An Air Force F-16 flying over Eglin AFB, Fla., demonstrated the ability to use the Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radar, developed by Sandia Lab initially for unmanned aerial vehicles built by General Atomics, culminating a two-year research effort that has coupled GA with BAE Systems. According to GA, the goal of the effort is to provide USAF and the Air National Guard the capability “to fuse the products of two high-resolution sensors integrated into a single reconnaissance pod”—thereby exceeding the capability of a single sensor.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.