When the Space Force shattered its own records by sending a satellite into orbit 27 hours after receiving launch orders as part of its “Victus Nox” mission, Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman likened it to Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier. Yet as ...
Rapid Acquisition & Sustainment
Lt. Gen. Donna D. Shipton officially took command of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center on Jan. 17, vowing to push forward on “continued investment and development to prepare for tomorrow's conflicts.” Shipton is the fifth commander of AFLCMC and first woman to lead the ...
The first-ever National Defense Industrial Strategy sets out the challenges facing supply of the U.S. and allied militaries and prescribes broad remedies, though it doesn’t get into specific programs. An implementation plan to translate the policies into action is expected within a month, Pentagon officials ...
Congress is mandating biennial updates on the Pentagon’s strategy for developing, buying, and fielding offensive and defensive hypersonic systems, according to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, which is poised to pass both chambers this week. They also want a plan identifying overland test ranges ...
Adm. Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs and head of the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, is pushing a “portfolio” approach to requirements and wants his position to have “more teeth” so he can enforce it.
New F-35s are coming off the production line with the TR-3 upgrade and going right into storage because testing is incomplete. Next lot negotiations are continuing, but talks over a performance-based logistics contract have stalled.
Northrop Grumman won't get its B-21 low-rate initial production contract until after first flight happens, company officials said on their quarterly earnings call. They also said Northrop won’t make any money on the B-21 in the LRIP phase, due to higher labor costs and inflation ...
Lockheed Martin has withdrawn its LMXT aerial refueler from the Air Force’s KC-135 fleet recapitalization program—previously referred to as the “bridge tanker” effort—the company said Oct. 23. However, its partner Airbus said it will press on, offering its Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) version of the ...
The Space Development Agency has awarded a contract for 62 more satellites for its massive planned constellation in low-Earth orbit, an agency spokesperson confirmed Oct. 20. York Space Systems has been tapped to produce the satellites for the Alpha segment of the Tranche 2 Transport Layer. ...