The Air Force science and technology community has begun work to demonstrate a high-velocity penetrating weapon, reusable space-access system, and new cyber capability under a promising new initiative, said Stephen Walker, USAF’s deputy assistant secretary of science, technology, and engineering, Tuesday. These projects are part of the service’s new “flagship capability concepts,” under which the Air Force Research Lab is pursuing capabilities that address the service’s highest priority needs, Walker told the House Armed Services Committee’s emerging threats and capabilities panel in testimony on the service’s Fiscal 2012 S&T funding request. “These are large-scale, integrated demonstrations of technology,” explained Walker. The goal has been to line up these activities so that they could smoothly feed into potential future programs of record for fielding the capabilities, he said.
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.