News
New warship’s big guns have no bullets –
Barely two weeks after the U.S. Navy commissioned its newest and most futuristic warship, armed with two huge guns that can hit targets 80 miles away, the service is moving to cancel the projectiles for the guns, citing excessive costs that run up to $800,000 per round or more.
Pentagon identifies three Army trainers killed in Jordan –
The U.S. Defense Department Nov. 6 identified three U.S. Army trainers killed on Friday when their convoy came under fire as it entered a military base in Jordan.
Business
Five bidders emerge for Czech Republic air defense systems –
Five companies have submitted offers to supply mid-range air defense systems to the Czech Ministry of Defense. These include Lockheed Martin, MBDA, Kongsberg, Rafael and Diehl, according to Vladimir Lukovsky, a spokesperson for the Czech ministry.
Construction date set for British Type 26 anti-sub frigates –
Construction work on a new class of anti-submarine warfare frigates for the British Royal Navy is set to get underway in the summer of 2017, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon confirmed during a visit to the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotland, where the vessels will be built.
MBDA to provide Sea Ceptor for Type 26 Global Combat Ship –
The U.K. Ministry of Defense announced a $125 million deal Friday with MBDA Missile Systems to put the Sea Ceptor defense system on the new Type 26 Global Combat Ship.
BAE to start production of U.K.’s Type 26 Global Combat Ships next summer –
BAE Systems said Nov. 4 the first steel will be cut on the U.K.’s Type 26 Global Combat Ships next summer.
U.S. Navy must prepare for on-board power demands –
In the next 10 years, the U.S. Navy will see its ships and systems become ever more power hungry, and the service must be ready to meet the challenge, according to Vice Admiral Thomas Moore, commander of the Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command.
Honeywell fields satcom system on specialized U.S. Army Black Hawks –
Honeywell has fielded its Aspire 200 Satellite Communications System on at least 20 UH-60 Black Hawks in a specialized U.S. Army aviation unit, Tom Hart, vice-president of defense aftermarket Americas, tells FlightGlobal.
Defense
Pentagon could look to close bases without BRAC authorization –
For several years, the Pentagon has been blocked by Congress in its request to begin another round of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). Now, facing an expected wave of modernization bills in the next decade, a top DOD official has suggested the building needs to look for alternative ways to shut down excess infrastructure.
Air Force pushes new F-15 EW suite forward to EMD stage –
An Air Force program to provide F-15Cs and F-15Es with a new electronic warfare suite is moving forward to the engineering, development and manufacturing phase.
F-35 program office seeking extra $530 million to wrap up development –
The F-35 joint program office will need an additional $530 million to complete development of the joint strike fighter program, it confirmed this week.
New office tests light attack aircraft, other new technologies for future Air Force –
The Air Force could soon begin testing light attack aircraft to see if they’re a viable option for close-air support.
U.S. Army testing devastating new weapon: A super ‘bazooka’ –
Soldiers are fond of the 84-millimeter Carl Gustaf, and it’s easy to see why. The weapon is quite practical for dismounted infantry — especially at long ranges — and creates a thrilling blast, so it’s fun to shoot.
Navy’s new spy plane will make Russia very, very nervous –
At first glance, the U.S. Navy’s new aircraft looks like nothing more than an airliner. That’s until you look under the wing of the P-8A Poseidon.
Veterans
Scam Alert: Top five veteran swindles –
According the the AARP Fraud Watch Network, there are a host of scams aimed at vets. Many of these operations masquerade as charities that claim to benefit vets.
Space
Fuel-free engine that could take humans to Mars does work claims NASA –
Successful tests carried out at NASA’s Johnson Space Center show that the controversial technology, which could take astronauts to Mars, is able to generated thrust.