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New Air Force science and technology strategy puts focus on speed by Staff Writers Arlington VA (AFNS) Apr 18, 2019
Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson unveiled a new and ambitious Science and Technology Strategy designed to better identify, develop and deploy breakthrough technologies, April 17. The 32-page report is a blueprint for the next decade and beyond. The strategy includes an array of changes allowing the Air Force to maximize - and expand - its technological advantage in the new era of peer-to-peer threats. "This strategy isn't just a list of technologies. Our approach will be to predict where adversaries cannot easily go and make sure the Air Force gets there first," Wilson said. The plan for executing this strategy is divided into three objectives to make the vision a reality: Develop and deliver transformational capabilities The Air Force will focus on developing and delivering transformational, operational capabilities by restructuring its science and technology portfolio. "The Air Force will prioritize five strategic capabilities while maintaining the ability to dominate time, space, and complexity across all operating domains," she said.
The five capabilities are: + Global persistent awareness which may include advances in "multimodal sensing" and developing new laser and multistatic radars; + Resilient information sharing, which may include developing mesh networks and "agile systems with real-time spectrum awareness"; + Rapid, effective decision-making which may include advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning and predictive data analytics; + Complexity, unpredictability, and mass, which may include upgrades to multi-domain command and control, developing low-cost air and space platforms and other advances, and; + Speed and reach of disruption and lethality, which may include hypersonic flight, scramjet propulsion and a new generation of smart munitions and tools for cyberwarfare. While the strategy will spur innovation and efficiencies across a broad range of programs, Wilson said the document places a special emphasis on hard-to-crack efforts related to multi-domain warfare. While the strategy features a collection of new policies, tools and practices, it also calls for a modified "return to our roots" by focusing 20 percent of Air Force science and technology (a subset of research, development, test and evaluation) funds on path breaking "Vanguard" projects. This effort will advance emerging weapon systems and warfighting concepts through prototyping and experimentation. The concept is drawn from past successes such as the "Century Series aircraft." These aircraft ranging from the F-100 to F-106 were developed in the 1950s and 1960s broke new ground, marking the first supersonic and double supersonic fighters and the first tactical aircraft designed to carry nuclear weapons.
Reform the way science and technology is led and managed The person selected for this newly created senior position will guide strategic scientific and technical decisions, prioritize activities and coordinate across the Service to convert scientific and technical investments into new disruptive capabilities.
Deepen and expand scientific and technical enterprise Expanding the Air Force's scientific presence in innovation hotspots, funding research in universities and with partnerships, creating a more visible Air Force science and technology front door and strengthening partnerships increases discovery, innovation and technology transition. This will strengthen the workforce and strengthen its connections to the broader scientific enterprise. "Transforming the force will require a change in mindset requiring everyone involved to stretch their thinking from what is possible to what is conceivable," said Dr. Richard Joseph, the chief scientist of the Air Force. "Most of all, it requires that the S andnT and operational elements of the Air Force work together to confound the strategies of our adversaries." Through sustained commitment to implementing the goals of this strategy, the Air Force will position itself to deliver disruptive innovations to the joint warfighter.
Japan's F-35As had 7 emergency landings before crash Washington (UPI) Apr 17, 2019 In the months before Japan's first F-35A stealth fighter jets crashed in the Pacific Ocean, the country's air force made seven emergency landings of the aircraft, Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said. The Japanese air force began using its fleet of 13 F-35As in January, and on April 9, the first plane off Mitsubishi's assembly line crashed off northern Japan. Speaking during a news conference Tuesday, Iwaya said the seven precautionary landings each happened before the end of ... read more
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