News:
House votes to approve 2016 defense policy bill –
The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly Nov. 5 to approve the 2016 defense policy bill that complies with the terms of the overarching budget deal between the president and congressional leadership, teeing up a vote in the Senate next week.
Business:
Belarus eyes fighter jets, MLRS acquisitions –
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has announced plans to acquire new weapons and military gear to boost the country’s deterrence capability. The acquisitions will include new Polonez long-range multiple launch rocket systems fitted with a 200-kilometer strike range, to be delivered in the years 2016-2017.
U.S. Navy awards Northrop Grumman shipyard maintenance contract –
The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Marine Systems Sunnyvale, Calif., a $31,599,538 shipyard maintenance contract.
As Pentagon reconsiders F35s, Pratt & Whitney could be affected –
For years, the Pentagon was inflexible when talking about the number of F-35s it wants to buy — 2,443 — pushing back against any suggestions that it should trim that shopping list. But no more.
Air Force awards emitter detection contract –
Southwest Research Institute has been awarded a $9.4 million Air Force contract to develop technology that can detect and geolocate high-frequency emitters.
Raytheon producing FAB-T terminals for Air Force –
Raytheon is to begin low-rate initial production of satellite communications terminals for use by senior military and civilian leaders.
Cobham wins Army mine detection contract –
Cobham has been awarded a $4.17 million Army contract to develop handheld mine detectors.
Strong performance at Ingalls Shipbuilding pushes HII stock higher –
Huntington Ingalls’ stock rose Nov. 5 after the parent company of Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula announced its quarterly earnings.
Shipbuilder calls for WA to get bigger share of defense contracts –
West Australian shipbuilder Austal has used the construction timeline of its latest navy vessel bound for Oman to argue ships can be built in Australia on time and on budget.
10 years in making, Astra advanced air combat missile may be ready in 2016 –
The missile’s “muscle-power”, in terms of range, has already been successfully tested nine times from Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets since last year. The “brains” will be tested next month. When the brains and brawn are tested together by mid-2016, India will finally be able to brandish its own Astra air-to-air missile.
Trump confuses Long Range Strike Bomber with F-35 –
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who claims to be the “the best in terms of the military,” confused the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program with the B-3 Long Range Strike Bomber program.
Defense:
Could Russians defeat U.S. Army? –
Within very recent memory, the near-universal consensus on Russia’s military was that it was a hollow, empty shell of its former Soviet might.
Veterans:
VA targets fraudulent small businesses –
The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to overhaul what critics say is a flawed small business program.
VA sends to Congress plan for consolidating private care programs –
The Veterans Affairs Department hopes to consolidate its programs that administer private health care to veterans with the goal of improving veterans’ access to treatment and broadening their choices for health services.
Veterans bill breaks Senate logjam on spending bills –
Senate Democrats allowed a Veterans Affairs spending bill to move forward Nov. 5, effectively breaking a months-long logjam on funding legislation.
All the Places Veterans Can Eat & Drink Free on Veteran’s Day –
Over two dozen Veteran’s Day freebies — including free beer!