The Air Force announced today it expects to declare F-35A Lightning II initial operation capability in December 2016. The announcement was included in a joint report detailing service-specific IOC requirements and dates for every of the F-35 variants that was brought to Congress today. “The Air Force has spent the last six months watching our initial capability requirements and the predicted availability date. This announcement is exciting news for the Air Force,” said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. “It highlights to members of Congress, our international partners, and the yankee public that this system is heading in the... Read More »

By Lexington institute on Monday, June 3rd, 2013 Remember the long run Combat System (FCS)? This was a posh “system-of-systems” which involved manned and unmanned ground and aerial vehicles, advanced weapons systems and sensors, a few of them remotely operated and an all-encompassing command, control and communications network to hang all of it together. After nearly a decade of development and the expenditure of tens of billions of bucks with virtually nothing to teach for it, then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates cancelled this system. So how is it that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), operating on a good budget and... Read More »

Senior commanders recently called at the defense industry to produce technologies that give special operations forces more situational awareness, better networking and communications and more precise location and targeting capabilities. Officials from across U.S. Special Operations Command, including commanders of its service components and the theater special operations commands, laid out their wish lists earlier this month on the annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference here. All noted the unprecedented capabilities the defense industry has brought to help special operations forces succeed prior to now 12 years of conflict. But seeking to the longer term — the drawdown in Afghanistan,... Read More »

With a career that spans across three decades and a warfighting reputation that rivals nearly every aircraft inside the Air Force’s arsenal, the B-1 Bomber has established itself as probably the most United States’ most important assets to maintaining air and ground superiority. This achievement was built at the backs of hundreds, if not thousands, of Dyess maintainers who’ve kept this Cold War bird fighting well into the 21st century. With the bomber’s ever increasing role in today’s combat operations, pushing the airframe to the boundaries of its original design, skilled maintenance professionals are crucial to making sure mission success.... Read More »

By Army News Service on Tuesday, June 4th, 2013 The Army published a brand new handbook this month to supply leaders of all levels with the data and tools had to address today’s cybersecurity challenges, and to make certain organizations adopt the required practices to offer protection to their information and the military network. “We must change our culture, enforce compliance, and confirm that folk are answerable for proper security procedures,” Secretary of the military John McHugh said in a Feb. 1 memo mandating Information Assurance/Cybersecurity awareness training. Currently, all Army commands are developing Information Assurance/Cybersecurity awareness training to deal... Read More »