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September 6, 2023 | International, Aerospace

US Air Force general eyes more uses for drone wingmen

The U.S. Air Force should consider additional uses for its planned fleet of drone wingmen beyond just flying them alongside fighter jets, a general says.

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2023/09/06/us-air-force-general-eyes-more-uses-for-drone-wingmen/

On the same subject

  • Army National Guard soldiers anxious over new PT test, gear shortfalls

    August 30, 2018 | International, Land

    Army National Guard soldiers anxious over new PT test, gear shortfalls

    By: Kyle Rempfer NEW ORLEANS — Equipment requirements, logistics and training are on the minds of Army National Guard soldiers this year, as the Army prepares to roll out a new gender- and age-neutral fitness test. But while soldiers voice trepidation, the larger Army says it's not going to be an issue. “I think the test is going to be good, [but] my concern in the National Guard is the equipment requirement,” a battalion commander from the Louisiana National Guard said during a discussion with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley at the National Guard Association of the United States conference in New Orleans this past weekend. “There's a tremendous amount of equipment that's going to be needed at every company, every armory, every detachment in order to administer the test and to train our troops. Have we addressed a plan to do that prior to the roll-out?” the soldier asked. Milley said the equipment concerns were not just an issue for the Guard, but one across the force. However, the new Army Combat Fitness Test correlates much better to actual combat requirements, and “we'd all be negligent if we didn't train to this [new] test," he said. “In order to do it right there's going to have to be a lot of training the trainers, it has be phased in, we have to make sure the scoring standards are correct, and, as you pointed out, it does require a little bit of equipment," Milley said. The ACFT field tests will begin in October and last one year. It will include 60 different types of battalions from all three components of the total force — active Army, Army Guard and Army Reserve. Additionally, Milley said, Training and Doctrine Command is currently conducting an analysis of all the equipment required throughout the force, how much it will cost and how to distribute the gear to the entire Army. There will be some challenges, Milley acknowledged. “For example, embassies," he said. “We have soldiers at embassies around the world, not in big units but small ones. ... But the equipment is an issue. The Guard will get the same equipment the rest of the Army gets. In the meantime — which means the next year — you can train for it. This isn't rocket science." For instance, grab “a 10-pound medicine ball, throw it over your head. Every gym in America has a 10-pound medicine ball,” he added. Full article: https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/08/29/army-national-guard-soldiers-anxious-over-new-pt-test-gear-shortfalls

  • At Air Force conference, officials call out effect of Tuberville holds

    September 13, 2023 | International, Aerospace

    At Air Force conference, officials call out effect of Tuberville holds

    “This is a situation that one senator has created for us,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference in Maryland.

  • Next-gen Combat Aircraft Development Gains Momentum

    January 23, 2019 | International, Aerospace

    Next-gen Combat Aircraft Development Gains Momentum

    Graham Warwick | Aviation Week & Space Technology The UK launched its £2 billion ($2.5 billion) Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative in 2018. Team Tempest—the UK Defense Ministry, Royal Air Force, BAE Systems, MBDA, Rolls-Royce and Leonardo—is also in talks with Sweden and Saab about joining the program. The team was to present its strategic outline business case at the end of 2018. The FCAS main-gate procurement decision is set for 2025 and service entry targeted for 2035. http://aviationweek.com/defense/next-gen-combat-aircraft-development-gains-momentum

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