The Air Force is providing the new noise-reducing earpiece we described earlier to the F-16 pilots of the 4th Fighter Squadron, Hill AFB, Utah, this month. They are in hot demand around the Air Force. The Attenuating Custom Communication Earpiece System, developed by Air Force Research Lab’s Battle Space Acoustics Department in concert with Manufactured Assemblies Corp. of Ohio and Westone Laboratories Inc. of Colorado, costs less than $600 per person and should go a long way in reducing hearing loss and improving communication ability. (What we didn’t say earlier: Westone produces comparable earpieces for rock bands.)
A Golden Dome task force established under U.S. Northern Command earlier this year has a broad remit, which includes fielding the capability to defend the U.S. against missile and drone attacks, its leaders said this week. Some of the primary focuses right now are ensuring Golden Dome can defend itself…