The Air Force plans to spend more than $6 billion on a “collaborative combat aircraft” program and related projects over the next five years, according to newly released budget justification documents. The CCA drones are expected to serve as robotic wingmen for Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jets and other manned aircraft. The Air Force is currently planning for 1,000 such systems.
The U.S. Air Force’s new five-year spending plan envisions requesting more than $73 billion to develop and procure its new B-21 bomber and Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, both produced by Northrop Grumman Corp., according to newly released figures. For the B-21 bomber, the proposed spending through fiscal 2028 totals $35 billion, including $10.6 billion for development and $20.8 for procurement. Production spending to buy what’s now envisioned as a fleet of at least 100 bombers would increase to $3.9 billion in 2025 from $108 million last year. It’s projected to hit $5.6 billion in fiscal 2028.
The U.S. Space Force is seeking more than $1.2 billion in funding over the next five years for a secretive “Long Range Kill Chains” program to track moving targets from space. The Air Force will shift a portion of its ground moving target indicator mission from its aging fleet of E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft—which are set to retire by the end of next year—to Space Force satellites, according to detailed fiscal 2024 budget documents.
The way modern Airmen and Guardians prepare for the future fight is changing, with live, virtual, and constructive training offering new ways to practice essential skills. Learn more about how virtual and augmented reality, simulated environments, and other technologies are helping train warfighters everywhere from the cockpit to the maintenance depot.
Last week’s DSEI Japan show served as a showcase for the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), with government and industry representatives from Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom gathering to announce new technology partnerships for the sixth-generation fighter. GCAP took center stage at the exhibition in Tokyo with a scale model of the technology demonstrator flanked by industrial partners promoting advanced electronics, weapon systems and propulsion solutions. The program was enough of a draw for the defense ministers from the U.K. and Italy to travel from Europe for the event.
The pandemic wreaked havoc on service members' eating habits, leading to increases in obesity, diabetes and eating disorders, according to new Pentagon research. Data from the Defense Health Agency, or DHA, showed that the rates of obesity among U.S. troops rose by 13.3 percent from 2020 to 2021, while diagnoses of pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes also increased—the latter, the risk of which increases greatly with poor dietary habits, was up 25 percent since 2018.
In a demonstration trailer designed to approximate the interior of the E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, Boeing officials offered The War Zone and a handful of other reporters details about the E-7’s unique capabilities and painted a picture of why Air Force commanders can’t wait to get their hands on this jet.
The United States Air Force Academy and the Association of Graduates are proud to announce the selection of three Distinguished Graduates who will be honored this summer. Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Hans Mueh, Class of 1966, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Susan Desjardins, Class of 1980, of Exeter, N.H.; and Gen. (Ret.) David Goldfein, Class of 1983, of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas, will receive their awards at the annual Distinguished Graduate dinner on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the Air Force Academy.
Eileen Bjorkman joined the U.S. Air Force in 1980, rising to the rank of Colonel before her retirement in 2009. She flew more than 700 hours as a flight-test engineer in more than 25 different aircraft, primarily the F-4 Phantom II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, C-130 Hercules, and C-141 Starlifter. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in computer science and aeronautical engineering, a Master’s degree in aeronautical engineering, and a Ph.D. in systems engineering. Bjorkman is currently the executive director of the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
