Getting Perspective on Nontraditional ISR: The F-22 and F-35 fighters are capable of much more than air-to-air or air-to-ground combat. “They are tremendous ISR platforms,” said Lt. Gen. Larry James, deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance during his Sept. 17 afternoon address at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in National Harbor, Md. In fact, as the US shifts its focus from Afghanistan on to other potential anti-access, area-denial locations “they may be some of our only airborne systems operating” in that environment. James said that issue as well as the best way to integrate data collected from the fifth-generation aircraft’s sensors into the Distributed Common Ground System will be part of the upcoming Corona summit. He said the goal is to brief the four stars and “get some perspective” on the issue, adding that a report on nontraditional ISR is due out soon.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.