B-2 and B-52 bombers recently fired live JASSM cruise missiles in a series of trials aimed at evaluating and perfecting standoff tactics. “The JASSM is one of the most cutting-edge weapons we have,” said Maj. Chris Weir, weapons officer with the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La. “Its low-observable characteristics really make it one of the most capable weapons that we have to destroy targets in a contested environment,” he added in a June 10 Barksdale release. The strike results were “encouraging,” but the Combat Hammer evaluation team is drawing no conclusions “until all the data have been collected and analyzed from the range,” said 2nd Lt. Victoria Carrillo, an analyst with the 86th Weapons Squadron at Eglin AFB, Fla. The bombers also dropped GPS and laser guided bombs over the Utah Test and Training Range. Five aircraft types, including remotely piloted aircraft, also participated in the two-week evaluation last month. (Barksdale report by A1C Joseph Raatz)
RTX, parent of Raytheon, Collins and Pratt & Whitney, is getting out of the space prime business and focusing on its "strengths" as a maker of space sensors, buses, and components, company COO Chris Calio said during an earnings call.