News
ICC prosecutors: U.S. forces may have committed war crimes –
The chances of American servicemen being charged and sent to face justice at the International Criminal Court are remote, even if the chief prosecutor opens an investigation into alleged crimes in Afghanistan, legal experts said Nov. 15.
Business
Robotic helicopters complete mock rescue mission –
The fruits of the Lockheed Martin acquisition of Sikorsky continue to grow.
Boeing to consolidate defense sites, cutting 500 jobs –
Boeing plans to consolidate its defense and space business by 2020, a move that entails closing several sites and eliminating 500 jobs over the four-year period, the company said Nov. 15.
Leidos, Riverside awarded open architecture contract –
Riverside Research Institute and Leidos have been awarded a $48 million Air Force contract to develop open architecture mission systems.
Army awards contract for controlling robots –
Charles River Analytics has been awarded a $1 million follow-on Army contract for controlling robots.
AeroVironment Enters Commercial Drone Market With Hybrid Quadcopter –
Looking to diversify from the military small-unmanned-aircraft business that once fueled its growth, AeroVironment has entered the commercial drone market with the launch of a hybrid quadcopter and supporting data-analysis tools.
Ground robot programs finally getting underway –
After years of stagnation, the market for U.S. military ground robots is set to grow as a handful of programs enter their final development stages.
Polaris Defense receives Marine Corps order for off-road vehicles –
The 144 utility vehicles to be delivered are in a four-seat configuration and will be used for logistics support at the tactical level.
K-Max, SARA team up for unmanned firefighting demo –
In their first collaborative demonstration since Lockheed Martin acquired Sikorsky helicopter last year, the two companies completed a fire suppression and search and rescue mission with the Kaman K-Max helicopter and the Sikorsky Autonomy Research Aircraft.
Defense
Congress could stall Trump’s plans for increased defense spending –
Obstacles in Congress and demands for non-defense spending could derail Donald Trump’s plans to invest in and rebuild the military, military analysts warned.
Lightning strike downed Predator on combat mission –
An MQ-1B Predator aircraft went down during a combat support mission last October after a lightning strike, the Air Force said in an accident report released Nov. 3.
Tinker opens drone engine maintenance center –
The Air Force and Rolls-Royce officially opened a depot at the complex that will overhaul and repair F137 engines powering the Air Force’s fleet of Global Hawk drones.
Air Force wants industry input for enhanced electromagnetic battle management capability –
The Air Force is soliciting input for technologies available in the next five years for a new or enhanced electromagnetic battle management capability.
Small cracks in ‘Excalibur’ artillery rounds prompt closer look –
The Army is scrambling to correct a defect detected in some Excalibur artillery shells first discovered in December 2015, the service said in response to questions from Defense News.
Navy to more than double training events near Ketchikan –
The U.S. Navy is planning to more than double the number of training events conducted in the West Behm Canal north of Ketchikan.
U.S. destroyer Sampson, P-3 Orion aircraft aid in New Zealand earthquake relief efforts –
The first U.S. warship to visit New Zealand in more than 30 years was changing course Nov. 15 to help evacuate people stranded in a coastal town following a powerful earthquake.
Veterans
First lady makes final push for Joining Forces’ future –
First lady Michelle Obama is imploring the incoming administration to keep her Joining Forces initiative active for years to come, even if they rename and rebrand the effort.
New study could pressure VA to expand Agent Orange benefits –
More than four decades after the end of the Vietnam War, research is still showing the effects of the herbicide Agent Orange. The latest findings: An association between exposure and high blood pressure.
Former paratrooper, 93, who survived being shot 4 times during WWII died as ‘Last Post’ was played –
Ralph Jones, 93, was shot in the arm, foot and stomach after jumping into Normandy in 1944 but went on to take part in the largest single-day airborne operation of the war in Germany in 1945.
WWII veteran dies weeks after ‘last wish’ to visit Spitfires granted –
Ken Farlow , from Gloucestershire in England, an electrical engineer during the war, said he wanted to see the aircraft ‘one last time’ as he battled terminal cancer.
Space & Technology
Mini-concorde that can fly from London to New York in 3.5 hours is unveiled –
Claimed to the be the world’s fastest civil aircraft ever made, the XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator is due to take off on its first test flight in 2017.
The incredible blue dunes of Mars –
The breathtaking view captures the sediments on the floor of a canyon near a feature known as Syrtis Major, and provides a glimpse at the history of the landscape.