News
House advances $576 billion defense spending bill –
House lawmakers June 16 advanced a $576 billion defense spending plan for fiscal 2017 that faces a Senate fight, a White House veto and a host of other political obstacles that could block it from ever becoming law.
Business
Italy lands largest ever naval export deal from Qatar –
Qatar signed a contract June 16 worth €3.8 billion, or $4.28 billion, to buy seven naval vessels from Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard as part of Italy’s largest ever naval export deal.
U.K. in talks with Pentagon for JLTV buy –
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle could be in line to win its first export order even before the U.S. Department of Defense makes a decision to order full rate production of the platform.
Eurosatory 2016: Lockheed Martin targets HIMARS exportable industrial participation –
Lockheed Martin has outlined a range of possibilities for industrial participation of its HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) as it looks to increase international sales of the platform.
Raytheon achieves next-gen GPS milestones –
Raytheon has passed qualification and critical design review milestones in development of the Air Force’s next-generation GPS OCX system, the company announced June 16.
Lockheed revives rocket launcher production, turns to international market –
Lockheed Martin has restarted production lines for its highly mobile artillery rocket launcher and one of the tactical missiles used in the system at a time when the U.S. Army in Europe has no dedicated rocket launchers.
Nexter, RTD said to pursue Scorpion vehicle –
Nexter and Renault Trucks Defense, two France-based military vehicle specialists, will compete in a tender for a light multirole reconnaissance vehicle for the French Army’s Scorpion program, defense analysts and executives said.
Roketsan, Airbus sign MOU on Cirit missiles for H145M –
Roketsan Missiles Industries and Airbus Helicopters have signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate 70mm Cirit laser-guided missiles on H135M and H145M helicopters.
Sikorsky teaming with Turkey for T70 helicopter –
Sikorsky announced it is teaming with Istanbul and Turkish Aerospace Industries to produce the T70 utility helicopter based on the S-70i Black Hawk.
Roketsan to equip Airbus helicopters with CIRIT missile system –
Turkey’s state-controlled missile maker, Roketsan, has signed a deal to equip Airbus Helicopters’ H135M and H145M platforms with its laser-guided missile system, the CIRIT, the company announced.
Harris unveils secure radio with greater waveform –
Harris Corp. has unveiled a new secure radio.
Air Force awards $43.9 million satellite control contract –
L-3 National Security Solutions has been awarded a $43.9 million Air Force contract to operate the Consolidated Air Force Satellite Control Network.
Defense
Air Force wants new plane to replace A-10, fight ISIS –
Top U.S. Air Force generals are floating the idea of buying a new warplane to support ground troops better and more cheaply than the venerable A-10 Warthog.
Commissary changes are coming but won’t hurt the benefit, official says –
Defense officials will make changes to the commissary system, but any change must meet two criteria: it must sustain the commissary benefit, and it must save money, said the official leading efforts to find taxpayer savings in the department’s resale operations.
Delayed ICBM replacement to hit major milestone this summer –
The president’s pick to serve as the next Air Force chief of staff said June 16 that the service is two weeks away from putting out a request for proposals regarding the intercontinental ballistic missile replacement.
Two U.S. nuke programs set to advance –
Two U.S. Air Force nuclear-modernization programs are expected to move forward soon, with the service projecting to release a request for proposals for its Ground Based Strategic Deterrent Program this summer and the clearing of a programmatic hurdle for a new nuclear-armed cruise missile expected within weeks, a key official said.
The Navy is blasting one of its newest ships. Here’s why: –
The shiny new littoral combat ship Jackson is getting blown up over the next three weeks.
LCS survives first shock test, preps for more –
The new littoral combat ship Jackson was showered by spray and shaken by a large explosion June 10 as she endured the first of a series of controlled tests intended to prove the design’s ability to withstand and survive combat and damage.
Why the Navy is making a major change in its approach to PTSD –
For years, the military has struggled to deal with the unseen, psychological wounds of war, especially Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus has instituted major changes to the rules affecting sailors and Marines who suffer from PTSD.
Veterans
Top VA benefits official Pummill retires –
The acting head of the Veterans Benefits Administration announced his retirement Thursday, giving the department its third top benefits official in the last eight months.
Veteran-owned businesses win at Supreme Court –
The Supreme Court handed a victory June 16 to veteran-owned small businesses, ruling unanimously that the federal government must abide by a 2006 law establishing set-aside rules for contracts even when its annual goals are met.
Army veteran to take over at Wounded Warrior Project after troubles –
The head of the military agency that searches for and identifies the remains of missing servicemen is resigning after just one year to take over a troubled nonprofit that cares for wounded troops.
Battle brewing over veteran’s health care –
The Commission For Care was appointed to recommend changes to improve VA care for its patients. It recommends eliminating large portions of VA services and sending veterans in need of care into the private sector. The report calls the plan a bold transformation. But CBS11 found many veterans aren’t on board.
Space
Does NASA’s ‘fuel free’ thruster have an invisible exhaust? –
Researchers based in Finland suggest the EmDrive gives off an exhaust of photons.
Events
Red Arrows axe their Farnborough Air Show display –
Air Vice Marshall Andrew Turner, who is responsible for the aerobatic teams’ safety, said the RAF had decided not to risk doing stunts at the Farnborough Air Show after last August’s Shoreham crash.