The Air 
Force has flown an F-15 for the first time on a fuel blend containing a biomass-derived fuel in addition to standard JP-8 aviation fuel. Members of the 46th Test Wing, along with USAF engineers, evaluated the F-15 engines’ performance with this fuel mixture during the Oct. 22 test at Eglin AFB, Fla. The biomass-derived portion of the fuel blend is known as hydro-treated renewable jet fuel, or HRJ. It is one type of alternative aviation fuel that the Air Force leadership wants to see the entire aircraft fleet certified to run on as a means of reducing US dependence on foreign sources of energy. Animal fat and plant oils are the feedstock for HRJ. Back in March, an A-10 became the Air Force’s first platform to fly on the JP-8/HRJ blend. (Air Force photo caption by 2nd Lt. Andrew Caulk)
A top Pentagon tech official called on industry this week to help the military develop “lighter, more efficient” directed energy weapons designed to go on aircraft and conduct special operations missions or down drones—areas where the Air Force’s directed energy efforts have been quiet as of late.