“How in the hell do you lose an F-35?”
By Michael MarrowA new approach to speed, scale and efficiency for the industrial base
Radars, EW, EO/IR, space imagery, and microelectronics are brought under one roof for a streamlined approach to common people and factories.
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.
By Michael Marrow
“We just kind of need to get their no-kidding ground truth of, ‘this is what we think we can deliver and when we think we can deliver it,'” Andrew Hunter, the service’s acquisition chief, said in a Sept. 5 interview at the Pentagon.
By Michael Marrow
Each KC-46A will take about two months to retrofit with a new vision system, according to the Air Force’s program lead, a fix that will address two of six remaining critical defects in Boeing’s Pegasus air refueling tanker.
By Michael Marrow
“I think what you’re hearing from individuals like Hon. Hunter and Hon. Kendall is a recognition that the requirements that went into the JCIDS process are not revolutionary,” said Scott Boyd, Air Force deputy program manager for mobility aircraft.
By Michael Marrow
Speaking to Breaking Defense fresh off a tour of a French MRTT, a KC-46A Pegasus pilot and boom operator discussed some of the pros and cons between the plane that’s the basis for Lockheed’s LMXT and their own Pegasus tanker.
By Michael Marrow Lockheed’s selection of GE Aerospace’s CF6 engines comes as the Air Force weighs sole-sourcing a next round of tankers to Boeing or opening up a competition.
By Michael Marrow
GA-ASI’s MQ-9B: The right UAV for persistence, power, and performance
When assessing the state of the art of unmanned aerial systems, it’s critical to be very clear about what various aircraft can and can’t do – and could never do.
Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter indicated he was leaning toward buying 75 more KC-46A tankers as a bridge to an accelerated next-gen program.
By Michael Marrow Rob Wittman, who is currently the top Republican on the HASC’s seapower and projection forces subcommittee, is seeking the chair of HASC’s tactical air and land forces subcommittee next year.
By Valerie Insinna and Aaron Mehta
“If the [KC-Y] competition doesn’t go forward, I’m not convinced the next competition would be for a [clean-sheet KC-Z],” said Larry Gallogly, Lockheed’s LMXT campaign director.
By Valerie Insinna
Although lawmakers repeatedly said their position wasn’t meant to favor a particular company, in some respects the debate was held over parochial lines, as some of the most outspoken had interests in their districts.
By Valerie Insinna
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“Future refueling operations with the LMXT boom offer a number of possibilities and that future is not far off,” said Ken Moss, a retired U.S. Air Force tanker pilot and Lockheed Martin’s LMXT campaign manager.
By Lockheed Martin
The Air Force could not provide a cost estimate detailing what the service will pay in order to replace the KC-46’s panoramic sensors.
By Valerie Insinna
“I love competition. I’m all for it. It’s the best tool have to reduce costs. But we actually have to have a demand for the other aircraft that’s being offered,” the Air Force Secretary said.
By Valerie Insinna
