Air Force Reserve Command’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron’s Hurricane Hunters tracked a tropical disturbance off the coast of Georgia May 9, although the 2007 hurricane season doesn’t “officially” start until June 1. The hunters used the latest WC-130J Hercules with a Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer to measure wind speed and rainfall at sea level, which provides “more precise forecasting of the severity and direction of storms, states a Lockheed Martin release. Lockheed is in the process of installing the SFMR on all 10 of the squadron’s J models. The unit expects to have another SFMR-equipped Herk by the end of June, followed by one per month.
The Pentagon’s head of research and engineering is prioritizing technologies that can penetrate and operate inside highly contested enemy territory. Top among them are artificial intelligence and autonomy. Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu said other priorities on the list include creating the technology and standards for…