News
Pentagon assembles allied nations to plot out next stage of Islamic State fight –
Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter will gather defense ministers from allied nations this week to plan what officials hope will be the decisive stage in the campaign against the Islamic State, even as political upheaval and terrorist attacks strain the U.S.-led coalition battling the group.
Business
U.S. files suit against DynCorp International over Iraq contract –
The United States has filed a lawsuit against DynCorp International Inc alleging that it submitted inflated claims in connection with a U.S. government contract to train Iraqi police forces, the Justice Department said July 19.
KC-46 moves closer to production decision after successful flight test –
With the July 15 refueling of the A-10 Warthog, the KC-46A has officially completed all flight tests needed ahead of a milestone decision this August.
Navy awards antenna contract to Raytheon –
Raytheon has been awarded a $30.3 million contract modification for Navy radar antennae.
SOCOM awards Battelle new contract for covert trucks –
Battelle has been awarded a $170 million contract to build Non-Standard Commercial Vehicles for U.S. Special Operations Command, the organisation announced July 19.
Drones able to inspect manned aircraft in record time –
Airbus has demonstrated how a drone can conduct a visual aircraft inspection.
Turkish procurement programs at risk of delay following attempted coup –
A failed attempt to overthrow Turkey’s Islamist government has exposed the Turkish military to the risk of operational weaknesses and will likely put off most of the country’s multibillion-dollar procurement programs, some officials have said.
F-35 impact from unrest in Turkey unclear: Lockheed –
A failed military coup last week will not affect Lockheed Martin’s business relationship with Turkey, though it could be too early to make that call, according to top Lockheed Martin executives.
Lockheed Martin says protracted F-35 contract talks weigh on cash –
Protracted contract talks between the Pentagon and Lockheed Martin over the next batch of F-35 combat jet planes are a drag on the military contractor’s cash and could force it to take out extra loans to keep paying suppliers, the company’s chief financial officer said.
Lockheed Martin takes aim at rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft with INFIRNO –
Lockheed Martin has conducted the first flight test of its new INFIRNO modular turreted sensor for rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft.
Lockheed Martin completes Merlin HM2 deliveries –
Lockheed Martin UK integrated Systems has completed the delivery of the 30th and last Royal Navy Merlin helicopter to be updated to HM2 standard under the Merlin Capability Sustainment Program.
Lockheed Martin’s Sniper ATP family grows as the company explores adding new capability –
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $99 million foreign military sales order for Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods for 10 international militaries.
Lockheed bullish on international F-16 orders –
Although Lockheed Martin is facing a gap in F-16 production starting next year, top officials say the company is keeping the line warm in anticipation of new international orders of the lightweight fighter before too long.
Dassault contracted to conduct Mirage 2000D MLU –
The French Air Force is to proceed with an upgrade of its Dassault Mirage 2000D combat aircraft that was approved by the Ministry of Defence in late 2015.
Russia delivers first missiles for Iran’s new air defense system –
The first batch of missiles for the S-300 air defense system has recently been delivered, Iran claims.
Hyundai wins South Korean Navy’s $228 million training ship contract –
South Korean shipbuilder, Hyundai Heavy Industries, has been awarded with a $228 million contract to construct a dedicated training ship for the Republic of Korea Navy, the country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced July 19.
Defense
DARPA prepares to send Plan-X into battle –
DARPA is close to completing a visually oriented environment that’s designed to give cyber warriors instantaneous knowledge of a network attack. Under development since 2012, Plan-X marks the DOD’s first major attempt to create a cyber battle space, fundamentally shifting the way the agency addresses and responds to network attacks.
Failed coup in Turkey threatens military ties with key U.S. ally –
The Turkish defense minister will not fly to Washington July 20 to attend a key meeting of the global coalition fighting the Islamic State, the latest sign that the Pentagon’s military relationship with the key Middle Eastern ally may be suffering in the wake of the failed coup attempt there last week.
Second phase of DARPA Gremlins project nears launch –
The next stage in the U.S. Department of Defense’s low-cost, retrievable unmanned air vehicles experiment could begin within three months, one industry team working on the project has told FlightGlobal.
U.S. Navy to expand fleet of largest-ever amphibious assault ships –
Last month, the U.S. Navy awarded a contract for the construction of a third large-deck amphibious assault warship.
Navy hopes green initiatives will be adopted by foreign militaries –
The Navy’s Great Green Fleet initiative is highlighting the connection between environmental stewardship and increased combat capability at RIMPAC 2016, and top Navy leadership hopes its foreign partners will find technologies and practices to adapt in their own militaries.
LCS tests ‘exceptionally well’ in shock trials –
A 10,000-pound explosive charge set off close to the littoral combat ship Jackson caused minimal shipboard damage, the U.S. Navy said, and the ship is back at Mayport, Fla., for more detailed examination.
U.S. Navy takes delivery of JSOW C-1s, its first network-enabled air-to-surface weapon –
The U.S. Navy has declared initial operational capability for a network-enabled version of Raytheon’s Joint Standoff Weapon that will provide the sea service a maritime moving target capability.
Veterans
House Vets chairman backs off support for VA Secretary McDonald –
The chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Donald Trump’s top veterans adviser backed off his support for current Veteran Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald July 19, saying the department leadership needs a full overhaul.
Senators want to help troops with PTSD appeal bad discharges –
A bipartisan group of senators July 19 sought to revive a proposal to make it easier for veterans to upgrade “bad paper” discharges wrongly handed down for behavior resulting from PTSD or sexual trauma.
Space & Technology
SpaceX seeks approval for two additional landing pads on Space Coast –
The company told the Sentinel that the new landing areas are needed to prepare for the possibility of landing three rockets — all within minutes of each other.
New Mexico Spaceport Authority director resigns –
The head of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority said July 19 she will resign, saying she still believes in the commercial space industry and that Spaceport America has a role to play despite criticism that flights filled with paying passengers have not yet lifted off from the remote desert site.