The Federal Trade Commission has approved the formation of the United Launch Alliance, the merger of launch services provided by Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Approval did not come quickly, and there may still be some disgruntled entities, but last week at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in Washington, Gen. Kevin Chilton, head of Air Force Space Command, maintained that the venture would save money and improve assured access to space. (Here are the Boeing and Lockheed Martin statements on the FTC clearance.)
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.