Study: Rapid Aircraft Design Plan Could Hurt USAF Over Time
Massive $34 Billion F-35 Contract Includes Price Drop as Readiness Improves
“Skinny NDAA” Offers Fallback Option in Absence of Full Policy Bill
USAF Details Eligibility for New Remote Ops Medal
F-16s Deploy to Al Udeid, Bagram
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RADAR SWEEP
FTC Investigating Northrop Grumman Amid ICBM Spat with Boeing
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether Northrop Grumman Corp. has unfairly discriminated against Boeing Co. over an Air Force project to replace the service’s aging intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to a regulatory filing disclosed by Northrop. Military.com
Pentagon Leader Asserts There Was No White House Influence on JEDI
Despite allegations in an upcoming book that President Donald Trump wanted to prevent Amazon.com Inc.’s cloud business from winning a $10 billion cloud contract with the Department of Defense, Pentagon CIO Dana Deasy said Oct. 29 the White House did not influence its award to Microsoft Corp. in a surprise announcement on the evening of Oct. 25. Washington Business Journal (subscription required)
Why the Pentagon Wants to Be More Like McDonald’s
No, the department isn’t ready to drop its rifles for Big Macs, nor is it taking a side in the perpetual Great Fast Food Competition between Ronald and Col. Sanders. But according to Lisa Hershman, the acting chief management officer who on Oct. 29 had a confirmation hearing to permanently fill the role, the department would be lovin’ it if they could mirror some of McDonald’s supply chain strategies. Defense News
Next-Gen SMC Launch Study Targets Satellite Maneuver
On-orbit transfer and maneuvering capabilities also could potentially enable future national security satellites to avoid debris or anti-satellite weapons, or underpin space weapons development. Breaking Defense
UK Hospital Recruits Air Force Spouses to Work as Registered Nurses There
The United Kingdom’s National Health Service is recruiting spouses stationed at RAF Lakenheath who are also registered nurses in the US to earn their UK nursing certification, according to the Air Force. Air Force Times
Aviation Safety Bill Targets Challenges Posed by Flight Automation
The Aviation Automation and Human Factors Safety Act of 2019, introduced Oct. 24 by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), aims to establish a Federal Aviation Administration Center of Excellence dedicated to addressing dangers posed by increased automation and pilot response and also implements new and old aviation safety recommendations targeting flight automatics. Nextgov
One More Thing
What the US Air Force Can Learn from This Piranha-Proof Fish
The US Air Force studied how an Amazonian fish can survive in the same waters as schools of deadly piranha. The arapaima, a slow-moving, torpedo-shaped fish should be easy prey for a pack of the carnivorous fish but it isn’t—thanks to the set of scales it’s evolved over millions of years. The Air Force hopes studying the scales could lead to better protection for humans and airplanes. Popular Mechanics