Air Force introduces e-Planes

[basher54321]

Air Force Introduces e-Planes for the Digital Era
Sept. 14, 2020 | By Rachel S. Cohen

For nearly 80 years, experimental X-planes have been the marker of cutting-edge aerospace technology. Now, the digital age is ushering in a new kind of aircraft: the e-series.

The Air Force and Space Force will begin adding “e” to the names of aircraft, weapons, and satellites that are designed and tested using digital engineering, Air Force Secretary Barbara M. Barrett said Sept. 14 at the Air Force Association’s virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference.

“For 73 years, the entire history of the Air Force, X-planes have represented technological innovation,” Barrett said. “Today, the e-plane and e-sat will join them in making history and ensuring Airmen and space professionals have modern tools to protect our nation.”

Digital engineering uses advanced computer modeling and simulation, and technology like virtual and augmented reality, to quickly draw up hardware blueprints and vet how various configurations would work in the real world without building a physical prototype. Modern digital engineering is more accurate and reliable than the computer-assisted development of the past, and proponents say it cuts costs as well.

The military is betting that classifying assets in a new way to reflect changes in development and manufacturing will inspire the defense industry to adopt those techniques.

“The service acquisition executive will determine whether an acquisition program meets the digital acquisition threshold,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said. If a system qualifies for the ‘e’ in development, it will drop the designation when it begins production.

Aircraft like the EA-18G Growler and E-8C Joint STARS use an uppercase E to name planes that are modified with electronic devices for electronic warfare, airborne early warning radar, and airborne command and control missions, as well as tactical data communications links for manned flight.

Boeing’s Red Hawk trainer jet is the first plane to earn an “e” designation, as the eT-7A. --

https://www.airforcemag.com/air-force-i ... gital-era/

[mixelflick]

Air Force Introduces e-Planes for the Digital Era
Sept. 14, 2020 | By Rachel S. Cohen

For nearly 80 years, experimental X-planes have been the marker of cutting-edge aerospace technology. Now, the digital age is ushering in a new kind of aircraft: the e-series.

The Air Force and Space Force will begin adding “e” to the names of aircraft, weapons, and satellites that are designed and tested using digital engineering, Air Force Secretary Barbara M. Barrett said Sept. 14 at the Air Force Association’s virtual Air, Space & Cyber Conference.

“For 73 years, the entire history of the Air Force, X-planes have represented technological innovation,” Barrett said. “Today, the e-plane and e-sat will join them in making history and ensuring Airmen and space professionals have modern tools to protect our nation.”

Digital engineering uses advanced computer modeling and simulation, and technology like virtual and augmented reality, to quickly draw up hardware blueprints and vet how various configurations would work in the real world without building a physical prototype. Modern digital engineering is more accurate and reliable than the computer-assisted development of the past, and proponents say it cuts costs as well.

The military is betting that classifying assets in a new way to reflect changes in development and manufacturing will inspire the defense industry to adopt those techniques.

“The service acquisition executive will determine whether an acquisition program meets the digital acquisition threshold,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said. If a system qualifies for the ‘e’ in development, it will drop the designation when it begins production.

Aircraft like the EA-18G Growler and E-8C Joint STARS use an uppercase E to name planes that are modified with electronic devices for electronic warfare, airborne early warning radar, and airborne command and control missions, as well as tactical data communications links for manned flight.

Boeing’s Red Hawk trainer jet is the first plane to earn an “e” designation, as the eT-7A. --

https://www.airforcemag.com/air-force-i ... gital-era/

eT-7A? God that sounds awful.

Never going to get used to that...

[quicksilver]

“eT-7A? God that sounds awful.“

Yeah...“phone home e.t.“