The Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 main experiment is underway at Nellis AFB, Nev., and this year will assess eight new technology initiatives during live-fly and live-play by air, ground, and naval forces and simulations. Officials explained that the new initiatives include processes that may increase command and control capabilities, enhance predictive battlespace awareness, and decrease the time it takes to find, fix, target, track, assess, and engage a target. Preceding the main experiment were three spirals, each designed to enable participants to provide feedback used to modify initiatives and systems before transitioning to the main experiment. JEFX is slated to run through April 28.
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft will be operational in the late 2020s, several years before the Next-Generation Air Dominance family of systems, Air Force officials told the House Armed Services tactical aviation panel. The CCAs will first be “shooters,” then electronic warfare platforms, then sensors, in that order, they added.