:

Advanced / Transformational Technology

Air Force Awards Second Round of Contracts to Support Skyborg Program

Frank Wolfe

Tuesday, September 29th, 2020

SHARE:

Air Force Awards Second Round of Contracts to Support Skyborg Program

A Skyborg conceptual design for a low cost attritable Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle. (Air Force Research Laboratory artwork)

The U.S. Air Force on Sept. 29 awarded a second round of contracts to nine organizations for the service's Skyborg program--an effort to develop a family of attritable drones with a common artificial intelligence backbone that can train alongside manned aircraft and eventually help complete tasks, fly ahead of Air Force pilots in non-permissive environments, and create headaches for U.S. adversaries. Skyborg is one of three Air Force Vanguard programs to accelerate the fielding of new technologies. On Sept. 29,…

Army

Army Plans To Initiate ISV-Heavy Competition Later This Year, Official Says

The Army is planning to initiate its competition to build the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)-Heavy in the fourth quarter of this year, a senior acquisition official has said. Jesse Tolleson, […]

Senate Authorization Bill Restricts Building Navy Warships Overseas With Limited Exception For Auxiliaries

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the FY 2027 defense policy bill looks to cut the ability for the Trump administration to buy foreign-made warships, but still allow […]

Army

Army ‘Looking At Options’ For Supporting Munitions Boost Plans If Reconciliation Fails, Official Says

The Army is “looking at options” for how it would support planned boosts to munitions production if Congress doesn’t pass a reconciliation bill with the requested funding, a senior acquisition […]

Build Of At Least 45 MQ-9s By Start Of FY 2029 Required By SASC Bill

Down to an inventory of 135 MQ-9A Reapers due to the loss of two dozen aircraft in strikes on Iran, the Air Force would have to field at least 45 […]