The Air Force and DARPA have begun a formal collaboration making use of DARPA’s Prognosis program for F-15 and F-16 fighter engines—F100s and F110s. The research agency launched Prognosis a few years ago to develop the means to predict future operating capability or remaining usable life of critical components. Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne last month visited the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB, Okla., where he signed a memorandum of agreement for the effort. The jointly funded effort will provide the ALC with a series of engine systems prognosis tools, according to a June 4 Air Force Materiel Command release. The MOA runs through Fiscal 2013.
Shield AI has entered the increasingly crowded field of Collaborative Combat Aircraft, this week announcing its “X-BAT” vehicle that stands out from others by having both vertical takeoff and landing capability and supersonic speed.
