The era of “three-day critical design reviews” of Air Force programs may be ending with the advent of digital design and development methods, Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, head of Air Force Materiel Command, told attendees at an industry conference. “This is completely transforming how we’re ...
As the Air Force’s test and evaluation enterprise faces a surge of new weapon systems it needs to test, existing range space must be preserved and ground testing needs to be better resourced, said Gen. Arnold W. Bunch Jr., outgoing head of Air Force Materiel ...
With a repeat of a hypersonic missile test coming up in the summer and the potential to speed up production of the B-21 Raider, the Air Force is “committed” to putting hypersonic missiles on its long-range bombers, said Lt. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, the top ...
Boeing rolled out its first production T-7A advanced trainer at ceremonies in St. Louis, Mo., touting the jet's digital design and calling it the start of a new era of Air Force pilot training. The ceremonies were cloaked with tributes to the Tuskegee Airmen, as ...
The Air Force is poised to have two new heads of major commands, as President Joe Biden nominated Lt. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson to receive a fourth star and lead Air Force Materiel Command and Lt. Gen. Brian S. Robinson to take over Air Education ...
Using new digital methods to design a future Air Force fighter costs more than the traditional approach, but subsequent iterations could be done faster and less expensively, senior Air Force officials said Sept. 22. They also cautioned that the “Digital Century Series” is not synonymous ...
The Air Force is considering whether senior military officers without technical experience or skills should continue to be put in charge of advanced technology acquisition programs following a blistering resignation letter from the service’s chief software officer earlier this month. Nicolas M. Chaillan, who had ...
The Air Force unveiled the name of its newest fighter jet—the F-15EX Eagle II—during an April 7 ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. ANG Director Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh said during the ceremony the F-15EX’s improvements will be key to its mission of ...
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 ...
New Pentagon acquisition rules are making it possible to field the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) hypersonic missile five years faster than would be possible under the old rules, top USAF uniformed acquisition official Lt. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson said Dec. 3. He also ...
Lt. Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, and Trae’ Stephens addressed "Acquisition Policies and Practices: Defense Start-Ups and Acquisition with Investors" with retired Maj. Gen. Doug Raaberg, Air Force Association executive vice president. The panel discussion was part of AFA's virtual Air, ...