U.S. Air Force installed first 3D printed part on an operational F-22.
“No LCS deployed in 2018… No module exists yet in a useful, effective form.” And good comparisons on Chinese Type 055 Cruiser and Burke destroyers. Both from Navy Matters.
“I wouldn’t expect an RFI any time soon.” That was the Air Force’s acquisition chief on the Light Attack Aircraft. As expected, the Air Force doesn’t seem very serious about the close air support mission.
Great post on the project budgeting and its incompatibility with agile processes. “It’s important to recognize the tension between predictability and changeability. You can’t have both: perfect predictability of the end result at the beginning and maximum consideration of change requests later.” Very important implications for defense management.
Third volume of the Section 809 Panel report has come out. There’s also this: “When panel members on the hunt for ways to make the acquisition process more accessible visited one Silicon Valley firm flying under the Pentagon’s radar, the members were alarmed to learn a Chinese delegation had visited only a week before, offering to buy the company’s production capability, if not the company itself.” It sounds like the DOD had no idea defense relevant companies existed.
“All this underscores what we have highlighted for so long, that the DoD has long underestimated China’s determination, espionage capabilities, and technological resourcefulness.” Highly recommended article. Great table at the link showing a number of Chinese manned aircraft.
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