Air Combat Command now has enough of the new earplugs developed by Air Force Research Lab and commercial companies for all its pilots, who praise the plugs because they not only block noise but also enable radio communication. Before the custom-molded Attenuating Custom Communications Earpiece System, USAF used foam sound-blocking plugs that unfortunately also hampered voices coming over the pilot’s headset. Working with Westone Labs, which also markets the earpieces to commercial customers, the Air Force now is getting the devices for less than $300 per set. (ACC report by A1C Kate Lozier)
The final version of the fiscal 2026 defense policy bill calls for adding $1.2 billion to the Space Force’s research and development accounts, an increase that’s mostly split between two efforts: expanding the service’s low-Earth orbit data transport network and boosting its space-based missile warning and tracking capabilities.
