Jeff has been involved in aerospace journalism since the mid 1990s. Prior to joining Aviation Week, Jeff served as managing editor of Launchspace magazine and the International Space Industry Report. He has been the editor and chief of Aviation Week's Aerospace Daily & Defense Report since 2007 and has been a regular contributor to Aviation Week magazine. He received his B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
A recently completed Tactical Aircraft operations study performed for the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin supports the case for boosting procurement of the company's F/A-22 Raptor above the 180 aircraft currently approved by the Pentagon, the company said. Seeking to support the Air Force in its bid to reverse last year's cuts to the program, Lockheed Martin said the study revealed that a force of roughly 250 F/A-22s mixed with the company's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter could win certain scenarios at one-third the overall cost of older U.S. fighters.
Boeing says it will have to begin shutting down the production line for the C-17 cargo aircraft if it does not receive by January 2006 firm commitment from the Air Force for additional procurement beyond the initial program buy of 180 aircraft.
The retooled Joint Unmanned Combat Air System program is expected to appoint a Navy flag officer to head its new joint office within the next few weeks as the program transitions from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency over to Air Force ownership.
