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Space and Technology
Official Site of the U.S. Air Force - Space/Technology
URL: http://www.af.mil
Updated: 1 hour 53 min ago
F-35 ITF works toward night, weather certification
The F-35 Integrated Test Force is wrapping up a series of night flights, which are testing the aircraft's capability when flying in instrument meteorological conditions.
It is a necessary step in delivering a core competency to the warfighter - the ability to fly the jet safely when there are no external visibility references for the pilot.
"This will increase the combat capability eventually. But, in the interim, it will increase the training capacity. The capability to fly at night and in the weather is one of the core competencies that must be delivered to the warfighter," said Lt. Col. Peter Vitt, F-35 ITF director of operations. "This is about safety, specification compliance and predicting operational utility; it's our job to find out how well the system works, how well our pilots interact with the displays and how the navigational system works."
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It is a necessary step in delivering a core competency to the warfighter - the ability to fly the jet safely when there are no external visibility references for the pilot.
"This will increase the combat capability eventually. But, in the interim, it will increase the training capacity. The capability to fly at night and in the weather is one of the core competencies that must be delivered to the warfighter," said Lt. Col. Peter Vitt, F-35 ITF director of operations. "This is about safety, specification compliance and predicting operational utility; it's our job to find out how well the system works, how well our pilots interact with the displays and how the navigational system works."
more...
F-35 ITF works toward night, weather certification
The F-35 Integrated Test Force is wrapping up a series of night flights, which are testing the aircraft's capability when flying in instrument meteorological conditions.
It is a necessary step in delivering a core competency to the warfighter - the ability to fly the jet safely when there are no external visibility references for the pilot.
"This will increase the combat capability eventually. But, in the interim, it will increase the training capacity. The capability to fly at night and in the weather is one of the core competencies that must be delivered to the warfighter," said Lt. Col. Peter Vitt, F-35 ITF director of operations. "This is about safety, specification, compliance and predicting operational utility; it's our job to find out how well the system works, how well our pilots interact with the displays and how the navigational system works."
more...
It is a necessary step in delivering a core competency to the warfighter - the ability to fly the jet safely when there are no external visibility references for the pilot.
"This will increase the combat capability eventually. But, in the interim, it will increase the training capacity. The capability to fly at night and in the weather is one of the core competencies that must be delivered to the warfighter," said Lt. Col. Peter Vitt, F-35 ITF director of operations. "This is about safety, specification, compliance and predicting operational utility; it's our job to find out how well the system works, how well our pilots interact with the displays and how the navigational system works."
more...
Minuteman III test launch a success
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched during an operational test at 6:27 a.m. (PST) May 22, from Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
Col. Brent McArthur, the 30th Space Wing's vice commander, was the launch decision authority.
The launch team, under the direction of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, included crew members from the 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D. Maintenance and operations task force members from the 91st Missile Wing have also conducted operational tasks in support of the launch.
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Col. Brent McArthur, the 30th Space Wing's vice commander, was the launch decision authority.
The launch team, under the direction of the 576th Flight Test Squadron, included crew members from the 91st Missile Wing, Minot AFB, N.D. Maintenance and operations task force members from the 91st Missile Wing have also conducted operational tasks in support of the launch.
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Cadets earn praise for cyclogyro project
Aeronautical Engineering cadets have presented their award-winning design of a search and rescue and medical evacuation aircraft for the year 2045 to Academy and industry leaders at the Aero Lab here May 13.
Nine cadets collaboratively designed "The Night Owl," a futuristic cyclogyro that can direct thrust in any direction, allowing for a hover, forward or backward flight.
The team spent a year on the capstone project and took first place May 9 in a Boeing competition against the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy.
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Nine cadets collaboratively designed "The Night Owl," a futuristic cyclogyro that can direct thrust in any direction, allowing for a hover, forward or backward flight.
The team spent a year on the capstone project and took first place May 9 in a Boeing competition against the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy.
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GPS IIF-4 successfully launched from Cape Canaveral
A U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite built by Boeing was successfully launched May 15. The fourth GPS IIF satellite, Space Vehicle Number (SVN) 66, was carried aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Launch Vehicle at 5:38 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
The new capabilities of the IIF satellites will provide greater navigational accuracy through improvements in atomic clock technology; a more robust signal for commercial aviation and safety-of-life applications, known as the new third civil signal (L5); and a 12-year design life providing long-term service. These upgrades improved anti-jam capabilities for the warfighter and improved security for military and civil users around the world.
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The new capabilities of the IIF satellites will provide greater navigational accuracy through improvements in atomic clock technology; a more robust signal for commercial aviation and safety-of-life applications, known as the new third civil signal (L5); and a 12-year design life providing long-term service. These upgrades improved anti-jam capabilities for the warfighter and improved security for military and civil users around the world.
more...
Stratcom Chief: Minot AFB case shows integrity of nuclear enterprise
The Air Force's aggressive response when missile-launch crews at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., fell short of established standards during an inspection in March underscores the integrity of the nuclear weapons program, the commander of U.S. Strategic Command told Congress May 9.
"I do think they reacted very aggressively to the mistakes they saw," Gen. C. Robert Kehler told the House Armed Services Committee, adding that Air Force officials are working to deal not only with mistakes revealed during the inspection, but also the root causes.
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"I do think they reacted very aggressively to the mistakes they saw," Gen. C. Robert Kehler told the House Armed Services Committee, adding that Air Force officials are working to deal not only with mistakes revealed during the inspection, but also the root causes.
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Security processes accelerate adoption of commercial devices
Approval last week of security technical implementation guides for BlackBerry and Samsung Knox devices means that Defense Department organizations will be able to use those devices in conjunction with a secure enterprise mobility environment.
The May 2 release of the Defense Information Systems Agency's Samsung Knox STIG provisionally allows DOD to use the latest technology as soon as it is available commercially. Officials also released STIGs for the BlackBerry 10, Blackberry Playbook and Blackberry Device Service. The STIGs allow use of accepted devices as part of approved mobility pilots with actively defended mobile device management systems, DISA officials said.
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The May 2 release of the Defense Information Systems Agency's Samsung Knox STIG provisionally allows DOD to use the latest technology as soon as it is available commercially. Officials also released STIGs for the BlackBerry 10, Blackberry Playbook and Blackberry Device Service. The STIGs allow use of accepted devices as part of approved mobility pilots with actively defended mobile device management systems, DISA officials said.
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Formula for speed: Cadets to race in international competition
A team of senior-year engineering mechanics department cadets here built a Formula race car from scratch, scheduled to be showcased and raced May 8-11 at the Society of Automotive Engineers international competition in Brooklyn, Mich.
"The cadets undertake a huge learning curve where they must increase their knowledge of vehicle dynamics," said Capt. Adam Parks, engineering mechanics instructor and the team's advisor. "This competition takes every ounce of engineering savvy the cadets have to muster."
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"The cadets undertake a huge learning curve where they must increase their knowledge of vehicle dynamics," said Capt. Adam Parks, engineering mechanics instructor and the team's advisor. "This competition takes every ounce of engineering savvy the cadets have to muster."
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Cadets teach biosand water filtration efforts in Mozambique
Americans take drinking water for granted. We use it not only to drink and to cook but to water our plants, to bathe and even to flush our toilets.
In other parts of the world, however, potable water is hard to come by. Without the infrastructure to treat and distribute water through plumbing, people are more likely to drink water straight from unfiltered sources. Contaminated water kills an estimated 2.2 million people annually, according to the United Nations Environment Program, in addition to 1.8 million children under age 5.
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In other parts of the world, however, potable water is hard to come by. Without the infrastructure to treat and distribute water through plumbing, people are more likely to drink water straight from unfiltered sources. Contaminated water kills an estimated 2.2 million people annually, according to the United Nations Environment Program, in addition to 1.8 million children under age 5.
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Officials approve implementation guides for mobile devices
Pentagon officials yesterday approved the security technical implementation guides for BlackBerry 10 smartphones and BlackBerry PlayBook tablets with BlackBerry Enterprise Service 10, as well as Samsung's Android Knox, to be used on Defense Department networks.
"This is a significant step towards establishing a multivendor environment that supports a variety of state-of-the-art devices and operating systems," Air Force Lt. Col. Damien Pickart, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement announcing the approval.
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"This is a significant step towards establishing a multivendor environment that supports a variety of state-of-the-art devices and operating systems," Air Force Lt. Col. Damien Pickart, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement announcing the approval.
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X-51A Waverider achieves breakthrough in final flight
The final flight of the X-51A Waverider test program has accomplished a breakthrough in the development of flight reaching Mach 5.1 over the Pacific Ocean May 1.
"It was a full mission success," said Charlie Brink, the X-51A program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace Systems Directorate.
The cruiser traveled more than 230 nautical miles in just over six minutes over the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range, Calif. It was the longest of the four X-51A test flights and the longest air-breathing hypersonic flight ever.
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"It was a full mission success," said Charlie Brink, the X-51A program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace Systems Directorate.
The cruiser traveled more than 230 nautical miles in just over six minutes over the Point Mugu Naval Air Warfare Center Sea Range, Calif. It was the longest of the four X-51A test flights and the longest air-breathing hypersonic flight ever.
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Eglin AFB munitions unit creates ammo linker for AFSOC
A new, lighter, mobile 30 mm ammo linker system is set for delivery to Air Force Special Operations Command units here in May.
The 89-pound apparatus can feed 15 unattached 30 mm rounds into MK-15 links via a crank system and was created and designed by Eglin Air Force Base's munitions materiel handling equipment Airmen. The MMHE Focal Point, a section under the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's armament directorate, specializes in developing locally manufactured equipment for the Air Force ammo and weapons communities.
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The 89-pound apparatus can feed 15 unattached 30 mm rounds into MK-15 links via a crank system and was created and designed by Eglin Air Force Base's munitions materiel handling equipment Airmen. The MMHE Focal Point, a section under the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's armament directorate, specializes in developing locally manufactured equipment for the Air Force ammo and weapons communities.
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AF awards KC-46A aircrew training system contract
The Air Force awarded a contract to FlightSafety Services Corporation on May 1, taking a major step forward in achieving the service's top acquisition priority - delivering a new aerial refueling capability to the warfighter.
The contract, a Fixed Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) and Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract of $78,369,818 which includes an initial obligation of $1 million, is for engineering, manufacturing, and development of the KC-46A Aircrew Training System (ATS).
The remaining amount will be incrementally funded. The contract contains options for production, training, operations and sustainment that if exercised will increase the value of the contract.
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The contract, a Fixed Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) and Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract of $78,369,818 which includes an initial obligation of $1 million, is for engineering, manufacturing, and development of the KC-46A Aircrew Training System (ATS).
The remaining amount will be incrementally funded. The contract contains options for production, training, operations and sustainment that if exercised will increase the value of the contract.
more...
Any time, anywhere data access coming soon
In the not-too-distant future, Defense Department personnel will be able to securely access data any time and anywhere, the department's deputy chief information officer for command, control, communications and computers and information infrastructure said here today.
The current mobility strategy calls for Wi-Fi to be the primary means for DOD personnel to access routine data by 2017, Maj. Gen. Robert E. Wheeler said at the Mobile Work Exchange Spring 2013 Town Hall Meeting.
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The current mobility strategy calls for Wi-Fi to be the primary means for DOD personnel to access routine data by 2017, Maj. Gen. Robert E. Wheeler said at the Mobile Work Exchange Spring 2013 Town Hall Meeting.
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SecAF: Hanscom enabling linked AF future
Systems that help collect, process and push data to where it's needed quickly and securely are vital to Air Force operations, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said during a visit here April 25.
"Working independently and also with world-class high tech talent in the Boston area, you help ensure that our Airmen have the innovative technology they need and should have and will have for mission success," he said.
In addition to the Airman's call, Donley also met with military and civilian award winners, and received briefings and technology demonstrations from various program offices.
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"Working independently and also with world-class high tech talent in the Boston area, you help ensure that our Airmen have the innovative technology they need and should have and will have for mission success," he said.
In addition to the Airman's call, Donley also met with military and civilian award winners, and received briefings and technology demonstrations from various program offices.
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Academy cadets win NSA 'cyber defense' 2nd straight year
The Air Force Academy Cyber Team won the National Security Agency's Cyber Defense Exercise, held April 16-18, for the second year in a row, outscoring teams from other military academies in the U.S. and Canada.
The 13th annual inter-service Cyber Defense Exercise is a large-scale computer network defense competition designed to test a cyber team's ability to create and maintain a fully functioning computer network under a hostile attack.
During the competition, cadets in the Academy's Computer Sciences 468 Secure Networks course and members of the Academy Cyber Competition Team built a network with email, web and file transfer capabilities from scratch and defended their network from hackers, solved a forensics challenge and secured a vulnerable web-server.
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The 13th annual inter-service Cyber Defense Exercise is a large-scale computer network defense competition designed to test a cyber team's ability to create and maintain a fully functioning computer network under a hostile attack.
During the competition, cadets in the Academy's Computer Sciences 468 Secure Networks course and members of the Academy Cyber Competition Team built a network with email, web and file transfer capabilities from scratch and defended their network from hackers, solved a forensics challenge and secured a vulnerable web-server.
more...
U.S.-Australia agreement promotes space situational awareness
A new agreement made between the United States and Australia represents the first in what U.S. Strategic Command's commander hopes will be many that promote transparency in the space domain.
Air Force Gen. C. Robert Kehler signed the agreement on behalf of the United States, short-cutting the process for the Australian government to request data through STRATCOM's Space Situational Awareness Sharing Agreement Program.
The agreement represents another step in the November 2010 pact between the two countries to cooperate on space situational awareness activities.
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Air Force Gen. C. Robert Kehler signed the agreement on behalf of the United States, short-cutting the process for the Australian government to request data through STRATCOM's Space Situational Awareness Sharing Agreement Program.
The agreement represents another step in the November 2010 pact between the two countries to cooperate on space situational awareness activities.
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Edwards completes tests to extend KC-135
Known as "The Mighty War Wagon" of the Air Force, the KC-135 Stratotanker has proven to be the core aerial refueling capability for the Air Force for more than 50 years.
With the help of the 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards, along with a multitude of testers, the KC-135 Block 45 test team recently completed a series of tests in April to help extend the aircraft's service life for decades.
"There are currently 419 KC-135s and 59 KC-10s that enhance the Air Force's capability to accomplish its primary mission of Global Reach while providing aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. These aircraft also provide mission support including cargo, aeromedical evacuation, personnel transport, and a variety of other specialized missions," said Maj. John Mikal, 418th FLTS KC-135 Block 45 lead project test pilot. "Increasing the life expectancy of the current Air Force tanker fleet is critical. Ongoing upgrade programs help to ensure there is no gap in these mission capabilities, while the new KC-46 program starts replacing the aging KC-135 fleet."
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With the help of the 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards, along with a multitude of testers, the KC-135 Block 45 test team recently completed a series of tests in April to help extend the aircraft's service life for decades.
"There are currently 419 KC-135s and 59 KC-10s that enhance the Air Force's capability to accomplish its primary mission of Global Reach while providing aerial refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. These aircraft also provide mission support including cargo, aeromedical evacuation, personnel transport, and a variety of other specialized missions," said Maj. John Mikal, 418th FLTS KC-135 Block 45 lead project test pilot. "Increasing the life expectancy of the current Air Force tanker fleet is critical. Ongoing upgrade programs help to ensure there is no gap in these mission capabilities, while the new KC-46 program starts replacing the aging KC-135 fleet."
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AF leaders highlight space program successes, address FY14 budget
Space today is in as good a position as it's been in a very long time, said Richard McKinney, the deputy under secretary of the Air Force for space.
McKinney, along with Dr. Jamie Morin, the acting under secretary of the Air Force, and Brig. Gen. Robert McMurry, the director of space programs for the office of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, briefed members of the media on the Air Force's fiscal 2014 Space Budget April 15 in the Pentagon here.
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McKinney, along with Dr. Jamie Morin, the acting under secretary of the Air Force, and Brig. Gen. Robert McMurry, the director of space programs for the office of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, briefed members of the media on the Air Force's fiscal 2014 Space Budget April 15 in the Pentagon here.
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Science, technology remain critical, official says
Despite fiscal uncertainty, science and technology remain critical elements in mitigating emerging threats against the United States, a Defense Department official told Congress yesterday.
Alan Shaffer, the acting assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering, pledged to continue a focus on programs such as electronic warfare, counter-space, cyber, and counter-weapons of mass destruction to meet U.S. national security goals.
"The challenge is clear. The president and the secretary of defense depend on defense research and engineering to make key contributions to the defense of our nation," Shaffer told the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on intelligence, emerging threats and capabilities.
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Alan Shaffer, the acting assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering, pledged to continue a focus on programs such as electronic warfare, counter-space, cyber, and counter-weapons of mass destruction to meet U.S. national security goals.
"The challenge is clear. The president and the secretary of defense depend on defense research and engineering to make key contributions to the defense of our nation," Shaffer told the House Armed Services Committee's subcommittee on intelligence, emerging threats and capabilities.
more...