New in 2021: Advanced Battle Management System testing begins December 27, 2020 Tech. Sgt. John Rodiguez provides security with a Ghost Robotics Vision 60 prototype at a simulated austere base during the Advanced Battle Management System exercise on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Sept. 1, 2020. (Tech. Sgt. Cory D. Payne/Air Force) As early as March, the Air Force and Army could begin major experiments on their systems to allow aircraft, sensors and other weapons systems across services to share data instantaneously. As part of a Sept. 29 agreement signed by both services’ chiefs of staff, the Army and Air Force hope to ensure that their new communications equipment, networks and artificial intelligence systems are compatible with one another and send information seamlessly under the Combined Joint All-Domain Command and Control effort.
Year in review: Top stories from 2020 1 of 10
The U.S. Air Force confirmed to Defense News that it secretly designed, built and flew at least one prototype of its enigmatic next-generation fighter jet. With the program still in its infancy, the rollout and successful first flight of a demonstrator was not expected for years. (U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory) 2 of 10
After a year of speculation about what would happen to Turkey’s F-35s after the country was ousted from the Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019, the Pentagon announced plans to buy eight F-35A jets, originally built by Lockheed Martin for Turkey, as part of a $862 million contract modification. The deal also contained an additional six F-35As built for the U.S. Air Force and modifications that will bring the Turkish jets in line with the U.S. configuration. (dardanellas/Getty Images)
December 18, 2020
Staff Sgt. Conner Sona of the 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron shows Staff Sgt. Amber Alderman, from the 90th Missile Security Operations Squadron, the features of the new body armor that is designed to better fit women in the logistics squadron s Individual Personal Equipment section at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., on Dec. 11. (Glenn Robertson/Air Force) Female security forces airmen at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming on Dec. 11 became some of the first to start using new body armor designed to fit women. In a release, the Air Force said that the new armor has several different features from the standard tactical vest. It has a curved chest plate, lighter weight and shorter size than the armor distributed to other airmen, the release said, and it also uses a snap buckle instead of velcro.
December 18, 2020 Staff Sgt. Conner Sona of the 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron shows Staff Sgt. Amber Alderman, from the 90th Missile Security Operations Squadron, the features of the new body armor that is designed to better fit women in the logistics squadron s Individual Personal Equipment section at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., on Dec. 11. (Glenn Robertson/Air Force) Female security forces airmen at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming on Dec. 11 became some of the first to start using new body armor designed to fit women. In a release, the Air Force said that the new armor has several different features from the standard tactical vest. It has a curved chest plate, lighter weight and shorter size than the armor distributed to other airmen, the release said, and it also uses a snap buckle instead of velcro.