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SOURCE: AFI

A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report has cast a shadow over the combat readiness of the F-35 fighter jet program. The report, released in September 2023, reveals a significant gap between the advertised capabilities and the reality on the ground.

The crux of the issue lies in the definition of “mission capable” used by the Department of Defense (DoD). While the public might interpret it as combat-ready, the reality is far less impressive. According to the DoD definition, a mission-capable F-35 can simply fly and perform at least one mission. This mission could be training, testing, or something entirely non-combat related.

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SOURCE: AFI

The Defense Department announced on Tuesday its formal approval to proceed with full-rate production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, marking a significant milestone for the program. William LaPlante, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, signed a memorandum authorizing the decision, known as Milestone C. The Pentagon confirmed this development in a statement, noting that the Defense Acquisition Board, chaired by LaPlante, convened on March 7 to evaluate the readiness to transition the F-35 into full-rate production.

In his remarks, LaPlante emphasized the significance of this decision, describing it as a major achievement for the F-35 program. He stated, “This decision — supported by my colleagues in the department — underscores to the services, F-35 cooperative program partners, and foreign military sales customers the stability and agility of the F-35, as well as the fulfillment of all statutory and regulatory requirements.”

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SOURCE: BAE SYSTEMS

The prototype showcases a newly designed top plate system—the External Mission Equipment Package (ExMEP)—that allows for the easy installation of a variety of turrets. This vehicle prototype is also outfitted with the Patria NEMO remote-controlled 120mm turreted mortar system.

The result of a rapid collaborative technology investment effort involving the U.S. Army, BAE Systems, and KONGSBERG/Patria, the prototype demonstrates potential variant growth for the highly adaptable AMPV family of vehicles. By using a fielded and fully-qualified asset like the AMPV chassis, it gives the Army options to field combat capabilities—such as the Patria NEMO—to Soldiers who need them at a much faster pace and reduced cost.

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SOURCE: Air Force Research Laboratory

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Aerospace Systems Directorate successfully flew the XQ-67A, an Off-Board Sensing Station, or OBSS, uncrewed air vehicle Feb. 28, 2024, at the General Atomics Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility near Palmdale, California.

The XQ-67A is the first of a second generation of autonomous collaborative platforms, or ACP. Following the success of the XQ-58A Valkyrie, the first low-cost uncrewed air vehicle intended to provide the warfighter with credible and affordable mass, the XQ-67A proves the common chassis or “genus” approach to aircraft design, build and test, according to Doug Meador, autonomous collaborative platform capability lead with AFRL’s Aerospace Systems Directorate. This approach paves the way for other aircraft “species” to be rapidly replicated on a standard genus chassis.

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SOURCE: AFI

In January, a Marine fighter jet involved in Top Gun training experienced an unfortunate incident at a Nevada Navy installation when it took a nosedive while parked. The aircraft, an F-35C Lighting II from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing’s Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311, suffered a collapse of the nose landing gear on Jan. 26 at Naval Air Station Fallon.

Marine Corps Times received confirmation of the incident from Marine spokesman Capt. Stephanie Leguizamon via email on Tuesday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the jet will be returned to service following repairs, as stated by Leguizamon.

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SOURCE: REUTERS

U.S. President Joe Biden wants an 18% cut in the number of F-35 jets the Pentagon buys next year after Congress’ cap on the size of the upcoming defense budget compelled the administration to find savings, two sources familiar with the situation said.

The Pentagon order for Lockheed Martin’s stealthy fighter will drop to below 70, down from an expected order of 83, for an estimated $1.6 billion drop in spending on jets. The drop in F-35 orders could impact the big defense contractor, which earns about a quarter of its revenue from the jet program. International demand for the jets, which cost somewhere between $80 million to about $120 million each depending on the type, remains strong.

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SOURCE: AFI

The U.S. Army has made a shocking U-turn, cancelling its multi-billion dollar Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program. This abrupt move marks one of the department’s biggest program cancellations in recent years.

Despite already pouring at least $2 billion into FARA and requesting an additional $5 billion for the next five years, the Army has decided to scrap the project entirely. Experts like MITRE had previously voiced concerns, concluding that achieving an unmanned version of the helicopter before 2040 wouldn’t be feasible.

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SOURCE: AFI

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has released images of a brand new, fully-constructed advanced air combat drone called the XQ-67A. The company built it as part of a contract to support the U.S. Air Force’s secretive Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program.

The XQ-67A is a stealthy, high-performance drone that is designed for long-range, high-altitude missions. It features a delta-wing design, a single engine, and internal weapons bays. The drone is also equipped with a variety of sensors, including radar, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR), and signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems.

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SOURCE: AFI

The recent shooting incident targeting the home of an associate of Hardeep Nijjar has raised concerns within the Sikh community in British Columbia, Canada. The group advocating for Pro-Khalistan has expressed apprehension regarding the lack of protection from Canadian authorities, fearing that members of the Sikh community might feel compelled to take matters into their own hands.

Moninder Singh, a spokesperson for the B.C. Gurdwaras Council, conveyed the sentiment of fear among members, suggesting that the incident could be perceived as an attempt by the Indian state or its actors to intimidate activists like Simranjeet, deterring them from their advocacy work.

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