Boeing and Singapore-based SilkAir announced a five-year exclusive pilot training agreement Feb. 6. The training agreement will support SilkAir’s fleet transition to Boeing airplanes. “SilkAir pilots will soon train with the most experienced 737 instructors,” said Leslie Thng, SilkAir Chief Executive. “The experience and expertise at Boeing will ensure a smooth transition when we take…

In some of his strongest language to date, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta warned Feb. 6 that looming, massive cuts in the Defense Department budget set to be triggered by sequestration next month would pose the “most serious readiness crisis” to the country in over a decade. Panetta made the comments during a speech to…

Northrop Grumman successfully flew a RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft for the first time using open architecture-based command and control software and hardware developed by the company, moving the company one step closer to offering its common Mission Management Control System product, which can be implemented across various unmanned aircraft systems to improve mission effectiveness…

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta revealed that the proposed military pay raise for 2014 is 1 percent, and that the department is proceeding in a logical, careful way to do its part to cut the deficit and preserve military capabilities. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,…

United Technologies Corp. says two overseas affiliates earned $630,000 as the company ended business with Iran. The aerospace and building systems conglomerate based in Hartford, Conn., disclosed in its annual report Feb. 7 that its non-U.S. affiliates generated $3.5 million in revenue ìrelated to the orderly winding down of legacy business related to sale of…

NASA will host its first Google+ Hangout live with the International Space Station from 11 a.m. to noon EST, Feb. 22. This event will connect NASA’s social media followers with astronauts on the ground and living and working aboard the laboratory orbiting 240 miles above Earth. Google+ Hangouts allow as many as 10 people to…

Army photograph by Spec. Roland Hale An MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft makes its way down an airfield on Camp Taji, Iraq, before a surveillance mission in the Baghdad area, in this undated file photo. The Army plans additional Gray Eagle units, one for each of 10 active-duty divisions, and several more for special operations…

NASA photograph by Carla Thomas Boeing’s liquid hydrogen-powered Phantom Eye unmanned aircraft system has completed taxi testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., as it progresses toward its second flight. During the testing, which occurred Feb. 6, the Phantom Eye demonstrator aircraft sitting atop its launch cart reached speeds up to 40 knots, or approximately…

United Technologies approves buyback of 60 million shares United Technologies may buy back up to 60 million of its shares, replacing an approximately $4.3 billion stock buyback program which began almost three years ago and is nearly spent. The industrial conglomerate said Feb. 4 that the new program’s value is $5.4 billion at today’s stock…

Navy photograph by PO1 Chris Fahey Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Christopher Sanford and Construction Mechanic 3rd Class Alex Miley, both assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, shoot three-round bursts from an M240B machine gun during a weapons qualifications and familiarization exercise held at Camp Roberts. Approximately 400 Seabees from NMCB 3 received training on…