Air Force Pioneers Digital Acquisition for Light Reconnaissance Aircraft

The U.S. Air Force’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces Directorate is adopting a novel approach for providing light reconnaissance aircraft to foreign military partners with the establishment of a dedicated digital acquisition team.

Comprising young Air Force personnel, the Digital PAQuisitions team aims to create a digital twin of a light reconnaissance aircraft that can be rapidly adapted to meet the specific needs of a foreign partner, significantly reducing development and fielding times, the Air Force said.

Traditionally, fielding foreign military sales aircraft can take an average of five years. Lt. Col. Christopher Rasor, the digital acquisition team leader and the head of the directorate’s Light Reconnaissance Foreign Military Sales Branch, expects the digital approach to slash the timeframe to under 18 months.

Currently, the digital acquisition team is laying the groundwork for the project, finalizing documentation and conducting market research to identify the industry’s compatibility with the Air Force’s digital environment.

The Digital PAQuisitions team also plans to issue a request for proposal for its first digital acquisition, aimed at providing a light reconnaissance aircraft to a Central American military partner. Rasor said digital acquisitions will enable timely delivery of reconnaissance capabilities to both foreign partners and the U.S. Air Force.