All commanders want more capability than they they’ll need, Schwartz said, and “in a perfect world,” he’d buy both more C-17s and a new aerial tanker, one that can double as a freighter, like the KC-10. However, if he is forced to choose between them, his choice would be the tanker/cargo combo. He waved off characterizing what the airplane should be but said he’s convinced there’s no “economic business case to fix the KC-135E” with any kind of an upgrade. A new aircraft is needed, and the program should get going “Without delay. Right now. Get on with it.”
Concerned about how artificial intelligence might be used to generate target lists or operational plans, lawmakers want to expand limits on autonomous weapons to address mission planning and target selection. The House Armed Services Committee's version of the 2027 National Defense Authorization bill would direct the Pentagon to revise Defense…