News:
Authorization bill veto won’t hit troops’ pay raise –
Despite claims from conservative critics, President Obama’s veto of the 2016 defense authorization bill will not hold up next year’s military pay raise.
Congress in stealth dogfight over the F-35 fighter –
Some members of Congress argue that the delays and increasing costs are worth it, for the F-35 will make the American military technologically superior to any other in the world.
Business:
Israel builds first prototype of future fighting vehicle –
Israel’s Tank Production Authority is producing its first prototype of Eitan, an eight-wheel-drive armored fighting vehicle designed to weigh nearly half as much as the new Namer heavy carriers.
Experts: Global conflicts boost airlift sustainment market –
After years of declining investments in maintaining military transport fleets around the world, experts now expect the global airlift and mobility sustainment market to grow for the first time since 2011.
Defense firms’ Q3 results highlight M&A activity –
As aerospace and defense firms began reporting their third-quarter results last week, mergers and acquisitions — past, present and potential future deals — loomed large.
Army places $223 million satcom order with TCS –
TeleCommunication Systems Inc. received a $223.4 million delivery order for to supply the Army satellite terminals.
Retired Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk on future underwater technologies –
Retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk talks about the future of underwater technologies at the Naval Submarine League Symposium.
U.S. Navy awards Raytheon $159 million for Phalanx production –
The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon Co. a $159.9 million contract to manufacture, inspect and test Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems.
Dave Kubera on advances in photonics masts –
Dave Kubera, manager of programs at L-3 KEO, talks about advances in developing low-profile photonics masts to help make submarines more stealthy during the Naval Submarine Symposium.
Capt. Jim Gray on the new variable depth sonar for LCS –
Capt. Jim Gray, vice president for business development at Advanced Acoustic Concepts, talks about the Variable Depth Sonar they are developing for the LCS, while attending the Naval Submarine League Symposium.
Sniper targeting pods hitting mark –
The Air Force is buying kits to upgrade Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods from Lockheed Martin.
Moretti puts stamp on new Finmeccanica leadership team –
As Finmeccanica edges closer to introducing its new divisional structure by year’s end, CEO Mauro Moretti is about to finalize a management team that sources have said combines company veterans with staff he has brought with him from his previous stint running Italy’s railway network.
Canada’s F-35 decision poised to shake up fighter jet market –
In a move that promises to shake up the fighter jet market, Canada’s new Liberal Party government is widely expected to pull out of the Pentagon’s F-35 program.
Japan will buy three Boeing refueling tankers –
Japan has selected Boeing’s KC-46A air refueling tanker for its air force and will buy three of the jets. It’s the first international sale for Boeing’s tanker.
Defense:
New chief: ‘We cannot allow a hollow Army’ –
In just several weeks, new Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has made clear his top priority as the service’s top general.
LCS to get missiles for next deployment –
The U.S. Navy’s push to increase the lethality of the littoral combat ship (LCS) is getting a major and somewhat unexpected boost with word that an over-the-horizon (OTH) surface-to-surface missile will be installed on-board the next LCSs to deploy.
F-35 helmet is six ounces too heavy –
The F-35 helmet is back in the news again after Defense News, sister publication of Air Force Times, reported that F-35 pilots weighing less than 136 pounds were grounded due to concerns with the plane’s ejection seat.
Air Force starts designing A-10 vs. F-35 showdown –
The Air Force is now designing tests to see how Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stacks up in close-air-support missions vs. the rival A-10, as the political backlash against plans to retire the A-10 continues to simmer.
Marines test maritime gear staging in NATO exercise –
Marine reservists participating in NATO’s largest amphibious exercise in more than a decade are putting new sea-basing concepts to the test, proving the usefulness of staging gear afloat in a post-war operating environment.
Veterans:
Murray calls for overhaul of VA Choice program –
The former chairwoman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee wants to overhaul the VA Choice program — the initiative that lets veterans see private physicians if they can’t get an appointment at a VA medical center.
GI Bill overpayments leave veterans facing big debts –
The Veterans Affairs Department is trying to recoup more than $200 million in overpayments that mistakenly went to veterans using GI Bill benefits to attend school, according to a government watchdog group.
Marine vet brings Armed Forces Vietnam radio to American airwaves –
Almost 50 years after Adrian Cronauer belted out his signature “Gooooooood Morning, Vietnam!” across Southeast Asia, a Marine veteran is bringing original Armed Forces Vietnam Network broadcasts to American airwaves.
Remains of U.S. soldier returned from North Korea to family –
The remains of a formerly missing U.S. soldier have been returned to California nearly 65 years after he is thought to have died, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported.