UP FRONT.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew

Wasn't That Once Called 'Acquisition Malpractice?'

Mike White, principal director for hypersonics in the office of the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering, described an acquisition strategy for the emerging technology that sounded like it was inspired by the F-35 joint strike fighter.

"We made the decision as a department to parallelize the technology development and weapon system development, so we can field capability earlier," he said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event.

"We're accelerating the fielding of initial capability recognizing that that capability won't be the end-all, be-all. And we will be putting together a capability-based [scienceand-technology] strategy and a capability phasing plan strategy that will then look at block upgrades as we move forward," he said.

For more on hypersonics, see page 9.

Air Force Investing in F-15EX Jets

The Air Force is shifting funds to invest in newer aircraft as it prepares for a high-end fight, the commanding general of Air Force Materiel Command said.

"If you look at our budget this year, we are making a shift in that, we're investing more in newer and more advanced [aircraft] because the national security strategy has asked us to focus on what we're going to need ... for that next-gen fight," Gen. Arnold Bunch Jr. told reporters. For example, Bunch noted that up until a few years ago the Air Force planned to extend the life of the F-l 5C/D fleet but after exploring costs, the service chose instead to invest in the Boeing-built EX variant fighters.

The Air Force's 2022 budget proposal includes 12 more F-l 5EX jets to add to the first 12 acquired in 2021.

For more on the budget, seepage 10.

Diminishing Returns from Army's 'Night Court'

An Army budget official said it will grow increasingly difficult to find savings after its cost reduction efforts have already delayed several programs in recent years.

Maj. Gen. Paul Chamberlain, director of the Army budget, said after three years of running the "night court," leaders have identified "most places" where reducing or eliminating programs...