The defense research chief, John Young, told defense reporters Thursday, acknowledged that the Pentagon’s lengthy budget process poses the biggest obstacle to quickly fielding new technologies. Young says that he is specifically focusing on technology transition from the lab to the field for time-sensitive efforts, such as IED jamming capabilities. As with most new technology, the moment it comes to “fruition,” it likely will have missed the program objective memorandum—the Pentagon’s five-year planning cycle for budgeting. He said that making the two ends meet “requires constant vigilance on the part of myself and my team.” Young recently sent transition letters to the services to tell them about projects that are near completion, encouraging them to quickly seek funding for the Fiscal 2008 POM.
B-21 Raider First Flight Now Postponed to 2023
May 20, 2022
The Air Force says the B-21 Raider won't make its first flight until 2023; about a six-month delay from the last official estimates. No reason was given for the delay. While other programs have recently chalked up schedule slips to supply chain and labor shortages, the Air Force has said…