The Air Force hasn’t stopped cold on the Joint Unmanned Combat Aircraft System, which is being taken over exclusively by the Navy per the Quadrennial Defense Review and 2007 defense budget proposal. “The Air Force is completing its work on refueling unmanned vehicles,” noted Air Force Secretary Wynne on Wednesday. He added, “That’s really the area that makes it more interesting for us.” The Navy, he continued, likely will proceed to a competition between the X-45 and X-47 concepts and develop the winning aircraft. Wynne believes that if it works, “the Air Force could show back up on their doorstep” and buy some.
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.