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Air Force

Air Force Formally Launches Skyborg Drone Program with Multiple Contracts Possible

By Vivienne Machi

Wednesday, May 20th, 2020

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Air Force Formally Launches Skyborg Drone Program with Multiple Contracts Possible

The Air Force Research Lab- and Kratos-developed XQ-58A Valkyrie UAV demonstrator completed its second test flight June 11. (Photo: Air Force)

The Air Force has released a solicitation to build prototypes for its Skyborg unmanned wingman program, with the intent of selecting one or more companies to quickly field an artificial intelligence-driven system to be a “quarterback in the sky” for manned aircraft. The May 15 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicitation indicates the Air Force plans to award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts worth up to $400 million in total over five years. The service reserves the right to award one contract,…

Congress

Kaine On Iranian Girls School Strike: “You Can Be Sure We’re Gonna Get The Answer To That One”

Sen. Timothy Kaine (D-Va.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) seapower panel, pledged on Tuesday that the Senate will get to the bottom of what happened […]

Congress

‘Right To Repair’ Reform In SASC’s FY ‘27 NDAA Sets “Government-Purpose Rights’ As Default

The “Right to Repair” provision secured in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the next defense policy bill would establish “government-purpose rights” as a default, requiring defense contractors […]

Advanced / Transformational Technology

Pentagon May Make ‘Tradeoffs’ For Low-Cost Autonomous Tech Without Reconciliation Funds, CTO Says

The Pentagon’s chief technology officer has said the department may need to make “tradeoffs” on certain capability priorities if Congress doesn’t pass a reconciliation with $350 billion in requested defense […]

Congress

SASC’s FY ‘27 NDAA Sticks With Army’s Plan For Legacy Aviation Procurement Cuts

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the next defense policy sticks to the Army’s proposed plan to cut procurement of its legacy aviation fleet, and does not authorize […]