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.
House lawmakers questioned the U.S. Army's plans for the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program at a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing March 20, pressing service officials on the feasibility of its schedule and whether it will detract from the readiness of the current force.
At a House Armed Services subcommittee hearing March 19, Air Force Undersecretary for Space Peter Teets said the Air Force's recent decision to reconsider its delay of the GPS III program was motivated by a desire to field the new system's enhanced anti-jamming capabilities earlier. The Air Force had decided earlier this year to delay the award of the GPS III prime contract and cut off funding until fiscal year 2008, at which point work would resume in anticipation of a 2012 first launch (DAILY, Jan 22).
According to the Department of Defense's (DOD) latest unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) roadmap, the Air Force is striving to replace the FAA's certificate of authorization (COA) process for military UAV flights in the national airspace with a standard "file and fly" approval procedure by fiscal year 2004. The COA process can take up to 60 days, but under the procedure the DOD wants, military UAV operators would be able to file a standard DD Form 175 and fly within hours, according to the roadmap (DAILY, March 18).
