The Air Force Global Cyberspace Integration Center at Langley AFB, Va., led the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2008’s first quarter event, which ended Friday, reports Capt. Larry van der Oord. The center was looking for gaps in military capability, working from “the strategic all the way down to the tactical level,” said Brig. Gen. Mike McClendon, center commander. He said that’s a first in a machine-to-machine collaborative environment. The experiment explored 11 different initiatives, involving more than 600 participants at 17 locations.
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.