Members of the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, recently demonstrated new security forces equipment designed to make monitoring for threats easier and responding to emergencies more efficient. This gear is collectively known as the Joint Force Protection Advanced Security System, or JFPASS. Spangdahlem received the equipment in January and is now the sole operational Defense Department installation involved in assessing it. “JFPASS is a force protection system that fuses, automates, and integrates dissimilar technology into a common operational picture,” explained Joe Fagan, the system’s operational manager. Officials from US Air Forces in Europe, US European Command, and NATO witnessed the demonstration Aug. 20 as base security forces put JFPASS sensors, cameras, robots, and software through the paces. The equipment will remain at Spangdahlem for about another half year, giving airmen the opportunity to provide more feedback. (Spangdahlem report by 1st Lt. Kathleen Polesnak)
Congress wants new engines in the F-35 fleet, with installs starting in 2027, according to language in the conference version of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. The Air Force is to use at least one of the engines developed under the Advanced Engine Transition Program, but the Navy and…