Business
GE Joins Lockheed in Lobbying for New Tanker Competition
Coalition turns up heat three months after USAF said they’d probably just buy Boeing.
Defense Systems
Overheating F-35s May Get Service-Specific Cooling Upgrades, Likely Hiking Cost
The jets’ engines are running twice as hot as designed, boosting maintenance and capping performance.
Threats
USAF Calls Killer-AI Report ‘Anecdotal’
Chief of AI test and operations says he “misspoke” about a “thought experiment” in which a drone killed its operator.
Policy
Pentagon Buying Musk’s Starlink for Ukraine
SpaceX had donated 20,000 satellite terminals to Ukraine, but later said the service was “never intended to be weaponized.”
Science & Tech
F-35 Costs Still Climbing, as Pentagon Updates the Fleet
New GAO report details another $1.4 billion in upgrade costs, and additional delays.
Policy
Biden Picks Changemaking Air Force Chief as Next Top Military Officer
Gen. CQ Brown instituted the “agile combat employment” concept and the “Accelerate Change or Lose” doctrine.
Policy
F-35 Program Completes Band-Aid Fix for Engine
All jets had received the modification earlier this month, but the Pentagon is still trying to figure out why a mysterious vibration is happening.
Defense Systems
Tardy Training Jet Reveals Limits of Digital Design, Air Force Says
New GAO report says decade-late T-7A program will get later yet.
Science & Tech
Air Force Working Closely with New-Jet Designers, Secretary Says
Service engineers are “living in the same design space” as the two companies doing NGAD development, Frank Kendall said.
Policy
F-16s Would Make No ‘Fundamental Change’ in Ukraine’s War Effort, USAF Secretary Says
Biden’s decision to start training Ukrainian pilots on the jet is more about setting up Kyiv’s long-term capabilities, Kendall said.
Threats
B-2s to Return to Flight after Five Months
Air Force officials still won’t say why one of the stealthy bombers was forced to land in December.
Business
USAF Opens Bidding to Build Its 1st New Fighter in Decades
An engineering and manufacturing development contract is to be awarded in 2024 for the secretive Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft.
Defense Systems
USAF Sees '100 Roles' for Its Robot Wingmen—and Firms Are Lining Up to Make Them
Air Force procurement chief offers the most detailed description yet of the collaborative combat aircraft program.
Threats
US Will Use AI to Track Orbiting Objects, Space Command Says
The four-year-old command is set to reach full operating capacity this year—but will it stay in Colorado?
Policy
Hypersonics, Nukes Top House Lawmaker’s Priorities List
But markups at Doug Lamborn’s HASC strategic forces panel are on hold amid threats to force a U.S. default.
Policy
Will SecAF’s Budget-Flexibility Proposal Die on the Hill?
Frank Kendall wants Congress to allow service secretaries to launch new efforts as threats arise, not when budget season rolls around.
Threats
Blame ‘Global Demand,’ Parts Shortages for Taiwan’s Tardy F-16s, US Says
Lawmakers are frustrated by the delays in arming the island against China.
Policy
Space Force Hopes to Recoup Costs of Commercial Launches
A law that limits launch fees is under reconsideration as more private companies use government facilities to send rockets skyward.
Policy
Where’d the Money Go? Lawmakers Press Air Force on Planned Radar Plane
Congress approved $200 million last year to get the first E-7s faster. That’s not happening.
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