Michael Marrow covers air warfare for Breaking Defense. He holds a BA in history from the University of Virginia and started out as a freelance reporter covering local news in Fairfax County, Virginia and policing in Charlottesville, Virginia. Michael previously reported on the Air Force and Space Force for Inside Defense, where he tracked major acquisitions, policy changes and modernization efforts.
According to a SOCOM official, the Army included feedback from the command that led to design changes like hardware for a refueling probe and features that will enable special operators to make unique modifications.
“We already expanded production ahead of Replicator, and irrespective of Replicator, because we know where this is going,” AeroVironment CEO Wahid Nawabi told Breaking Defense.
The command carried out steps like hydrostatic and wind tunnel tests, but is now “kind of hitting a pause” on implementing a water landing capability due to budget concerns.
“We haven’t seen … the arrival of that many different, I would call ecosystems or capabilities, going that fast together in quite some time,” SOCOM Commander Gen. Bryan Fenton said of new technologies changing the nature of warfare.
Company executives claimed the Pulsar system can use AI tools to quickly identify new threats and devise defenses against them, compressing the timeline for responding to rapidly-evolving electronic warfare.
Lockheed Martin alleged in court filings that Howmet cut off the supply of titanium after the aerospace giant refused to agree to higher prices, threatening production of the F-35.
“What’s the future in your space?” Gregg Skinner, program manager for Navy and Marine Corps small tactical uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), asked a mixed audience of military and industry. “Group 5 capability, in a Group 2 [drone], at a Group 1 price.”
“We have recognized in our threat analysis that we need these capabilities in our wing in order to make our three wing missions executable,” Col. Joshua Koslov said of activating two EW squadrons. “And so that’s exactly what’s driving it.”
“The states need to be consulted, and need to be full partners moving forward in any major change such as this,” said Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum, the defense subcommittee’s top Democrat.
![The sights of SOF Week 2024 [Photos]](jpg/kraken-k4-manta-scaled-e1715287601503.jpg)
![The sights of SOF Week 2024 [Photos]](jpg/kraken-k4-manta-scaled-e1715287601503-225x150.jpg)
