The four E-8 JSTARS aircraft that were grounded for inspections at Robins AFB, Ga., returned to operational status Sept. 23. The aircraft were inspected for possible safety of flight issues after Air Force Materiel Command became concerned about a trend of mostly minor mishaps it associated with the Northrop Grumman Lake Charles Maintenance and Modification Center in Louisiana. The inspections “did reveal some concerns that warranted noting and/or correction before returning to flight,” AFMC spokesman Chuck Paone told Air Force Magazine in an email Monday afternoon. The concerns were immediately remedied at Robins, he said. Northrop Grumman JSTARS program director Bryan Lima said previously the company “is committed to quality and safety” and is “working with the Air Force to ensure that the Joint STARS aircraft are mission ready.”
Concerned about how artificial intelligence might be used to generate target lists or operational plans, lawmakers want to expand limits on autonomous weapons to address mission planning and target selection. The House Armed Services Committee's version of the 2027 National Defense Authorization bill would direct the Pentagon to revise Defense…