News
To protect civilians, Pentagon tightens rules on combat –
The Pentagon has revised a 2015 manual for waging combat while obeying the international laws of war, tightening rules for when it is lawful to fire on a military target even though civilians are nearby.
Business
Kuwait wants Abrams tank upgrades –
Kuwait wants to upgrade and extend the life of its aging principal tank fleet for an estimated $1.7 billion, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
Italy gets first two ATR 72 maritime patrol aircraft –
The Italian Air Force has taken delivery of the first two of four ATR 72 maritime patrol aircraft ordered from Leonardo-Finmeccanica, the firm said Dec. 13.
UK selects brimstone missiles for British drones –
Britain has selected MBDA’s Brimstone missile for its armed UAVs.
Marine Corps awards cyber, IT contracts to three firms –
The Marine Corps has awarded cyber and IT contracts to three companies.
Defense
Pentagon chief may have to steer clear of $10 billion contractor –
General Dynamics board post may haunt Trump’s defense choice.
Strategy, not acquisition reform, central to maintain DOD tech edge –
If the Pentagon wants to maintain a technological edge over near-peer adversaries, it needs to develop a serious strategic plan and not just focus on improving the acquisition systems, a new report from the Center for a New American Security has concluded.
To innovate, Hill and DOD must get comfortable with failure –
For the Pentagon to innovate, defense officials and lawmakers have to embrace failures that ultimately sharpen the military’s technological edge.
Sikorsky reaches settlement over fatal 2014 Navy helicopter crash –
Connecticut-based Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has agreed to settle wrongful death and negligence claims in a lawsuit filed over the 2014 crash of a Navy helicopter that killed three of the five crew members on a training exercise off the coast of Virginia.
The U.S. Navy’s autonomous swarm boats can now decide what to attack –
In a recent demonstration, waterborne robots collaborated to identify, surround, and harass an enemy vessel.
Veterans
Veterans groups: ‘We cannot afford to start over’ with new VA leadership –
A coalition of 20 veterans groups on Wednesday upped their efforts to keep Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald on into the next administration, warning President-elect Donald Trump that “we cannot afford to start over” given department reform progress in recent years.