“This is a new effort, as the expanded mission now goes beyond a strict MQ-9 replacement,” an AFLCMC spokesperson said. “This endeavor serves to explore concepts that address capability gaps of legacy platforms against increasingly sophisticated threats in denied, contested, and highly contested environments.”
By Theresa HitchensModernizing military simulation with open systems architecture
Best-of-breed common models and architecture enable virtual training and testing with the same data in a cyber-resilient posture.
The head of INDOPACOM, Adm. Davidson, and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Air Force Gen. Hyten, seem receptive to a new Army role in long-range strike.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
The Air Force is “driving toward” 2023 for initial operating capability for Skyborg, says AFRL Director Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle.
By Theresa Hitchens
The Air Force’s new AI copilot could next be flown by a Skyborg drone, says AF acquisition czar Will Roper.
By Theresa Hitchens
“For flying an instrument approach, having an AI copilot makes sense,” says retired general ‘Hawk’ Carlisle, former head of Air Combat Command.
By Theresa Hitchens Boeing, General Atomics, and Kratos the winners for first Skyborg prototypes.
By Theresa Hitchens
Authorizers want CAPE to assess costs and risks of the “aggressive and uncertain plan” Digital Century Series approach to acquire NGAD aircraft.
By Theresa Hitchens
ROC-X – The solution to organic precision strike capabilities
At AUSA Global Force 2024, IAI will present integrated, AI-driven combat systems – both manned and unmanned – that are opening new opportunities on the battlefield.
“All of the services are pursuing new long-range strike capabilities today, kind of like little kids chasing a soccer ball, and someone needs to ask which investments will maximize our nation’s long-range strike warfighting potential,” said Mitchell Institute’s Mark Gunzinger.
By Theresa Hitchens
The exercise also served as the Air Force’s third “On Ramp” demo for its Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), demonstrating a new software for battlefield situational awareness.
By Theresa Hitchens
The study cautions that no matter how smart, drones only “are complementary, force-multiplying capabilities, not replacements for 5th generation stealth aircraft” such as F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, and B-21 bombers.
By Theresa Hitchens Lockheed Martin’s award means that all three big defense primes with deep ties to the Air Force now are in the running for Skyborg.
By Theresa Hitchens
“Before AI can find its place, really, in the cockpit in a formation, it kind of has to earn its wings first,” DARPA Deputy Director David Honey says.
By Theresa Hitchens
“It’s gonna hurt a little bit,” said new AFRL Commander Brig. Gen. Heather Pringle. “We can’t do everything — we don’t have the budget to do everything under the sun.”
By Theresa Hitchens
Is the Air Force about to make the same mistakes with Skyborg that it made with the F-22 and F-35? Sure, they created the most capable aircraft in the world, but they neglected to give them the capacity to share their assessment of the air battlespace situation with our other fighters—and sharing data is the…
By Brent Sadler and John Venable