News Air Force sidelines 17 nuclear missile officers; commander cites ‘rot’ in system The Air Force stripped an unprecedented 17 officers of their authority to control — and, if necessary, launch — nuclear missiles after a string of unpublicized failings, including a remarkably dim review of their unit’s launch skills. The group’s deputy commander said…

Air Force admits error on support The U.S. Air Force is admitting giving out wrong information on public support for basing the F-35 fighter jet in Burlington, Vt. In a revised draft environmental impact statement, the Air Force said last month it had received 913 public comments on the proposal to base up to 24…

U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan at 1,995 As of Sept. 25, 2012, at least 1,995 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count. At least 1,657 military service members have died in Afghanistan as a result…

Marines protecting threatened desert tortoises The Marine Corps is hoping to deploy some four-footed recruits in Californiaís Mojave Desert – about 500 threatened desert tortoises. The Los Angeles Times says the hatchlings live in a special 5-acre facility at the Twentynine Palms Marine Base that’s protected from predators by wire and netting. The slow-growing tortoises…

Business Boeing 787 Dreamliner faces review after mishaps Arms makers lament uncertainty, urge clarity to make investments Rolls-Royce hires lawyer Gold for internal ethics review International United Kingdom: MoD £6.6 billion over budget for major weapons projects that are running woefully late British Helmand veterans dispatched to defend Falklands Glock 17 9mm pistols replace Browning…

Business EADS unit could face FBI probe over Saudi deal The FBI is investigating allegations of corruption involving a British unit of aerospace group EADS over a contract in Saudi Arabia for the U.K.’s Ministry of Defence, the Financial Times said Feb. 11.   Veterans ‘I would have destroyed Dresden again’: Bomber Harris was unrepentant…

Army names crew killed in helicopter crash The U.S. Army has identified the five-member crew killed in the crash of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in Afghanistan. The crew was flying a training mission March 11 in Kandahar using night-vision goggles. Army Maj. Gen. Robert A. Abrams has said no enemy attacks were reported. The…

In a continuing effort to meet the Department of Defense funding targets in the Fiscal Year 2012 President’s Budget and re-balance the civilian workforce, approximately 60 Air Force installations will implement civilian Reduction in Force authorities effective through about Aug. 23, to assist in the placement of employees not assigned against funded positions (termed “surplus…

United Technologies completes civestiture of Pratt & Whitney Power Systems unit to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries United Technologies Corp. announced May 17 it has completed the divestiture of its Pratt & Whitney Power Systems unit to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.† Divesting Power Systems allows UTC to focus on its core…

Iran could open military site to visits   Iran could allow representatives from nonaligned nations to visit a military site that the U.N. nuclear watchdog suspects has housed nuclear experiments. Access for diplomats and others to the Parchin base would be an attempt by Iran to show openness during this week’s Non-Aligned Movement gathering, but…