NATO is considering using AWACS in the fight against ISIS, the French newswire AFP reported. “We can confirm there has been a request for concrete support from NATO to the anti-ISIL effort in the form of NATO AWACS surveillance planes,” a NATO official told the news agency. NATO has so far not participated directly in Operation Inherent Resolve, though several members of the alliance are members of the coalition to defeat ISIS. Defense Secretary Ash Carter met Jan. 20 in Paris with representatives of the seven countries providing major contributions to the battle against the terrorist organization, and has been actively encouraging other countries to contribute more to the fight.
Lockheed Martin plans to enter the Advanced Tactical Trainer fray to supply the Air Force with a new jet to bridge between undergraduate flight instruction and fighter training units, but declined to say whether it will offer a T-50A derivative, a different non-developmental airplane, or a clean-sheet design. It's comments…