Science & Tech
General: Project Maven Is Just the Beginning of the Military’s Use of AI
Air Combat Command chief invites tech firms to help build next-gen tools for the Pentagon. Also says dissent "is part of being an American."
Ideas
An Extraordinarily Expensive Way to Fight ISIS
The tale of a 2017 bombing raid in the Libyan desert that pitted stealth bombers and 500-pound bombs against 70 ragtag fighters.
Ideas
SpaceX Just Sold the US Air Force the Cheapest Enormous Rocket It’s Ever Bought
The launch will cost $130 million, far less than the $350 million average cost of United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV.
Science & Tech
Amid NATO Infighting, the Future of the F-35 Is Shrinking
The U.S. Senate wants to revoke Turkey’s license to buy the jet, while other European governments are looking to get a competitor off the ground.
Ideas
Cut the Red Tape Slowing the Pentagon's Race to Space
If the Air Force is to harness cheap satellites and reusable rockets, it must transform a risk-averse bureaucracy built for a different era.
Policy
What Trump’s Space Force Announcement Means
New plan would create sixth service branch, and annoy the Air Force.
Business
Predicting When Weapons Will Break is a Hot New Market. Microsoft Wants In.
The company touts its commercial artificial intelligence as ripe for the military.
Defense Systems
Air Force announces partnership to push emerging tech
The Air Force Academy inked a five-year cooperative research and development agreement with telecom giant AT&T to keep better pace with the speed of commercial advancement.
Business
Scrapped: $24M Plan to Replace Refrigerators On Air Force One
Rep. Joe Courtney says the no-bid deal “didn’t pass the smell test.”
Business
US Air Force Is Waiting a Year for Parts That It Could 3D-Print
Its chief weapons buyer is mulling licensing arrangements to allow third-party manufacture.
Ideas
Ep. 5: Q&A with Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson; UAE, Iran, and the war in Yemen, plus more.
Welcome to the fifth episode of our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.
Business
Here’s How the USAF Is Using Its New Purchasing Power
Next week, program heads will meet at the Pentagon to brief the service’s new acquisition board of directors.
Ideas
America’s New Stealth Bomber has a Stealthy Price Tag
Revealing how much the Air Force’s B-21 is costing won’t help America’s enemies — but will make oversight possible.
Ideas
Ep. 4: Trump vs. Kim; Military algorithms; ISIS’ new war narratives; USAF’s next plane and more.
Welcome to the fourth episode of our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.
Business
How to Sell a COIN Aircraft in a Great-Power Era
Even as the Pentagon shifts its focus from low-intensity conflict to full-spectrum war, the U.S. Air Force might finally buy a prop-driven light attack plane.
Business
The US Air Force Is Adding Algorithms to Predict When Planes Will Break
The airlines already use predictive maintenance technology. Now the service’s materiel chief says it’s a “must-do for us.”
Policy
US Air Force: Recent String of Crashes Isn’t a Crisis
But it will stand down every flying wing for one day to look for trends in the mishaps that claimed the lives of 18 airmen.
Business
Did Your Company Make that Warplane? Don’t Count on the Upgrade Work Anymore
The new Air Force acquisition chief wants to open more sustainment contracts to competition.
Defense Systems
Shwedo tapped to be new Joint Staff CIO
President Donald Trump has nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Bradford Shwedo to be the next Joint Staff CIO.
Threats