Brig. Gen. C.D. Moore, head of the Aeronautical Systems Center unit overseeing production and fielding of the F-22A Raptor, says, “It’s been a banner year so far” for Raptor delivery and upgrades. ASC journalist Chris McGhee reports that deliveries have been “consistently on or ahead of schedule.” According to this report, the Air Force will sign multiyear contracts for the next three production lots of aircraft and engines later this summer. During a visit to Vance AFB, Okla., last week, Raptor Program Executive Officer, Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Reimer, reportedly said USAF and Lockheed Martin signed the 60-aircraft MYP on June 29. In addition to the MYP, Moore says ASC is pushing the first of four modernization upgrades for the already fielded fighters. Moore’s unit also plans to award a 10-year F-22 logistics support contract later this year that will include a share of work for USAF depots.
Unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous aircraft may provide a solution to operating in heavily contested domains such as the Taiwan Straits, according to a panel of expert who suggested operationalizing artificial intelligence for such purposes sooner rather than later. The group gathered virtually to help launch the Mitchell Institute for…