Acquisition headlines

Elon Musk: “I have an idea for a vertical takeoff and landing supersonic jet.”. Why start with an ordinary supersonic jet when you could leap-frog to a VTOL supersonic jet. The article claims it will also be an electric jet. The F-35B is VTOL and supersonic jet. We also have electric VTOL manned aircraft. And hybrid electric jets. But these only got 2 or 3 of the 4 requirements for electric, jet, supersonic, and VTOL. Another requirement for success is affordability. Meeting all these requirements would be an enormous accomplishment, and far from likely in the near future. I don’t mind private investors putting money into that sort of thing because there is a non-zero chance that Musk could pull it off — I just wouldn’t want my money put into it.

5 BORING SPACE FORCE DETAILS YOU’D GET PUT ON. (1) literally cleaning the ship; (2) vacuuming stardust; (3) policing space debris; (4) organizing containers at zero g; (5) repairing the exterior of the ship.

Russia accused of cover-up over lethal submarine fire. 14 sailors killed. There was abnormal radiation.

China scare:

Images of Northrop Grumman working on the F-35’s fuselage.

This is What The U.S. Navy Wants in a Frigate for the 21st Century. And it is a lot (as I’ve noted here). Here’s some more from the article: “FFG(X) is meant to be, in many ways, the exact opposite of LCS. The new frigate is supposed to be larger, more heavily armed, and with a permanent set of equipment not reliant on “mission modules.”” In some ways that is true. But it looks like the Navy is going about its old practice of overstuffing requirements in short timelines and for overly optimistic cost estimates. The FFG(X) is slated to cost just $1.3 billion for the lead ship, and $900 million thereafter (then year) — if that sounds then I welcome you to read through the Navy’s final Request for Proposal.

Navy brings in more experts to help solve the weapons elevator problem on the Gerald Ford carrier (CVN-78). Only two out of eleven elevators are working. Naturally, the Navy predicts the elevators, once operational, will increase aircraft-sortie generation by 25 to 30 percent. Question: who will be held accountable if that never happens?

Boeing has begun engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) flight trials of the T-X trainer aircraft it has developed with partner Saab.

Pros and Cons of 3D Printing Metal Components. Con: “cost cannot be a primary motivator for those who want to pursue this technology.”

You might not be as agile as you think you are. Most everything the authors say you should not do is standard operating procedure for government acquisitions.