The USAF has pulled the plug on its plans to order thousands of iPads to be used as electronic flight bags.

The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command has cancelled its plans to order thousands of iPads to be used as electronic flight bags, NextGov has learned.

Earlier this month, that the Air Force's Air Mobility Command would buy anywhere between 63 to 18,000 iPad 2s (or another type of tablet) to replace the traditional hefty flight bags pilots must carry. NextGov said the command has not provided a reason for cancelling the move.

The iPads would basically consolidate the nearly 40-pound bag of flight plans, technical manuals, and other materials that pilots require into tablet form.

The Air Force's decision to kill the tablet plan could have something to do with the inclusion of Russian-developed security and document reader software specified in the documents detailing its plans. The command would not comment on this detail, but Michael McCarthy, who heads up the Army's smartphone project, told NextGov that he wouldn't use Russian software because it poses a potential risk.

But the USAF hasn't killed the program altogether. Command spokesperson Capt. Kristen Duncan told NextGov that it "continues to explore options to develop the electronic flight bag program. Included in this continual evaluation is the procurement aspect of providing tablets in the field. We continue to look at each component of the electronic flight bag program to ensure we do the right thing for our airmen, don't introduce unnecessary risk into operations and provide the best tools available to conduct the mission."

Although the Special Operations Command has rescinded its order, Air Mobility Command (a separate Air Force Unit) still has plans to use tablets as electronic flight bags, Air Mobility Command Public Affairs chief Maj. Mike Andrews told PCMag.

Many commercial airliners have already made the switch, and last month American Airlines became the to use iPads without having to power them down during takeoff and landing. Other major airlines are currently going through the FAA's tablet approval process, including , , and Delta.

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Editor's note: This story was updated to clarify that although the Special Operations Command has cancelled its order, Air Mobility Command still plans to use tablets as electronic flight manuals.