The Air Force is establishing a flag-level position to oversee the acquisition of its nuclear systems. This official will lead a new program executive office for strategic systems that will stand up later this year at Kirtland AFB, N.M., already home to the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center that manages the service’s nuclear sustainment activities. Exactly what the “strategic systems” rubric will entail is still being discussed. “The portfolio of programs and responsibilities may include all current and future nuclear systems, subsystems, and components as well as systems with a dual nuclear and conventional role,” Air Forces spokeswoman Marie Vanover told the Daily Report Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Everett Thomas, AFNWC commander, told House overseers on Jan. 21 that the new PEO “will ensure future acquisition efforts are properly aligned with near-term sustainment challenges.” He said the Schlesinger nuclear task force recommended its creation.
The Air Force demonstrated that it can operate the remotely-piloted MQ-9 Reaper in long-range flights in the Pacific using limited ground support gear and non-specialist ground personnel. The demonstration provided a boost for its agile combat employment concept, the service said Dec. 7. The deployment required only seven people and…