Six F-16s Getting Autonomous Computer Brains For Combat Drone Trials

To lay the groundwork for the U.S. Air Force’s Combat Collaborative Aircraft (CCA) program, which will explore tactical human-machine teaming concepts, the service will be giving select F-16 Viper fighter jets the ability to fly themselves. Dubbed Project Viper Experimentation and Next-Gen Operations Mode (VENOM), the initiative will outfit six F-16s from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida with... Read more about Six F-16s Getting Autonomous Computer Brains For Combat Drone Trials

US Space Force’s responsive space strategy taking shape

WASHINGTON — U.S. Space Force officials said they are refining their understanding of what it means to quickly react to threats that impact operational satellites as the service prepares for its second Tactically Responsive Space mission this summer, dubbed Victus Nox. The service last September issued contracts for Victus Nox to Boeing subsidiary Millennium Space Systems to build a satellite and... Read more about US Space Force’s responsive space strategy taking shape

GAO Tells Congress: Pentagon Still Needs a Portfolio Plan for Tactical Aviation

With a flood of new aircraft programs taking shape, the Pentagon still doesn’t have a portfolio plan that rationalizes its all-service tactical aviation activities, the Government Accountability Office told the House Armed Services Committee this week. Creating such a plan would help the Defense Department and Congress alike size up the true priorities in TacAir and put funds against the most... Read more about GAO Tells Congress: Pentagon Still Needs a Portfolio Plan for Tactical Aviation

Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites

The Space Development Agency (SDA) today announced the successful initial launch of Tranche 0 (T0) of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), the Transport and Tracking Layer satellites that will demonstrate the low-latency communication links to support the warfighter with a resilient network of integrated capabilities, including tracking of advanced missile threats, from low-Earth... Read more about Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites

DAF leaders stress importance of transformation, partnerships, and on-time appropriations

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of the Air Force’s top civilian and military leaders spoke with defense experts and industry partners during the 14th Annual McAleese Defense Programs Conference March 15. Attendees heard Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman speak on a range of topics, including... Read more about DAF leaders stress importance of transformation, partnerships, and on-time appropriations

Lockheed delivers airborne laser LANCE to Air Force Research Lab

WASHINGTON: Lockheed Martin today revealed that it delivered a compact directed energy weapon to the Air Force Research Lab in February, a key milestone in the service’s effort to equip a tactical fighter jet with a laser capable of shooting down anti-aircraft missiles. Read more about Lockheed delivers airborne laser LANCE to Air Force Research Lab

Air Force pilots get an AI-assist with scheduling aircrews

Take it from Capt. Kyle McAlpin when he says that scheduling C-17 aircraft crews is a headache. An Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Flight Commander for the Department of Air Force–MIT AI Accelerator Program, McAlpin is also an experienced C-17 pilot. "You could have a mission change and spend the next 12 hours of your life rebuilding a schedule that works," he says. Read more about Air Force pilots get an AI-assist with scheduling aircrews

Department of the Air Force announces fourth Vanguard program

The Department of the Air Force announced June 4, 2021, the designation of Rocket Cargo as the fourth Vanguard program as part of its transformational science and technology portfolio identified in the DAF 2030 Science and Technology strategy for the next decade. Read more about Department of the Air Force announces fourth Vanguard program

AFRL invites new science, technology ideas through Air Force, Space Force Tech Connect

On behalf of the Department of the Air Force, as one laboratory supporting two services, the Air Force Research Laboratory has developed the Air and Space Forces Science & Technology Front Door, to connect potential partners with S&T experts and opportunities. The Department recognizes that innovative ideas often come from small businesses, industry, academia, or even a project in your neighbor's... Read more about AFRL invites new science, technology ideas through Air Force, Space Force Tech Connect