:

Air Force

AFSOC Lines Up Partial Funding For Laser Gunship Demo

By Marc Selinger

Wednesday, April 11th, 2018

SHARE:

AFSOC Lines Up Partial Funding For Laser Gunship Demo

An AC-130J taxis the runway for its first official sortie Jan. 31, 2014, at Eglin AFB, Fla. Photo: Air Force.

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is making progress in getting funding to demonstrate a laser gunship prototype but remains well short of what it needs, according to the command’s leader.AFSOC, which wants to test a 60-kilowatt, solid-state laser on an AC-130 gunship by fiscal year 2022, is poised to receive $34 million for that effort in the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2019 budget request. But the command still needs to come up with another $58 million from FY…

Congress

Appropriators Press For Details On Iran War Costs; DoD’s $29B Estimate Doesn’t Include Base Damage

The Pentagon estimates the U.S.’ ongoing conflict with Iran has now cost at least $29 billion, while a lead official noted the updated figure does not factor in damage to […]

Congress

Appropriators Offer Skepticism On $350B Defense Reconciliation Plan, ‘Big Risk’ For Key Initiatives

Senate and House Appropriators told Pentagon leadership on Tuesday they’re skeptical of the department’s plan to fund $350 billion of the fiscal year 2027 defense budget through the reconciliation process, […]

Congress

All Future Systems Should Have Autonomy Features, Reed Says

Last week, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) visited North Kingstown, R.I.-based Senesco, which is teaming with autonomous systems company Havoc to bid on the U.S. Navy’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel program. […]

Congress

Senate Appropriators Concerned With DoD’s Reconciliation Plan For Top FY ‘27 Priorities, Aide Says

Senate defense appropriators have concerns with the Pentagon’s decision to include key fiscal year 2027 funding priorities, such as critical munitions and drones production, among its request for $350 billion […]