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| Frank Kendall.- Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics |
The Aviation Innovation Initiative is a new effort, not an agglomeration of existing DARPA programs, Kendall told me during a vote break at today’s hearing. He declined to say how much money the new initiative is getting, only calling it “significant.” I would assume that means between $150 million and $500 million or so for the first few years, given the fact they are developing airframe and engine prototypes. Developing several bleeding edge prototypes — which is what a DARPA effort like this would presumably target — could not be done for peanuts.
The main goals of this effort — aside from developing and proving technologies — is to preserve the defense industry design teams that are crucial to building aircraft (and who don’t have much work right now) reduce lead times and reduce program risk, Kendall told us.
Defense.gov News Article: Kendall: Sequestration Will Harm U.S. Military Superiority
Aerospace Innovation Initiative
Kendall also discussed a program called the Aerospace Innovation Initiative, part of the broader Defense Innovation Initiative that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced last fall. The larger program seeks to streamline DoD business processes, operational concepts, training and other activities.The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency initially will lead the program, which will involve the Navy and the Air Force and develop prototypes for next-generation air-dominance platforms or X-Plane experimental programs, Kendall said.
“To be competitive, the Navy and the Air Force each will have variants focused on their mission requirements. There will be a technology period leading up to development of the prototypes,” he added, and a reduction of the lead time it takes to produce next-generation capability.
“This will lead to the systems that ultimately will come after the F-35,” Kendall said.
The Next Generation’s F-35
Part of the effort is an airframe-oriented program with X-Plane prototypes, he added.“Part of what we put under the Aerospace Innovation Initiative is a jet-engine-development program for the next generation, and competitive prototypes for next-generation propulsion,” Kendall told the panel.
Kendall said one effort designed to address economic challenges is an acquisition tool called Better Buying Power 3.0. BBP 3.0 continues core aspects of earlier versions, shifting the department’s focus toward technical excellence and innovation.
“It's a response to the technological superiority concerns,” the acquisition chief said
Some Related Links
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| Boeing concept for F/A-XX. Boeing Image |
Next Generation Air Dominance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sixth-generation jet fighter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Document: Pentagon Innovation Initiative Memo - USNI News
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