap forward kept getting cancelled as unaffordable, unfeasible, or both.

Boeing Wins $9.2B T-X Trainer Contract: Low Price, High Risk

Boeing Wins $9.2B T-X Trainer Contract: Low Price, High Risk
Boeing Wins $9.2B T-X Trainer Contract: Low Price, High Risk

WASHINGTON: Aerospace behemoth Boeing will build the new T-X jet trainer, the Air Force announced this afternoon, beating out the Lockheed/KAI T-50 and the Leonardo DRS/CAE T-100 after years of maneuvering and uncertainty that saw multiple companies drop out of the competition. The first planes will enter service at Randolph Air Force base in 2023, with…

Lockheed ‘Seizes High Ground’ With Second Hypersonics Deal

Lockheed ‘Seizes High Ground’ With Second Hypersonics Deal
Lockheed ‘Seizes High Ground’ With Second Hypersonics Deal

“All of the fundamental research in hypersonic aerodynamics is United States (work),” said Pentagon R&D chief Mike Griffin. “We did not choose to weaponize the results of that research. Our adversaries have chosen to weaponize it. That’s the challenge. We will respond.”