News
NATO summit set to approve Afghanistan mission for another year –
The Western military alliance is set this week to commit to extend its support of government forces in Afghanistan, where Taliban insurgents have made significant gains since international combat forces withdrew 18 months ago.
Congress’ shrinking calendar suggests omnibus, CR ahead –
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy vowed the House will work against the clock to pass appropriations bills as Congress’ waning calendar suggests a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government past Sept. 30 and an omnibus spending resolution grows ever more likely.
Business
Poland orders counter-drone system to secure NATO summit –
Poland’s Ministry of Defense has signed a contract for the deployment of non-kinetic countermeasures against unmanned aerial vehicles during the upcoming NATO summit in Warsaw. Bids to provide the services were due June 28, the ministry’s Armament Inspectorate said in a statement.
Poland to select Patriot systems following PGZ-Raytheon cooperation –
Poland’s leading state-run defense group PGZ has signed a letter of intent with Raytheon to cooperate on a Polish missile defense program, paving the way for the country’s acquisition of Patriot missiles, PGZ said in a statement.
U.S. factory orders drop in May; military spending plunges –
Orders at U.S. factories dipped in May, dragged down by less demand for steel, aluminum, furniture, electrical appliances and military aircraft.
Interview: Allan Cook, co-chair of the British Defence Growth Partnership –
The Farnborough air show gets underway July 11, marking the two-year point in an unusual partnership between Britain’s top defense companies and the government that was formed to implement a plan aimed primarily at boosting exports.
Spotlight on defense at the Farnborough Air Show –
Among the defense highlights at this year’s Farnborough Air Show, showgoers will see the F-35 and KC-390 both making their UK debuts. Export sales will be a major theme of the show, with Boeing, Embraer and the Eurofighter consortium all vying for international sales.
India clears purchase of 145 guns from U.S. –
The new lightweight guns will be deployed along the China-India border.
Harris Corp. to supply Navy with electronic warfare payloads –
Harris Corp. has been awarded a $27 million order for Navy electronic warfare equipment.
Saudi Arabia to receive French armored vehicles ordered for Lebanon –
Emmanuel Levacher, the director-general of Renault Trucks Defence, told the French parliament’s defense commission Jan. 27 that his company had just signed a contract to deliver 100 VAB Mk3 6×6 armored personnel carriers and 100 Sherpa Light tactical vehicles to Lebanon.
Israeli robot ship fires torpedo –
An unmanned Israeli vessel has test-fired a torpedo.
Egypt orders more Swiftships –
The U.S. boat builder Swiftships announced on 28 June that it has received a contract to supply four 28 m coastal patrol craft in kit form that will be assembled for the Egyptian Navy in Alexandria.
Defense
A test of America’s homeland missile defense system found a problem –
If North Korea ever unleased nuclear-armed missiles against America, the defense of U.S. cities and towns would depend to no small degree on something called a divert thruster.
U.S. Air Force tester—-F-35 is too good for war games –
Official claimed it’s difficult to stress the new stealth fighter.
Martin-Baker, JPO push back at F-35 ejection seat concerns –
As the U.S. Air Force considers an alternative supplier for its F-35 joint strike fighter ejection seats, incumbent developer Martin-Baker is pushing back at the idea their design will not be sufficient to ensure pilot safety.
Congress buys Navy a $400 million pork ship –
The secretary of defense doesn’t want it. Congress is about to write the check anyway.
Northrop works to fix flawed wings on Triton drone –
Northrop Grumman is working to convince the Pentagon that it’s solved long-standing manufacturing flaws that resulted in defective wings for the Navy’s new Triton reconnaissance drone, as the service prepares to ask defense officials to approve the aircraft’s production.
Sailors’ lives, $50 million jets rely on USS Truman’s 4 wires to prevent a disaster while landing –
The only thing stopping a $57 million fighter jet from disaster when it lands on the USS Harry S. Truman is a carefully choreographed routine, four steel cables – each about 1½ inches thick -– and a team of about 50 sailors that makes sure the wires catch it.
Marines to test new GPS-guided mortar round this fall –
Marines who operate the Expeditionary Fire Support System will begin testing a new high-tech precision-guided mortar round later this year.
Veterans
Report: VA health care still has ‘profound deficiencies’ –
Two years after a scandal over long wait times for veterans seeking health care, the Department of Veterans Affairs still has “profound deficiencies” in delivering health care to millions of veterans, a congressional commission says in a new report.
Space
Space junk mission to test nets, sails and harpoons to catch orbital debris –
Scientists at the University of Surrey in England are gearing up to test technologies that could target potentially hazardous space junk and remove it from orbit before it can cause any damage.
NASA’s next missions will blow our minds –
Despite reduced funding, the agency is forging ahead after Juno’s successful entry into Jupiter’s orbit—searching for Earth-like exoplanets, planning a manned mission to Mars, and more.
The nine gadgets NASA’s Juno is using to study Jupiter –
For the next three months, the Juno team will be focused on calibrating the spacecraft’s equipment, before conducting another orbital maneuver on October 19. This burn will send Juno into a highly elliptical polar orbit around Jupiter, and that’s when the real mission science will begin. Judging by its sophisticated onboard toolkit, it will be well worth the wait, because Juno is decked out with all kinds of fancy gadgets. Here’s the rundown of the new orbiter’s specs.