According to the just-released Directorate of Operational Test & Evaluation Fiscal 2008 annual report, the program schedule for the Air Force-led Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, following its restructuring, offers “moderate risk.” The report states, “Pressure to maintain the production schedule could reduce reliability improvements, not incorporate corrections as needed, and/or reduce planned adequate testing.” DOT&E acknowledges that USAF is screening previous system and test information to root out deficiencies affecting reliability and notes that the service had adopted an Office of the Secretary of Defense systems engineering plan and new test strategies. However, it points out that continued failures of sled tests indicate the service must further evaluate the electronic fuze. The report recommends that USAF continue to incorporate reliability and program management improvements where possible.
The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force has unveiled a new electronic warfare drone designed to fly with fighter jets into contested airspace, including alongside its fleet of F-35s. RAF says it plans to develop models that draw on the U.S. Air Force’s approach of mating unmanned systems with crewed platforms.