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.
Michael Bruno (Washington), Jefferson Morris (Washington), John M. Doyle (Washington)
The Pentagon’s decision to punt the choice of provider for the U.S. Air Force’s new aerial refueling tanker to the next set of Washington leadership does little to solve the issues bedeviling the program, and pushes off the era of new tankers—exactly what airmen had feared.
Following the congressionally mandated addition of a fourth satellite, the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program’s total estimated cost has reached roughly $9.24 billion, according to the service. The fourth satellite, combined with some additional development costs associated with the first three spacecraft, have caused the program to breach the 25 percent Nunn-McCurdy cost growth cap (Aerospace DAILY, Aug. 1).
BIG ONE: Northrop Grumman has received a $5.1 billion, 7-year cost plus incentive fee contract award for the design and construction of the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the company announced Sept. 10. The company’s Shipbuilding sector will perform the work, which includes construction, design activities, engineering services, procurement of materials and hardware to support construction and logistics activities. This new class of carrier replaces the 1960s-era Nimitz-class.
