defense industry

BAE Systems Begins F-15 EPAWSS Low-Rate Production

March 2, 2021 | By John A. Tirpak
Low-rate initial production of the EPAWSS electronic warfare suite for the F-15 has begun, under a $58 million contract from Boeing, BAE Systems reported. The system is designed to buy the F-15 more survivability in and near contested airspace. It will equip F-15C/D and F-15E ...

TacAir Study Will Determine If F-35 Production Surge Needed

Feb. 25, 2021 | By John A. Tirpak
The Air Force's new tactical aviation study will determine if a surge in F-35 production is needed in order to buy out the planned 1,763 airplanes before the 2040s. But that decision also will depend on funding, contractor capacity, and the need for complementary aircraft, ...

AFWERX Aims to Formally Launch SpaceWERX This Summer

Feb. 24, 2021 | By Jennifer-Leigh Oprihory
AFWERX expects to formally launch SpaceWERX—a center for military-space-centric innovation intended to support Space Force acquisition—this summer, AFWERX director Col. Nathan Diller told reporters at the Air Force Association’s virtual Aerospace Warfare Symposium on Feb. 24. “We are expecting very soon—in the coming months—to actually ...

Going Digital Will Take Courage; Fighter Study Looks to 2040s

Feb. 24, 2021 | By John A. Tirpak
Former Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper's transformational ideas on how to buy new systems will stay on track without him, senior service officials said Feb. 24. Digital engineering, agile software development, and open architectures will play a part in all new systems. But sticking ...