News
Trump has chosen retired Marine Gen. James Mattis for secretary of defense –
Donald Trump has chosen retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis to be secretary of defense, the president-elect announced Dec. 1, selecting a former senior military officer who has said that responding to “political Islam” is the major security issue facing the United States.
Army blocks drilling of Dakota Access Oil Pipeline –
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe won a major victory Dec. 4 in its battle to block an oil pipeline being built near its reservation when the Department of the Army announced that it would not allow the pipeline to be drilled under a dammed section of the Missouri River.
Business
Industrial value to influence Finnish fighter competition outcome –
The competitive nature of bids for Finland’s HX Fighter Replacement Program (HX-FRP) will intensify in the coming months as the five interested manufacturers scale up the industrial trade content of their respective offerings.
United Kingdom to Sign $125 million Predator deal –
Michael Fallon, the United Kingdom’s top defense official, on Saturday announced the signing of a $125 million deal with General Atomics for Predator B unmanned systems, known as Protector drones in the United Kingdom.
U.S. Navy, shipbuilders ready for Trump’s expansion plan –
The U.S. arms industry is ready and capable of boosting production of new ships if President-elect Donald Trump makes good his vow to expand the U.S. Navy to 350 ships, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson told Reuters.
Defense
The Army is developing ‘comfortable’ flame-resistant wool for its combat uniforms –
Flame-resistant. Breathable. Moisture wicking. These words don’t usually come to mind when thinking of wool, but Army researchers are hoping a wool-blend fabric that does all three will improve combat uniforms for troops.
Littoral Combat Ship, at a crossroads –
With the ship’s purchase plans in doubt, detractors exchange fire with Navy supporters at contentious Senate hearing.
Navy’s bomb testers seek new ways to blow things up –
Even by the standards of a military installation, Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head can be a dangerous place.
Air Force retains requirement to carry 9 troops in draft RFP for Huey replacement –
The Air Force Dec. 2 released its first draft for a replacement to the UH-1N Huey helicopter fleet, and appears to have rejected a potential requirement for a new aircraft to carry more troops than the current model.
Veterans
Unemployment jumps to 6.5 percent for post-9/11 vets in November –
But even with November’s high unemployment rate included, the average 2016 rate is on track for 5 percent, a lower level of unemployment than has ever been recorded annually for post-9/11 veterans, Military Times calculations of Bureau of Labor Statistics information indicate.
PTSD treatment getting scrutiny in clinical trials at three military hospitals –
At Fort Bragg, Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, officials are hoping to gather data on at least 240 patients to provide the first scientific proof of the procedure’s efficacy as a PTSD treatment.