"The TacAir study is coming to a close soon. I haven't had a chance to review it yet. But I'm hoping it will be an input that informs this National Defense Strategy, and the '23 POM and our plans going forward," said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.
The US needs to shift investment from hallowed but vulnerable legacy platforms – especially aircraft carriers and B-52 bombers – to more flexible and survivable weapons systems – above all, Aegis warships and the unfairly much-maligned F-35.
Government can’t stop to update systems, so modernization has to happen without interruptions.
As defense budgets face post-COVID cuts, everyone wants to axe “legacy” systems. But the services define “legacy” very differently from defense reformers.
“What does the F-35 give us? Is there a way to cut our losses?” asked Rep. Adam Smith, who wants a mixed force of different types of fighters: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
Of 46 types of aircraft surveyed – from the new F-35 to the aging JSTARS – not one met the Pentagon’s goal of being 80 percent “mission capable.” Most of them, in fact, keep getting worse.
Acquisition chief Will Roper wants to replicate the rapid-fire development of new fighter jets in the 1950s. He should focus on new drones instead.
Breaking Defense Europe will launch May 4 with Tim Martin and Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo as co-editors.
Rep. Thornberry, the senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said the White House move to repurpose military procurement money “is in violation of the separation of powers within the Constitution... and I believe that it requires Congress to take action.”
An Israeli expert said that the critical question is, where will the Turks deploy the Russian system. "If it is deployed near the border with Syria it may endanger air forces that will attack Iranian controlled militias in Iraq," the Israeli source says.
Last month, the defense ministry issued official inquiries into acquiring both aircraft -- but, for now, the budget can buy only one.
Many feel that the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) is a Mission Impossible when one focuses on how much money -- $4 billion by 2025 is to be jointly allocated by France and Germany.
The Sixth Domain is not defined by geography. It’s a new kind of conflict in which autonomy and networked systems allow thousand-dollar consumer electronics to destroy multi-million-dollar conventional weapons systems.
When we saw the LEGO Star Wars starfighter at this year's Paris Air Show, we knew we had to have some fun. Enjoy!
The HASC wants an independent cost estimate on the F-35 and some detail -- any detail -- on the plan to replace AWACS. It's also a little curious about robot tanks.
The senators' draft of the annual defense bill puts a new emphasis on technological competition, including industrial policy moves to strengthen US companies.
Amid chatter about what aircraft will make their way to Paris, the Air Force going all in.