The Air Force announced initial operating capability for its new Cyber Resiliency Office for Weapons Systems on Wednesday. CROWS, while based at Hanscom AFB, Mass., will involve personnel from across the service and will coordinate security of USAF weapons systems from cyber attack on a number of fronts. The office will be tasked with supporting the acquisition, including design and development, of weapons systems that are more impervious to cyber attack, overseeing operational security of existing weapons systems, and maintenance and training related to cyber security. CROWS was created in partial fulfillment of the Air Force Cyber Campaign Plan and reached IOC on Dec. 21, 2016, according to a Hanscom release.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.