Business

Who is Secretly Building the USAF’s New Fighter?

Officials are mum, so here’s a roundup of clues.

Defense Systems

From weapons to workforce, digital centricity is the Air Force's new motto

Air Force leadership highlights the need for digitally fluent personnel and digital manufacturing during the 2020 Air, Space, Cyber conference.

Science & Tech

Revealed: US Air Force Has Secretly Built and Flown a New Fighter Jet

The new digital tools that designed the full-scale flight demonstrator could herald a sea change in weapons acquisition.

Business

Air Force General Defends Plans for Mixed F-35, F-15 Fleet

Top Air Force generals are expected to discuss the service’s future fighter force in upcoming meetings.

Business

Lockheed-Boeing Battle Heats Up as USAF Looks to Buy F-15EX

The F-35 maker is fighting to keep its monopoly on the Air Force’s fighter-jet shopping list.

Science & Tech

The Air Force’s ‘Connect Everything’ Project Just Had a Big Success

The simulated cruise missile intercept harnessed widely dispersed systems — all supervised by tablets in a flight-line hangar.

Defense Systems

Kessel Run works through growing pains

The Air Force's deputy CIO, Lauren Knausenberger, said the military branch's popular software factory has been a "victim of its own success" as it navigates trying to keep the spark as it gets bigger.

Science & Tech

USAF Seeks Better Ways to Process Electronic Intelligence

The Air Force Research Lab is looking for white papers outlining new technologies and methodologies for signal processing.

Defense Systems

Air Force seeks proof of concept in latest JADC2 experiment

The Air Force's "internet of things" also known as the Advanced Battle Management System is headed into a massive experiment to iron out the complexities of data-fueled warfare.

Defense Systems

Air Force looks to bridge 'valley of death' for small tech firms

The service's acquisition chief hopes to change how small businesses interact with the service through its innovative research program and eventually adopting the In-Q-Tel model.

Exclusive Business

CIA’s In-Q-Tel Among Backers of German Satellite-Thruster Startup

Morpheus Space’s small and simple electric thrusters could upend the satellite industry.

Ideas

A Great Change is Coming

Software, AI, autonomy — these are the ultimate weapons. The Pentagon must get serious about integrating AI into everything it has for 'hyperwar.'

Ideas

Nine Reasons Congress Should Nix the Air Force’s F-15EX Purchase

None of the service's proffered explanations stands up to analysis.

Science & Tech

The U-2's Latest Feat: Passing Data from F-35s to Army Missiles

A recent demonstration used the old spy plane as an airborne comms relay between fighters and ground-based weaponry.

Business

Boeing’s Coronavirus Losses Now Bleeding Into Its Defense Accounts

More layoffs, production slowdowns and factory closures are being considered, executives said.

Ideas

Three Urgent Questions for the Air Force’s New Chief of Staff

The service has too long delayed the hard choices that would prepare it to deter China.

Science & Tech

The Pentagon's Platform One Offers an Ambitious Model for the Future of Software

In an interview, the Air Force’s chief software officer described the potential for a profound transformation for cybersecurity.

Ideas

US Air Force, Space Force: Here Is Your New Arctic Strategy

America’s most active services in the region have a four-part plan to support the National Defense Strategy.

Business

US May Need to Nationalize Military Aircraft Industry, USAF Says

That’s unless the Air Force can find a way to keep both competition and the few remaining U.S. plane-makers alive, the service’s acquisition chief said.

Policy

We Don’t Have Enough Cash to Build New Nuclear Weapons, Says Air Force Chief

Nukes or conventional weapons, “the current budget does not allow you to do both,” says Gen. Dave Goldfein, suggesting Congress create a separate account.