Big decisions coming for the Air Force’s next-gen aircraft platforms
Some of the service’s future aircraft programs are in limbo as it looks for more clarity over the next few months.
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Next-generation air dominance and CCA drone concept art (Lockheed Martin image) Emerging Tech -
An F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, takes off for a night mission during Red Flag-Nellis 24-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March 21, 2024. Red Flag participants conduct a variety of scenarios, including defensive counterair, offensive-counterair suppression of enemy air defenses and offensive counterair-air interdiction. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Jimmy Cummings) Tech Air Force looking to disaggregate electronic warfare capabilities from platforms
The Air Force is taking a more holistic approach to electronic warfare across a variety of systems and capabilities.
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Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions flight load an AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile onto an F-15E Strike Eagle during an integrated combat turn training event at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, March 3, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg Erwin) Weapons Air Force integrating AMRAAM weapons onto first batch of CCA drones
Raytheon is working with the service and the two vendors competing in the ongoing development-for-production phase of CCA Increment 1 to incorporate the missiles onto the drones.
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A BQM-177 aerial target conducts test flight from China Lake, Calif. (U.S. Navy photo) AI Navy testing autonomous flight capabilities with aerial targets
NAVAIR has launched a new effort to integrate an AI-enabled pilot with the BQM-177A.
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CCA concept art (GA-ASI image) AI Report: Air Force CCA program still faces cost, bureaucratic hurdles despite positive movement
A new report from CSIS says the Air Force’s existing acquisition culture could turn the drone program into one that is too expensive and exquisite to produce on time.
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Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander, speaks to the winners of the major command’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2023, during a ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, May 14, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow) Weapons USAFE commander expects new drones to ‘change quite a few things’ for Air Force readiness
The head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) and U.S. Air Forces Africa outlined how he envisions collaborative combat aircraft affecting operations, training and maintenance.
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Lockheed Martin rendering of the Next-Generation Air Dominance platform Emerging Tech Air Force Secretary Kendall floats possibility of ‘optionally crewed’ stealth fighter for NGAD
“There’s a chance it might be uncrewed, but I think that’s not quite ready yet. And we could always do something like an optionally crewed platform,” Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said.
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CCA concept art (Anduril image) Emerging Tech Air Force has 5 vendors on contract to develop autonomy for CCA drones
“We will get down to a lower number of those vendors, and they will create an autonomy implementation that will be applied to CCA Increment 1,” Brig. Gen. Jason Voorheis said.
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Next-generation air dominance and CCA drone concept art (Lockheed Martin image) Emerging Tech Air Force still expects to award NGAD contract in 2024 despite uncertainties — ACC commander
Although the NGAD program’s fate has become uncertain in recent weeks, Gen. Wilsbach still expects a contract award to happen this year.
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Lockheed Martin rendering of the Next-Generation Air Dominance platform Weapons Air Force likely weighing several factors as it contemplates future of NGAD
Analysts told DefenseScoop that a number of variables are likely shaping the Air Force’s decision on the fate of its sixth-generation fighter jet, including new technologies, budget constraints and more.