Members of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, recently demonstrated new security forces equipment designed to make monitoring for threats easier and responding to emergencies more efficient. This gear is collectively known as the Joint Force Protection Advanced Security System, or JFPASS. Spangdahlem received the equipment in January and is now the sole operational Defense Department installation involved in assessing it. “JFPASS is a force protection system that fuses, automates, and integrates dissimilar technology into a common operational picture,” explained Joe Fagan, the system’s operational manager. Officials from US Air Forces in Europe, US European Command, and NATO witnessed the demonstration Aug. 20 as base security forces put JFPASS sensors, cameras, robots, and software through the paces. The equipment will remain at Spangdahlem for about another half year, giving airmen the opportunity to provide more feedback. (Spangdahlem report by 1st Lt. Kathleen Polesnak)
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.