The Air Force Weather Agency’s Lt. Col. Michael Dwyer told reporters at Wednesday’s JEFX briefing that the Net-Centric Weather Initiative (NCWI)is designed to demonstrate the ability to provide near-real-time critical weather information directly to the cockpit via Tactical Targeting Network Technology, or TTNT. Aircrews flying TTNT-equipped aircraft would be able to directly access current data via “machine-to-machine” channels, eliminating the stovepiping that prevented weather from being fully integrated into CAOC processes. Now, said Dwyer, the weather input will be transparent. NCWI also works with the Web-Enabled Execution Management Capability (WEEMC), which enables numerous commanders to plan and execute time-sensitive strike missions.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.