Thread by @defense_news

And we're off! First up, @StephenLosey kicking things off with @SecAFOfficial Frank Kendall on what he's got planned for the future of the #AirForce. #DNConf

@StephenLosey @SecAFOfficial Kendall on Ukraine: as winter approaches and maneuverability diminishes, it will be up to Ukraine to determine what its future defense needs are. To know that now for certain would be speculation.

@StephenLosey @SecAFOfficial On more aircraft retirements for the 2024 budgets, Kendall said, in general: "We have to divest our older systems that are increasingly costly to maintain."

ICYMI, recent coverage on this: defensenews.com/air/2022/06/16…

"We need to make a decision and get on with it."

"Standby" Kendall says about further details on who's in the running for NGAD and when the public might expect to know more about the program.
Context: defensenews.com/air/2022/06/01…

Losey: "With financial pressures like inflation and budgetary challenges on the DoD, can the nation afford such a program?"

Kendall: "Can the nation afford not to have air superiority?
#DNConf defensenews.com/air/2022/04/28…

On collaborative combat aircraft, does modularity lend itself to versatility?
"It could. In a typical manned aircraft, you have lots of missions systems, lots of capabilities.
In uncrewed aircraft, you have choices ...it raises uncertainty of what the adversary has to deal with."

On ARRW and hypersonics: "We still have work to do ... but we shouldn't blindly embrace hypersonics as a panacea. They're a tool in the toolbox."
defensenews.com/air/2022/08/17…