Business
Lockheed: Lithium-ion battery not involved in F-35 smoke incident
Lockheed Martin said Feb. 25 there was no evidence that a lithium-ion battery contributed to a Feb. 14 incident that caused smoke in the cockpit of an F-35 test plane.
Australia: Grounding, budget woes cloud F-35 warplane sales push in Australia
This year’s second grounding of Lockheed Martin F-35s warplane, plus looming U.S. defense cuts, will complicate a push this week by Lockheed and U.S. officials to convince Australian lawmakers and generals to stick to a plan to buy 100 of the jets.
Honeywell to test some F-35 parts after smoke incident
The Pentagon said Feb. 25 an F-35 test plane was involved in an incident Feb. 14 that caused smoke in the cockpit, and it was sending the affected parts back to their manufacturer, Honeywell International, for a detailed inspection.
EADS ends Brazilian joint venture with Odebrecht
European aerospace gropu EADS will end its joint venture with Brazilian construction company Odebrecht after failing to win an order for surveillance systems.
Boeing, SPEEA talks to resume Feb. 27
Boeing and its engineering union have agreed to resume talks Feb. 27 to replace an expired contract for 7,500 technical workers, another step toward settling negotiations that have continued for nearly a year.
Defense
Military is required to justify using animals in medic training after pressure from activists
The war between animal activists and the Pentagon has raged for decades. You could say there’s been a fair amount of collateral damage: thousands of goats and pigs have been mutilated, though the military argues the animals have not died in vain.
Heritage expert: Proposed military cuts ‘devastating’
A key domestic policy expert for the Heritage Foundation believes proposed military cuts that could come as a result of the ongoing federal budget impasse could dramatically limit the government’s ability to offset the military hardware that needs replacing as a result of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
International
Karzai orders U.S. special forces out of Afghan province
The Afghan president has ordered US special forces to leave Wardak province within two weeks. The decision was being taken due to allegations of disappearances and torture by Afghans considered to be part of US special forces, said a spokesman for Hamid Karzai.
Tests on Britain’s new stealth fighter suspended
Test flights on Britain’s new stealth fighter jet have been suspended after a cracked engine blade was discovered on an American version of the aircraft.
Chinese transport ‘workhorses’ extending military’s reach
China is expanding its long-neglected fleet of supply ship and heavy-lift aircraft, bolstering its military prowess in support of missions to enforce claims over disputed territory and to defend Chinese interests abroad.
