News
Iraqi Forces Begin Assault Near Kurdish-Held City of Kirkuk –
Iraqi state television said early Oct. 16 that Iraqi forces had begun an operation to seize the Kurdish-held city of Kirkuk and its surrounding oil fields, despite weeks of urgent efforts by the United States to keep tensions between its allies from boiling over into another war in the Middle East.
Business
Romania-General Dynamics agree to locally manufacture Piranha armored vehicle –
The Romanian Ministry of Economy and General Dynamics European Land Systems have signed a memorandum of understanding under which the manufacturer will make Piranha V armored fighting vehicles at Romania’s state-owned Bucharest Mechanical Factory.
EU defense spending fund could cripple Italian firms –
A multi-million euro defense fund launched by the European Union to nurture the continent’s defense industry may cripple Italian firms, a senior official has warned.
Hoverfly thinks it can scratch Army’s itch with long-endurance tethered drone –
Hoverfly’s unmanned aircraft systems can fly for a month and are quickly deployable and barely detectable, and the company thinks its tethered UAS can scratch the U.S. Army’s itch when it comes to providing a multitude of capabilities the service needs.
Northrop Grumman wins British EOD robot support contract –
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a British contract to continue supporting the CUTLASS explosive ordnance disposal robot.
Former CEO of armored vehicle company found guilty of fraud –
The former owner and CEO of an armored vehicle company was found guilty Thursday on three counts of major fraud against the United States, three counts of wire fraud and three counts of false claims.
Defense
Pentagon tightens rules for immigrant recruits –
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday that the Pentagon is taking steps to save its program enabling foreign-born recruits to earn an expedited path to U.S. citizenship.
FACT CHECK: Afghans don’t have Strykers –
Appearing before a House hearing on South Asia strategy for Afghanistan in early October, Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told lawmakers that Afghan forces had been supplied with U.S. Stryker vehicles and that they were having an impact on the battlefield.
These magnets allow soldiers to easily connect gear to their uniforms –
Soldiers can easily attach gear to their uniforms using magnetic squares that don’t snag or break like traditional connectors.
Michigan military base tests positive for contaminated water –
A combat center in northern Michigan has become the third military base in the state to test positive for contaminated groundwater.
Air Force clears first GPS III satellite for launch –
The Air Force has cleared the first GPS III satellite for launch.
F-35 fighter jet undergoes equipment testing at Alaska base –
An F-35 fighter jet landed at Eielson Air Force Base to undergo testing on the aircraft’s ability to land in cold conditions.
Air Force hits recruiting goals with 33,000 new airmen –
The Air Force recruited 33,071 new airmen in fiscal 2017 — a slight drop from the previous year’s recruiting bonanza, but still far above other recent years.
Plans to move Marines to Guam, train them in Northern Marianas, hits snag –
A judge’s decision casts doubt on the Marine Corps’ plans to move Marines from Okinawa to Guam and to conduct more live-fire training in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Veterans
VA officials promise they’re not looking at benefits cut this year –
Months after Veterans Affairs officials dropped plans for a controversial benefits cut, the families of those who would have been affected still fear they could lose thousands in monthly payouts.
WWII German POW returns to Washington state to say thank you –
Gunter Gräwe spent three years as a German prisoner of war in western Washington, a World War II incarceration he recalls not with rancor but gratitude for the chance to “live and learn in America.”
Plan to sell off VA’s ritzy Paris hotel gets opposition from veterans group –
Lawmakers are again working to get the Department of Veterans Affairs to sell its multi-million dollar hotel in France to pay for more relevant needs, but American Legion officials are now standing in their way.