The Air Force has planned to install Defensive Cyberspace Systems to replace the Cyberspace Vulnerability Assessment/Hunter system and the Operations Platform Fly Away Kits, Gen. Thomas Hensley said.
“Future combat employment is about kill chains and kill webs, it’s about systems of systems warfare,” and pilot training has to reflect that, Col. Matt Ryan told Breaking Defense.
Balancing security and access to data are critical to providing users with trustworthy, reliable data for real-time decisions.
The Air Force worked with engine-maker Pratt & Whitney to fix the planes in the field and during regular maintenance over three years.
"I was surprised the anticipated initial operational capability for NGAS is 2040. It is likely that this RFI and the subsequent Analysis of Alternatives will find that there are viable options for the Air Force to accelerate the fielding of KC-Z," the Hudson Institute's Tim Walton said in an email to Breaking Defense.
"High resolution (spatial and temporal) global weather data is more readily accessible from commercial platforms, and is increasingly important for making well-informed decisions in geographically diverse environments around the world," the DIU-AFLCMC announcement states.
"We know that the way of warfare has changed, and we're going to be having difficulties with jamming, and having difficulties getting our position navigation and timing signals to our warfighters," said AFRL Director Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle.
The military space sector is evolving fast. Get the latest from Space Force and industry officials on what’s next for acquisition, policy and training in a new Breaking Defense eBook.
"I won't say that it's not achievable" to transition Skyborg to a program of record, said AFLMC's Brig. Gen. Dale White. "I will just say that it has to be balanced with all of the other requirements we have across the portfolio to be able to do that."
DSCA also is looking at ways to better advertise options like third-party transfers to potential foreign buyers, says Air Force FMS specialist Col. Anthony Walker.
"There are so many building block technologies that need to happen first. So, it’s a bit silly, but the appeal of the theoretical end result is undeniable," says Teal Group's Richard Aboulafia.
If ARRW continues to fail, the service could resuscitate the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon as a fall-back, says Brig. Gen. Heath Collins, who heads AFLCMC's Armaments Directorate.
Knowing when to build on commercial systems and when to develop something new can be the difference between parity and information dominance.
"The ability to additively manufacture an aircraft engine part and gain military airworthiness is a significant step forward in growing the adoption of additive manufacturing in the Air Force,” Nathan Parker, deputy program executive officer at RSO, said.
Ghost Reaper upgrades include Northrop Grumman's Freedom Pod, which houses the company's gateway radio system that can connect fourth- and fifth-generation fighters.
"This is a new effort, as the expanded mission now goes beyond a strict MQ-9 replacement," an AFLCMC spokesperson said. "This endeavor serves to explore concepts that address capability gaps of legacy platforms against increasingly sophisticated threats in denied, contested, and highly contested environments."
The Air Force is "driving toward" 2023 for initial operating capability for Skyborg, says AFRL Director Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle.