The plan to merge the two launch services of Lockheed Martin and Boeing may have hit a snag. Although the Air Force initially signaled its approval, expecting to reap savings in launching national security payloads, service officials have joined with the Federal Trade Commission in seeking specifics on anticipated savings. When the companies paired up to present the United Launch Alliance venture in May, they predicted savings of up to $150 million a year. Now regulators conducting an atitrust investigation want to see how they arrived at the number.
Earlier this spring, the 388th Fighter Wing proved just 12 Airmen can operate an F-35 contingency location, refueling and rearming the fighters at spots across Georgia and South Carolina. The demonstration, part of exercise Agile Flag 23-1, marks yet another proof of concept for the Air Force’s plan to send…