News
California Guard officials acknowledge bonus scandal hurt military’s reputation –
California National Guard officials acknowledged their moves to recoup decade-old bonuses from troops has hurt public faith in their operations, but they believe military leaders are on the right path to fixing the problem.
Business
Airbus awarded $2.3 billion Canadian search-and-rescue project –
Canadian cabinet ministers will announce Dec. 8 that the Airbus C-295 has been selected as the country’s new fixed-wing search-and-rescue (SAR) aircraft, according to multiple industry sources.
India orders homemade rocket launchers despite its faulty ammo –
India’s Ministry of Defence has ordered 36 homemade Pinaka Mark-1 multi-barrel rocket launchers at a cost of $490 million, despite complaints of problems related to its ammunition.
The expansion of military technology suppliers –
Few people would dispute how much new and emerging technologies have and will change modern conflict. That is why military leaders the world over are discussing future war fighting theories, concepts and capabilities, and all of that is tied to technology.
Continuing resolution keeps big weapons buys on track –
The continuing resolution made public Dec. 6 freezes most spending at the previous year’s level, except for these anomalies.
U.S. Army-led Future Vertical Lift faces budget challenges –
U.S. Army officials hope to accelerate the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) rotorcraft program, but funding is already a challenge in the effort’s first year.
The flaw in tech giants’ plan to fight extremist content –
Everyone gets to use different definitions of dangerous imagery, says the inventor of the software they’ll use.
SSAT target achieves Milestone C approval for production –
The U.S. Navy’s BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target program has achieved Milestone C approval, paving the way for award of a first low-rate initial production contract to Kratos Defense & Security Solutions.
Lockheed Martin to provide spares for Saudi F-15s –
Lockheed Martin has received a $67 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to deliver spare parts for the Royal Saudi Air Force’s F-15 fighters.
Sikorsky opens combat rescue helicopter testing facility –
Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky has formally opened its new testing facility for its developing Combat Rescue Helicopter.
Defense
Pentagon told the Navy to cut $17 billion from its budget; the Navy said no –
The Navy is digging in its heels and rejecting billions in cuts from its 2018 budget as infighting has hit a boiling point at the Pentagon.
A NATO to contain China? Key U.S. commander doesn’t see it –
As the U.S. continues to rebalance its military focus to the Asia-Pacific, some have speculated that a NATO-like institution in the region might be needed to counteract the expansion of Chinese power.
Misleading F-35 answers drafted by Pentagon, testing chief says –
Pentagon officials have been preparing a misleading assessment of progress on Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35, the costliest U.S. weapons program, the Defense Department’s chief tester warned.
Army debating suitable aircraft for future attack mission –
The Army has a long road ahead as it carves a path to buy a new family of helicopters in the 2030s, and much still needs to be decided including what type of aircraft it wants for the attack mission, according to the Army’s Future Vertical Lift program office director.
SPAWAR unveils draft 2017 strategic plan –
Before an audience of mostly defense contractors, Rear Adm. Dave Lewis, commander of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) unveiled for the first time publicly the draft 2017 SPAWAR strategic plan.
Space & Technology
The day a Boeing jet was deliberately crashed –
At first sight it looks like mindless chaotic destruction. Incredible archive pictures and video from 1984 show a Boeing 720 being flown into the ground and erupting in flames.