Ever since the England memo (see above) hit the services in mid-October, many have speculated how the Air Force would respond. Some thought USAF might choose to kill off an expensive space program or two. Others thought further cuts to legacy aircraft might be in store. Now comes word of another option: Heavy infrastructure cuts, leaving programs intact. That, at least, is what a top Air Force official told the well-informed defense newsletter, Inside the Air Force. The plan is encapsulated in the Nov. 11 issue (requires subscription), under John T. Bennett’s byline. Whether DOD will accept USAF’s suggestions will be determined in a series of late November budget meetings.
A recent Air Force contract to buy up to $50 million worth of small drones from Anduril Industries may soon allow the service’s special operations command to transform its MQ-9 Reapers into drone-launching motherships.
