The Air Force’s Distributed Mission Operations Network has grown to 25 nodes, recently reaching Spangdahlem AB, Germany and Kadena AB, Japan, and will expand to Misawa AB, Japan, by year’s end. So states Telecommunications firm Global Crossing and Northrop Grumman. The companies began running the fiber optic backbone and broadband connections at USAF facilities in 2001. DMON is the system that, for instance, lets F-15 fighter pilots and E-3 AWACS crews at different locations train as if they were flying together. See our story on this here.
The Air Force is spending heavily on F-22 improvements through the end of the decade, suggesting it may not retire the jet in 2030 as it previously planned. New sensors, fuel tanks, communications, and electronic warfare systems are among the upgrades that comprise the package.