Air Force seeks industry input for next-gen ICBM reentry vehicle

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Broad agency announcementIndustryTransportation
WASHINGTON — The Air Force is kicking off the solicitation process for a Next Generation Reentry Vehicle (NGRV) that will be mounted on the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, according to a request for information posted by the service Wednesday. Most details about the RFI are classified, though the notice and Air Force budget documents [ PDF] broadly establish goals of increased... Read more about Air Force seeks industry input for next-gen ICBM reentry vehicle
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US Space Force’s responsive space strategy taking shape

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Broad agency announcementIndustryLogistics
WASHINGTON — U.S. Space Force officials said they are refining their understanding of what it means to quickly react to threats that impact operational satellites as the service prepares for its second Tactically Responsive Space mission this summer, dubbed Victus Nox. The service last September issued contracts for Victus Nox to Boeing subsidiary Millennium Space Systems to build a satellite and... Read more about US Space Force’s responsive space strategy taking shape
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GAO Tells Congress: Pentagon Still Needs a Portfolio Plan for Tactical Aviation

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IndustryLogistics
With a flood of new aircraft programs taking shape, the Pentagon still doesn’t have a portfolio plan that rationalizes its all-service tactical aviation activities, the Government Accountability Office told the House Armed Services Committee this week. Creating such a plan would help the Defense Department and Congress alike size up the true priorities in TacAir and put funds against the most... Read more about GAO Tells Congress: Pentagon Still Needs a Portfolio Plan for Tactical Aviation
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AFRL conducts first flight experiments for communications in terahertz band

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Industry
ROME, N.Y. (AFRL) — Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, researchers successfully conducted flight experiments Dec. 2- 6, 2022, in Rome, New York to prove the viability of communications at radio frequencies above 300 gigahertz, or GHz, known in research communities as terahertz, or THz, band. Over three days of flight experiments, researchers from AFRL’s Information Directorate, in... Read more about AFRL conducts first flight experiments for communications in terahertz band
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Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites

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IndustryLogisticsSpace Force
The Space Development Agency (SDA) today announced the successful initial launch of Tranche 0 (T0) of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), the Transport and Tracking Layer satellites that will demonstrate the low-latency communication links to support the warfighter with a resilient network of integrated capabilities, including tracking of advanced missile threats, from low-Earth... Read more about Space Development Agency Successfully Launches Tranche 0 Satellites
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In a $3 billion bet, Space Force envisions tactical anti-jam SATCOM keeping enemy EW at bay

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IndustrySpace Force
WASHINGTON — The Space Force is planning to spend slightly more than $3 billion between fiscal 2024 and 2028 for its multi-pronged effort to develop new jam-resistant satellite communications (SATCOM) systems to ensure warfighters on the battlefield can stay securely connected in the face of ever-improving adversary electronic warfare systems. The funds, as shown in the service’s newly published... Read more about In a $3 billion bet, Space Force envisions tactical anti-jam SATCOM keeping enemy EW at bay
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DAF leaders stress importance of transformation, partnerships, and on-time appropriations

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IndustryLogisticsSpace Force
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of the Air Force’s top civilian and military leaders spoke with defense experts and industry partners during the 14th Annual McAleese Defense Programs Conference March 15. Attendees heard Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., and Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman speak on a range of topics, including... Read more about DAF leaders stress importance of transformation, partnerships, and on-time appropriations
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DARPA team tests second hypersonic air-breathing weapon concept

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Industry
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ( DARPA), Air Force Research Lab ( AFRL), Lockheed Martin, and Aerojet Rocketdyne team accomplished their primary objectives during its second Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) flight test, doubling the amount of scramjet powered vehicle data. The HAWC flight test demonstrates mature, affordable hypersonic systems design and manufacturing... Read more about DARPA team tests second hypersonic air-breathing weapon concept
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AFRL infrastructure projects boost readiness, security

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Industry
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFRL) -- While the Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is notable for developments inside the lab, a series of projects at AFRL sites across the U.S. is modernizing infrastructure and strengthening science and technology capabilities for national defense. These projects include new rocket fabrication machines in California, increased security measures in... Read more about AFRL infrastructure projects boost readiness, security
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Machine Learning, AI Needed For JADC2 Secure Comms

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Industry
The Pentagon-wide effort to connect sensors to shooters to gain decision dominance should prioritize secure communications, industry executives said. The Air Force is looking at new technologies to support its contribution to the joint all-domain command and control, or JADC2, campaign, including systems that use machine learning and artificial intelligence to speed up comms. A secure... Read more about Machine Learning, AI Needed For JADC2 Secure Comms
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