Category: Defence Intelligence

Source: United States Air Force

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —  

Two BRAVO AI Battle Labs will be established at U.S. European Command and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in collaboration with the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office‘s Algorithmic Warfare Directorate and the Defense Innovation Unit, to expedite learning from Department of Defense data. Over the next year, the labs will organize multiple U.S. federal government-wide BRAVO Hackathons, including some with coalition partners.

“BRAVO Hackathons represent an opportunity for DoD to practice and proliferate the fundamentals of user-centered design and agile software development,” said Joe Larson, Defense Department deputy chief digital and AI officer for algorithmic warfare. “By providing the seed funding to establish the AI Battle Labs in EUCOM and INDOPACOM, we will be designing and testing data analytic and AI capabilities with warfighters, not for them, informing and strengthening our ability to deliver exactly what they need to win.”

These multi-classification labs will collect operational theater data — ranging from logistics to cyber — and share it with the DoD enterprise, providing central hubs for digital integration among federal entities, industry, coalition partners and American citizenry. The BRAVO Hackathon series will continue organizing one-week events to integrate data at any classification within a software development environment that permits untrusted licensed open-source and commercial software and data otherwise not approved for production systems.

“On behalf of the DoD, we will deploy BRAVO’s awesome development experience to combatant commands to host timeboxed hackathons and continuously develop and integrate capabilities developed from operational theater data,” said Dr. Stuart Wagner, Air Force Chief Digital Transformation officer and BRAVO AI Battle Labs executive agent. “Given that a free society’s largest competitive advantage is innovation and collaboration, the labs will provide a physical and digital space for serendipitous social collisions as DoD, industry, and coalition partners prototype solutions to challenges from peer competitors. Any U.S. citizen remains eligible to apply to participate in public BRAVO hackathons.”

Federal government employees and federal contractors are encouraged to share use cases, data, infrastructure, or potential collaborations with these labs by email (saf.cn.bravo@us.af.mil) here. U.S. citizens and U.S. industry seeking to collaborate with these labs are encouraged to contact the Defense Innovation Unit (onramp-hack-bravo@diu.mil) here.

“We look forward to working with the BRAVO labs to ensure that developers and companies who want to work with DoD data can rapidly access the environments they need to demonstrate operational relevance,” said Doug Beck, Defense Innovation Unit director.

The labs will continue the series’ bottom-up approach to problem solving, where military members, civilians and federal contractors propose projects and form self-organizing teams that develop prototypes inside combatant commands.

“The use of emerging AI tools to quickly analyze and leverage data for decision advantage is critical in today’s increasingly complex threat environment,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Peter Andrysiak, USEUCOM chief of staff. “Establishing one of the BRAVO AI Battle labs within in the USEUCOM region is an important investment for this command. The lab will enable greater innovation at the edge, with our allies and partners, against a range of challenges at a pivotal time for the command.”

The labs seek to interconnect combatant command, enterprise DoD and coalition partner capabilities from data ingestion and system integration to approved employment. The Air Force’s system-of-systems technology integration toolchain for heterogeneous electronic systems, or STITCHES, will integrate various Combatant Command and service level systems directly to the labs.

Across three BRAVO hackathons at six separate sites, 81 operational prototypes have been produced at three classifications from operational DoD data at approximately 2% the cost of existing DoD minimum viable product innovation pipelines such as Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase II grants.

Since the BRAVO 10 hackathon in March 2023 at Hurlburt Field, Florida, 33% of those projects have been utilized in production or received follow-on funding commitments that totals over 75 times the cost of the hackathon itself. Dozens of prototypes from prior events have been further resourced and impacted major defense programs in areas including large language models, space launch, flight telemetry and biometrics, radar resiliency, unmanned systems, personnel recovery, sensing and targeting, user experience, intelligence analysis, situational report automated analysis, battle damage assessment, critical communication system reliability and legal and administrative operations among others.

“Despite the speed and impacts from BRAVO hackathons, we are still finding the time from development of capabilities, calibrations, or tactics with operational data to employment in theater to be on the order of months or years,” Wagner said. “We are deploying these labs to drop this timeline by a factor of 100 — from months or years to days and eventually hours — by increasingly automating bureaucratic processes such as data classification determinations and authority to operate applications. If successful, we will adapt our capabilities and tactics to our strategic competitors faster than they can adapt to us.”

Named from Billy Mitchell’s controversial 1920s Project B battleship bombing trials that creatively disproved the top funding priority of the Secretary of War by demonstrating bombers sink battleships, BRAVO seeks to empower government, academia, industry, citizens and foreign partners to rapidly develop capabilities from existent IT systems while encouraging psychological safety and rank-agnostic innovation.
 

Source: United States Air Force

WASHINGTON (AFNS) —  

The Department of the Air Force gathered key leadership and stakeholders for its premier Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Conference Sept. 18-20 at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

This year’s theme, “Respect, Recruit, Retain and Ready,” aimed to empower all Airmen and Guardians, emphasizing the need for inclusive leadership, trust and belonging amid an evolving battlefield.

Marianne Malizia, Secretary of the Air Force Diversity and Inclusion director, stressed the critical importance of the conference themes.

 “In the vast expanse of air and space, diverse perspectives and inclusive strategies are paramount. Our mission revolves around nurturing a culture where everyone feels valued and knows they belong. Their voices, ideas and insights aren’t merely heard—they’re actively pursued to enhance our mission.” -Secretary of the Air Force Diversity and Inclusion Director Marianne Malizia

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall initiated the conference with an opening day keynote, underscoring the pivotal roles of respect and readiness in accomplishing the mission.

“For me, it’s always all about readiness, it’s all about capacity [and] capability,” he said. “It’s about deterrence, and it’s about the ability to win if we have to fight. You win when you have the strongest team on the field, and you win when you have a team where everybody can trust everybody else and work together as a team to achieve a common goal.”

Kendall stressed the link between mutual respect and readiness, stating that by fostering a sense of worth in every team member, mission success is inevitable.

“That’s what we’re trying to build, and you build that by making sure everybody feels valued,” he said. “You build it by making sure everybody gets to work to their full potential, everybody is treated fairly and equally so they want to be on the team, and you’re invested in them and their level of capability.”

Speaking on the essence of leadership, Kendall offered an insightful perspective to leaders on empathy and inclusivity.

“It’s important for leaders to understand and have empathy for the people they lead as much as possible,” he said. “You can be a much more effective leader if you do that. If you start to be more inclusive and bring people into the conversation, you’re going to get better ideas and better solutions.”

DAF Diversity and Inclusion leaders later unveiled the Department of the Air Force Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Strategic Plan, formalized mere hours before the event’s commencement.

“The the elements of  the strategy we just signed, are incredibly sound and focus on the mission, focus on culture and focus on institutionalizing things we believe in,” Kendall said.” All these things are going to pay dividends as we move forward.”

Col. Jenise Carroll, SAF DI deputy director, and Chief Master Sgt. Don Pedro, SAF DI senior enlisted leader, addressed stakeholders on the value and importance of the SAF DI Mission and Strategy.

According to Carroll, SAF DI’s Mission and Strategy evolve around the understanding that the strength of the DAF doesn’t just lie in our technological prowess or advanced weaponry, but in Airmen and Guardians who volunteer to serve. 

“The essence of Respect, Recruit, Retain and Ready is intertwined deeply within the SAF DI mission and strategy,” she said. “By respecting and valuing the unique perspectives of every individual, we lay the foundation for recruiting a diverse, dynamic workforce. This, in turn, ensures we retain world-class talent that’s always ready to meet and overcome any challenge.”

Carroll stated embedding these principles into strategy ensures the DAF isn’t just preparing for today’s threats but innovating for tomorrow’s challenges.

Pedro said the heart of the SAF DI mission and strategy is an understanding that our true might comes from our diversity.

“I’ve served alongside some of the most dedicated individuals in my career, and what stands out is not just their dedication to the mission, but their diverse backgrounds, their stories and their challenges,” he said. “Our SAF DI mission recognizes this. It ties directly to ‘Respect, Recruit, Retain and Ready’, ensuring that every individual, irrespective of their background, feels respected, is actively recruited, is retained for their unparalleled skills, and is always ready to rise to the challenges we face.”

In a question-and-answer session with Malizia, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller and performing the duties of Under Secretary of the Air Force Kristyn Jones said recruiting a diverse group and focusing on retaining both Airmen and Guardians, especially during times of heightened global competition, is of paramount importance.

“We need you. We need all of you. We need the talents of our great American population in order to be ready for the future, and  that is where we’re required to think about retention and recruitment,” said Jones. “Everything that you all are doing here is breaking down those barriers.”

Jones also spoke on mentoring and sponsorship, two crucial components for the Department of the Air Force in its recruitment and retention initiatives.

“Culturally, I think we still have a way to go to be able to get those mentoring and sponsorship programs in place,” she said. “Even without a program, people can to reach out to somebody who doesn’t look just like you–they have a different background, different race, different gender—and you’re taking the time to get to know them and able to represent them when they’re not in the room.”

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass closed out the conference with a session addressing questions from the Airmen and Guardians, and ending the conversation with heartfelt gratitude and a powerful message.

“Leaders, thanks for investing in yourself and thanks for spending three days to make yourself better again in order to make our Air Force better, “she said. “I very much appreciate seeing these senior leaders throughout the audience who are working incredibly hard to help build the Force of the Future.”

Bass emphasized unity and the shared responsibility towards an inclusive environment.

“These aren’t women challenges, male challenges, Asian-American challenges, African-American challenges, or LGBTQI+ challenges,” she said. “These are people challenges, and all of us have a responsibility to create an environment where every single one of us can thrive.”

Source: United States Air Force

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. (AFNS) —  

Sept. 23 may have marked the close of Maj. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt‘s distinguished career, but the legacy she’s crafted and the lives she’s influenced will undoubtedly resonate for generations, U.S. Transportation Command‘s top general said during Leavitt’s retirement ceremony. 
 
Officiating the event, USTRANSCOM Commander Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost recounted the hurdles and triumphs that defined Leavitt’s storied 31-year journey. From being the Air Force’s first female fighter pilot to being the first woman to command the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. 
 
Leavitt’s tale is etched with many “firsts,” yet beyond the accolades and achievements, what truly propelled her was her character, Van Ovost said. 
 
“As her character was being shaped in those early years,” Van Ovost continued. “She had every opportunity to choose an easy path. To take roads well-traveled, but that’s not who she is.” 
 
From her early aspirations in aerospace engineering to confronting policies that once barred women from combat-coded fighter aircraft roles, Leavitt’s resolve knew no bounds. With the unwavering support of her parents, she overcame challenges and pioneered new paths.

However, recalling the obstacles faced by women in combat roles in the early nineties, Van Ovost emphasized that policy change alone was insufficient. Acceptance and recognition were battles unto themselves, and Leavitt was at the forefront of these transformative times. 
 
To help reshape misguided perceptions, Leavitt would venture to Hollywood, where she’d work with Disney on the captain movie project. This opportunity would give Leavitt a stage to tell her Air Force story and provide a better representation and window into what a lifetime of service looked like. 
 
“[Jeannie] had to cope with a constant demand to be in the spotlight, because of her many firsts, something that’s not really representative of who Jeannie is,” Van Ovost said. “She much prefers to stand back, behind the scenes to guide and mentor. To take care of the people and the mission – [that’s] the true purpose behind her continued dedication to service.” 
 
Leavitt’s aspirations were never solely for herself, but about lifting an entire community. And through her tenacity and resilience, Leavitt laid the foundation for future generations to tread. 
 
“On behalf of all of those who journeyed beside and behind you, thank you for having the courageous character necessary to pave new roads for others to follow,” Van Ovost said.

 

Source: United States Air Force

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) —  

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass returned to Goodfellow Air Force Base to join service members in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Goodfellow AFB being the home of the 17th Training Wing.

Students and permanent party members had the opportunity to meet with Bass, a former 17th Training Wing command chief, multiple times throughout her visit. Bass invited service members to discuss how the Air Force is constantly evolving and progressing, with the new technological advances being made by both the U.S. and our adversaries, to continue to be the world’s greatest Air Force.

“The Air Force I grew up in 30 years ago is very different from the Air Force today,” Bass said. “We have got to get faster at change.”

Bass discussed the implementation of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, and their impact on the future of the workforce. She also opened the floor to any questions that both permanent party and students may have had about the effects these technologies may have on their careers.

Bass ended her visit with the Airmen by encouraging them to constantly challenge the status quo set before them in their units, on their bases, and throughout the Air Force as they move through their careers. 

Source: United States Air Force

GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) —  

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass returned to Goodfellow Air Force Base to join service members in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Goodfellow AFB being the home of the 17th Training Wing.

Students and permanent party members had the opportunity to meet with Bass, a former 17th Training Wing command chief, multiple times throughout her visit. Bass invited service members to discuss how the Air Force is constantly evolving and progressing, with the new technological advances being made by both the U.S. and our adversaries, to continue to be the world’s greatest Air Force.

“The Air Force I grew up in 30 years ago is very different from the Air Force today,” Bass said. “We have got to get faster at change.”

Bass discussed the implementation of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, and their impact on the future of the workforce. She also opened the floor to any questions that both permanent party and students may have had about the effects these technologies may have on their careers.

Bass ended her visit with the Airmen by encouraging them to constantly challenge the status quo set before them in their units, on their bases, and throughout the Air Force as they move through their careers. 

Source: United States Air Force

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —  

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass published a letter to Airmen Sept. 18 detailing updates to the enlisted force development model. The model reflects the new Enlisted Airmanship Continuum, a series of changes aiming to provide new development opportunities to Airmen.

Fellow Airmen,

Over the past several years, our service has been working diligently to meet our national defense needs. Our most significant advantage remains steadfast—a powerful, capable enlisted corps. We must continue to improve upon how we develop these Airmen to sustain our competitive advantage. Our Enlisted Professional Military Education, upgrade training, and career progression models have made us the force we are … however, we must always look at ways to improve.

In an age where speed and unity of effort dominate the battle space, a different approach is required. Teamwork between specialties, locations, and commands will be essential if we are to best integrate teams to achieve Agile Combat Employment and empower our Multi-Capable Airmen through mission command.

We commissioned the Enlisted Force Development Action Plan to reimagine and explore an ecosystem that connects rank-based progression and provides more development opportunities for our Airmen. 

As a result, and in line with Line of Effort 5, Force Development Ecosystem, in the Action Plan, we are updating our EFD model to reflect the Enlisted Airmanship Continuum (100 – 900).

To best prepare our force for a new era of competition, we will see the following efforts take flight.

1) Foundations Courses will replace our base-level Professional Enhancement Seminars beginning October 2023 and become prerequisite courses for EPME starting in late 2024.
2) Prepping the Line Job Qualification Standard (JQS) was launched earlier in 2023 and supports leadership readiness in key positions and roles defined by the Enlisted Force Structure.
3) On-Demand PME will launch in 2024 and provide unrestricted access to relevant content for Airmen, when and where needed, increasing the level of shared expertise across formations.

The Enlisted Airmanship Continuum builds upon our strong foundation. It directly aligns with what we value as a service through the Airmen Leadership Qualities and Foundational Competencies. It focuses on broader options for the Total Force, closing development gaps, and delivering quality content in a variety of methods. We will continue to listen to the feedback of our Airmen to help us hit the desired targets as these efforts mature. This shift is about the long game and building the force of the future. We owe every Airman deliberate developmental opportunities throughout their careers to grow and become their very best. They will be the difference makers in the future fight, and we are choosing to invest in them now to ensure we remain the Air Force our Nation needs.

Source: United States Air Force

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) —  

The Secretary of the Air Force Diversity and Inclusion office showcased a pivotal presence at the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2023 Air, Space & Cyber Conference held Sept. 11 to 13 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. 

SAF/DI’s presence was paramount at the Air, Space & Cyber Conference, which provided first-class professional military development and shared emerging requirements and technologies to help fuel connections that advance the cause of air and space power. 

A standout moment was Marianne Malizia, Secretary of the Air Force Diversity and Inclusion director, participating in the AFA panel discussion titled “Shattering Barriers to Success.”

Addressing the critical importance of diversity and inclusion in the Air Force and Space Force, Malizia noted the totality of the DAF’s strength.  

“Our force’s strength is the sum of individual experiences, backgrounds and talents,” she said. “By embracing diversity and inclusion, we enhance adaptability, improve decision-making and boost cohesion and morale.” 

The panel provided a deep dive into how diversity and inclusion intricately tie into mission readiness and overall success. Malizia emphasized how diverse teams lead to improved decision making, a broader spectrum of skills, and a stronger response to international challenges.  

In addition, the discussion shed light on the vital role the Department of the Air Force Barrier Analysis Working Group has played in unearthing institutional barriers and advising senior leaders on necessary policy changes. 

Chief Master Sgt. Don Pedro, SAF DI senior enlisted leader, reinforced the importance of diversity and inclusion in shaping the future of the Air and Space Forces. 

“When our Airmen and Guardians face barriers, it’s our duty to ensure they have the tools and channels to voice concerns and seek mentorship,” he said.  

He urged individuals to engage in diversity and inclusion training, build alliances and tap into mentorship opportunities. 

SAF DI’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion was evident throughout the conference. 

Their partnership with the Ira C. Eaker Center for Leadership Development, live breakout sessions, round table discussions with Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and engagements with other senior DAF leaders showcased a comprehensive and united front. 

During the conference, a crucial round table discussion took place between representatives and champions from  DAFBAWG teams. This provided an opportunity to engage with key DAF leadership, including Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall; Performing the Duties of Undersecretary of the Air Force, Kristyn Jones; Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Alex Wagner; and the Secretary of the Air Force Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Marianne Malizia.  

A key takeaway from the discussion was the need to create a forum for direct and regular crosstalk between DAF senior leaders and the DAFBAWG teams. 

These events reiterated that the drive toward diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility is not just about ticking boxes but about strengthening the force to tackle the challenges of tomorrow with dignity, respect and unparalleled capability. 

Pedro said SAF DI will lead in championing the cause of diversity and inclusion as the DAF continues to foster professional growth and glean insights into cutting-edge requirements and technologies.

Source: United States Air Force

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) —  

The U.S. Air Force’s ability to rapidly generate airpower at a moment’s notice was put to the test at Kadena Air Base, when the 18th Wing conducted a no-notice agile combat employment exercise Sept. 22. 

Airmen from the 18th Wing partnered with deployed Airmen from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and Eielson AFB, Alaska, to launch multiple F-15C/D Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35A Lightning IIs without prior notice to test the base’s ability to rapidly generate and disperse airpower. 

“ACE relies on our team’s ability to quickly mobilize our aircraft from large, centralized hub bases to networks of smaller, dispersed, spoke locations to increase survivability and complicate potential adversary targeting,” said Col. Joshua Lundeby, 18th Wing deputy commander. “Through training like this, we remain postured to deter, deny and defeat any threat to regional stability, our nation, and its allies and partners.  

Airmen were tasked with getting Kadena AB’s diverse fleet of fighter aircraft prepped and ready to launch as though they were being dispersed to spoke locations. Once the fighters taxied, or launched for regularly scheduled training sorties, they were considered ‘departed’ for purposes of evaluation. 

The exercise showcased the capabilities of U.S. Airmen across the spectrum of operational, maintenance and support specializations.

 “This wasn’t a small feat, we brought highly skilled Airmen from four different fighter maintenance units across the globe and asked them to tackle safe, compliant and efficient ACE,” said Col. Randy Schwinler, 18th Maintenance Group commander. “I am extremely proud of their performance.” 

As the Keystone of the Pacific, Kadena AB’s strategic size and location make it a pivotal installation for ensuring the defense of Japan and a free and open Indo-Pacific. Through realistic training like this exercise, Kadena AB Airmen are honing skills necessary to keep pace with evolving threats to the U.S. and its allies and partners. 

“Exercises like this enable decentralized execution by empowering our Airmen to refine their abilities and provides them with opportunities to innovate or adapt new techniques while increasing efficiency within mission command,” Schwinler added. 

Kadena AB is currently hosting deployed fighter units from across the Air Force to ensure uninterrupted fighter coverage at the base through the phased departure of Kadena AB’s venerable fleet of F-15C/D Eagles. 

“The array of fighters in this theater provides us with more opportunities to integrate with our regional partners,” said Col. Henry Schantz, 18th Operations Group commander. “Pairing those distinct capabilities with ACE gives us an increased strategic advantage, ultimately strengthening our combat capability in defense of Japan and the Indo-Pacific region.”

 

Source: United States Air Force

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) —  

Joby Aviation, Inc. officially delivered its first experimental electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft to the Air Force during a ceremony held at Edwards Air Force Base, Sept. 25. The ceremony showcased the unique multi-party collaboration between private industry, AFWERX, the 412th Test Wing and NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center.

The Emerging Technologies Integrated Test Force, part of the recently structured Airpower Foundations Combined Test Force, is the lead element tasked with testing and evaluating the technology for future national defense applications. The ET-ITF will work alongside a team from Joby Aviation as part of a unique collaboration between private industry and the Air Force.

“This partnership between AFWERX, Agility Prime and the ITF is a new, direct, agile path to progress technology through the Acquisition Valley of Death,” said Maj. Phillip Woodhull, ET-ITF director.

The test campaign is part of a larger program known as Agility Prime, an AFWERX led initiative that seeks to harness commercial offerings with military applications through investment in emerging technologies such as transformative vertical lift, distributed electric propulsion, electric, hybrid-electric, hydrogen, and other novel power generation sources, increased autonomy, advanced manufacturing, and agile combat employment support.

Edwards AFB presents an ideal location to conduct developmental flight testing of experimental aircraft due to an abundance of space and consistent ideal weather conditions. The ET ITF will utilize the 412th Test Wing’s world-renowned risk management process to ensure both manned and remotely piloted operations of the eVTOL aircraft are conducted safely.

Ahead of the first delivery, ET-ITF test pilots spent time with the eVTOL aircraft and systems at Joby’s Marina, California facility. This has allowed for a swift transition into developmental flight test operations at Edwards AFB. Test sorties are anticipated to begin eminently.

“As we forge forward and embrace the future of advanced air mobility, our legacy is a testament to the enduring spirit of exploration,” said Col. Douglas Wickert, 412th Test Wing commander. “Through the work of this test team, the electric dreams of today are going to become the aviation realities of tomorrow.”

Source: United States Air Force

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —  

U.S. Air Force aircrew operating across 20 different rotor, tilt-wing, and fixed-wing aircraft – including but not limited to CV-22 Ospreys, HH-60G Pave Hawks, C-130 Hercules, and C-17 Globemaster IIIs – will receive new body armor carrier systems as part of an effort to update and replace older models. 

“We are replacing approximately 7,300 current legacy body armor carrier systems and components because they are either no longer being sustained by the Defense Logistics Agency or they are impacting mission readiness due to their weight and particular design,” said 1st Lt. Diego Martinez, program manager for Aviation Body Armor within the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Human Systems Division. “This effort is crucial because aircrew often operate in hostile environments where they are in real danger, and having the right body armor on the operator or inside the aircraft can be lifesaving.” 

The body armor carriers are unique and designed specifically for aircrew. 

“Aircrew have very different mission sets compared to other Air Force career fields that may require body armor,” Martinez added. “For example, aircrew body armor carrier systems need extraction capabilities in the event they [aircrew] need to be extracted for medical reasons.” 

One of the benefits of the new carrier systems is that they will weigh less than the legacy systems. 

“In the past, weight wasn’t looked at as too much of a big item because people thought that body armor is just heavy inherently,” Martinez said. “But there have been lots of recent efforts by manufacturers to develop different types of materials or different designs to specifically reduce weight.”   

So far, the division has identified two potential replacement systems for aircrew, including the Aviation Body Armor Vest and the Army Aircrew Combat Equipment. 

Testing to evaluate operational use and safety of the two systems is scheduled to begin in October 2023 and will conclude by summer of 2024. The selected system(s) will be fielded by individual units between the summer of 2024 and the summer of 2025.