Business

US Air Force Is Moving Faster on Space Contracts, Industry Execs Say

The service has new purchasing authorities, a planned new structure for its satellite-buying arm — and a new attitude, company leaders say.

Business

Air Force Secretary: Boeing Is Giving Its Tanker Short Shrift

Pointing to the KC-46 program’s latest problems, Heather Wilson says the company is focusing too much on its civil aircraft.

Defense Systems

Military looks to boost pay for cyber talent

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said $37,000 may be sufficient for Hill staffers answering the phone, but is much too low for military cyber specialists.

Defense Systems

Why DOD needs more than OTAs to fix acquisition

The Air Force materiel commander says organizational culture matters more than novel procurement authorities when it comes to reforming cumbersome processes.

Business

Pentagon Tells Leaders to Talk More With Contractors — and Less to the Public and Press

One day after Air Force leaders severely restricted media contacts, Deputy Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan encouraged Pentagon officials to engage more with industry.

Policy

Trump Calls for a Space Force, a Concept His Pentagon Opposes

The president’s words could reanimate a legislative proposal that the defense secretary and others thought they had killed.

Policy

Here’s What the Services Want from Congress This Year

After lawmakers pass the budget promised by February’s bipartisan deal, the three secretaries have other priorities for legislative action.

Defense Systems

Service heads demur on DOD's cloud plan

At a D.C. defense policy event, the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force skirted the issue of the Pentagon's centralized cloud procurement strategy.

Defense Systems

Air Force plans to convert IT staff into cyber force

The Air Force hopes to solve the cyber worker shortage by redefining traditional IT jobs, starting at seven bases.

Business

Lockheed: Pentagon Negotiators Are Becoming More Unpredictable

The company’s CFO says willingness to discard precedent has stalled a new deal for the F-35 — and even affected the C-130.

Policy

The Air Force One Deal May Be Less Rosy Than Claimed

The White House’s “fixed-price deal” may still leave the taxpayer on the hook. And a spokesman seems to have inflated the projected savings.

Business

White House, Boeing In Final Stages of New Air Force One Deal

President Trump and Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg met in White House this week to break gridlock on price of new presidential planes.

Science & Tech

International Hackers Find 106 Bugs in US Air Force Websites

One bug discovered during Hack the Air Force 2.0 earned $12,500—the largest federal bounty paid out so far.

Science & Tech

The US Air Force Is Giving Its Anti-Drone Efforts a Silicon Valley Twist

A new kind of investor-innovation partnership may help speed emerging technology to the front lines.

Business

Trump Said He Cut $1B from Air Force One’s Price. His New Budget Says He Hasn't

The Pentagon's budget request sent to Congress on Monday still projects two new Air Force One jetliners costing $4 billion.

Business

US Air Force Looks For New Ways to Buy, Protect Satellites

Ideas include smaller constellations — perhaps even spacecraft built to commercial standards.

Policy

Qatar Wants to Host US Ships, Expand Air Base For American Families

Amid the Saudi-led blockade, the Qatari defense minister came to Washington seeking deeper ties with U.S.

Business

Air Force One Needs New Refrigerators. They Cost $24 Million

The improvement is just the latest example of the bespoke requirements for the presidential jets.