Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request

Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request
Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request

“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.”

F-22s ‘highest priority’ for near-term fight, Air Force acquisition boss says

F-22s ‘highest priority’ for near-term fight, Air Force acquisition boss says
F-22s ‘highest priority’ for near-term fight, Air Force acquisition boss says

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.”  

4 solutions for addressing the Air Force’s distance anxiety

4 solutions for addressing the Air Force’s distance anxiety
4 solutions for addressing the Air Force’s distance anxiety

In this op-ed, Timothy Walton and Mark Gunzinger discuss solutions to extend the reach of the US Air Force for a China scenario.

Take 2: Kratos aims for prime status on second CCA ‘increment’

Take 2: Kratos aims for prime status on second CCA ‘increment’
Take 2: Kratos aims for prime status on second CCA ‘increment’

“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.

Air Force plans CCA downselect within ‘months,’ second ‘increment’ in FY25: Kendall

Air Force plans CCA downselect within ‘months,’ second ‘increment’ in FY25: Kendall
Air Force plans CCA downselect within ‘months,’ second ‘increment’ in FY25: Kendall

International 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.

Despite huge industry losses, Air Force ‘not getting rid of fixed-price contracts’: Hunter

Despite huge industry losses, Air Force ‘not getting rid of fixed-price contracts’: Hunter
Despite huge industry losses, Air Force ‘not getting rid of fixed-price contracts’: Hunter

But a different acquisition strategy can help lower risks when fixed-price approaches are involved, the acquisition czar said.

General Atomics debuts new XQ-67A Air Force sensing drone

General Atomics debuts new XQ-67A Air Force sensing drone
General Atomics debuts new XQ-67A Air Force sensing drone

Details of the AFRL’s Off-Board Sensing Station program remain highly classified, though the effort is expected to field an unmanned aircraft that can fly ahead of fighters and relay targeting information and other threat data back.

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.

Air warfare in 2023: The year of the drone and the shadow of AI

Air warfare in 2023: The year of the drone and the shadow of AI
Air warfare in 2023: The year of the drone and the shadow of AI

From 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.

At Reagan Forum, Rep. Wittman talks drone wingmen, the Indo-Pacific pivot and EW [VIDEO]

At Reagan Forum, Rep. Wittman talks drone wingmen, the Indo-Pacific pivot and EW [VIDEO]
At Reagan Forum, Rep. Wittman talks drone wingmen, the Indo-Pacific pivot and EW [VIDEO]

Breaking Defense’s Michael Marrow interviews Rep. Rob Wittman on a host of key defense issues.

CCA loyal wingman could lose ‘a year’ of progress due to Congressional budget logjam: Kendall

CCA loyal wingman could lose ‘a year’ of progress due to Congressional budget logjam: Kendall
CCA loyal wingman could lose ‘a year’ of progress due to Congressional budget logjam: Kendall

Progress on CCA, the AI-piloted “loyal wingman,” and JADC2 command networks will stall if Congress cannot pass funding for fiscal 2024, the Air Force Secretary warned – while China races ahead.

L3Harris plans next electronic warfare Viper Shield ‘drop’ in December

L3Harris plans next electronic warfare Viper Shield ‘drop’ in December
L3Harris plans next electronic warfare Viper Shield ‘drop’ in December

The new Viper Shield electronic warfare suite, meant to help foreign F-16 customers fend off modern EW threats, will be ready for production in late 2025, L3Harris told Breaking Defense in Dubai.

General Atomics exec eyes Williams, Pratt engines as company searches for CCA propulsion

General Atomics exec eyes Williams, Pratt engines as company searches for CCA propulsion
General Atomics exec eyes Williams, Pratt engines as company searches for CCA propulsion

David Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, told Breaking Defense several options could power the company’s Gambit drone offering, and that the Air Force has been more forthcoming with cost expectations behind closed doors.

Air Force plans production of CCA wingman drones by FY28: Kendall

Air Force plans production of CCA wingman drones by FY28: Kendall
Air Force plans production of CCA wingman drones by FY28: Kendall

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said he is waiting for Congress to approve his plan for “several billion dollars” over the next five years for the CCA program.