Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said that congressional authorities for rapid technology prototyping and testing helped the service meet its Century Challenge milestone to cut 100 years from ongoing weapons development programs. The service said Thursday it started streamlining processes in May 2018 through the authorities provided by the Fiscal 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. Wilson said the Air Force created guidelines that helped program managers with decision making to test and bring technology platforms to the field.Â
“We’re able to dismiss things that don’t add value to our programs while remaining exceptionally disciplined on things that do,†said Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics.
The areas that showed accelerated development include communications and defensive systems for fighter jets, satellites, hypersonic weapons, intelligence and cyber. The Air Force issued a science and technology strategy to guide the service to maintain technological advantage through 2030 and beyond.
