During a speech an Air National Guard conference in Baltimore, Gen. Michael Moseley, Air Force Chief of Staff, told the audience that USAF senior leaders had decided to re-designate the F/A-22 as just plain F-22. The move returns the new stealth fighter to its original pre-2002 designation. In September 2002, Air Force leaders heralded the addition of an “A” to emphasize its ground-attack capability. We are told that the switchback does not signify an end to pursuit of the Raptor’s ground-attack role. Watch this space for the formal announcement.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.

