A Senate move to keep open the Boeing C-17 production line gained strong support. Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo.) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) introduced legislation as part of the authorization debate. Under its terms, the Air Force would get authority to purchase up to 42 additional C-17s. The hurry-up measure followed a recent briefing in which Pentagon officials revealed they would cut off buys of the new airlifter after 180. (DR, 11/07/05)
The Air Force is moving forward with a new, algorithm-driven system to help U.S. Northern Command better detect airborne threats. NORTHCOM and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which are tasked with protecting the homeland from attack, depend on a slew of radars and other data systems to monitor U.S.…