Michael Marrow covers air warfare for Breaking Defense. He holds a BA in history from the University of Virginia and started out as a freelance reporter covering local news in Fairfax County, Virginia and policing in Charlottesville, Virginia. Michael previously reported on the Air Force and Space Force for Inside Defense, where he tracked major acquisitions, policy changes and modernization efforts.
“Our objectives really are continuing to mature adaptive engine technology for a variety of platforms to continue to keep the industrial base healthy and strong,” said GE Aerospace’s David Tweedie.
The first four lots of jets — almost half the total expected buy — will not come with conformal fuel tanks, a key part of the operational profile for what the service hopes will be its missile truck going forward.
“Do we share data into a central hub where it becomes anonymous, where you don’t know where the source came from, but then you trust the output?” asked AFCENT Deputy Commander Brig. Gen. David Mineau.
Despite not talking to Boeing about development of a F-7 armed light attack aircraft based off the T-7A Red Hawk, a USAF official has revealed the service is interested in such a concept, and could look to replace older F-16s with it.
“It feels a little like the uncertainty around COVID, but no companies are pulling out,” Eric Fanning, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Industries Association, told Breaking Defense.
Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Gen. David Allvin have been confirmed as the respective top officers of the Navy and Air Force. Lt. Gen. Christopher Mahoney was also promoted to general and confirmed as the assistant commandant of the Marine Corps.
The new Mk21A reentry vehicle will be mounted atop the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile and will carry an updated nuclear warhead known as the W87-1.
“Japan has a strong industrial base, and taking advantage of it for CCA development and production is a win-win-win,” said Mark Gunzinger of the Mitchell Institute.
New data obtained by Breaking Defense shows the so-called “flyaway” costs of the Air Force’s two fighter jets currently in production. But comparing them can make for tricky math.
“The involvement of the military massively augments our velocity on the commercial side because the military’s expectation of an airplane is fundamentally the same as the FAA’s. They want a safe, reliable, repeatedly produced aircraft,” said BETA founder and CEO Kyle Clark.
“These are disappointing results in the quarter and year to date. This performance is below our expectations and we acknowledge that we aren’t as far along in this recovery as we expected to be at this stage,” said Chief Financial Officer Brian West.
With Russian engines out of the picture, there’s a new Medium Launch Vehicle on the horizon that is US sourced with a fairing sized to launch constellations.
With Russian engines out of the picture, there’s a new Medium Launch Vehicle on the horizon that is US sourced with a fairing sized to launch constellations.
