Air Force Space Command is implementing a program to distribute smart phones and electronic tablets to improve the operational capabilities of airmen across the force and the real-time functionality of service executives, announced command officials. The first stage of this effort involves delivering some 10,000 mobile devices, states AFSPC’s Feb. 19 release. “Our approach allows personnel to use the Apple operating system and Android tools to access email, calendar, contacts, documents, and certain applications in accordance with [Defense Department] guidelines for mobile device security,” said Brig. Gen. Kevin Wooton, AFSPC’s communications and information director. Under this approach, official data are encrypted and kept within a secure “container” at all times, states the release. At the same time, personnel may use Air Force-approved personal applications such as Facebook and Twitter outside of this container, thereby maintaining the separation between official and personal data, according to the release. “We’re aiming for increasing productivity and effectiveness through a secure information technology infrastructure,” said Maj. Gen. Suzanne Vautrinot, commander of 24th Air Force, the service’s cyber operations arm.
As with previous stealth aircraft unveilings, the Air Force’s imagery of the F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter has been doctored to keep adversaries guessing about its true shaping and design philosophy.