News
Armed drone export standards sought by U.S., dozens of allies –
The Obama administration is working with as many as 40 nations to develop principles for the export of armed drones — and unarmed versions configured to carry weapons — in recognition of the booming demand worldwide for pilotless aircraft.
Pentagon fronts bomb buys for allies fighting ISIS –
A special budget account is being used to boost weapons production ahead of allies’ formal orders.
Business
2016 Foreign Military Sales totals down –
U.S. foreign military sales dropped by around $10 billion in 2016, but the Pentagon’s top weapon sales official isn’t concerned that interest is waning globally.
Raytheon awarded $63 million NATO data link contract –
Under the contract, Raytheon will provide NATO Improved Link Eleven (NILE)/Link 22 Modernized Link Level COMSEC (LLC 7M) production and sustainment, according to the Department of Defense contract announcement.
Japan promotes ‘flexible’ US-2 sale to India –
Japan is ready to be flexible with the cost of ShinMaywa Industries’ US-2i amphibious search-and-rescue aircraft in order to push through a deal to export the platform to India.
Israel looking to add to surveillance aircraft fleet –
It is interested in airborne early warning, communications intelligence and electronic intelligence aircraft, an IAF source said.
The UK military wants your ideas for how to build swarms of attack drones –
The UK’s ministry of defense is hosting a competition to find ways of using smaller drones, rather than the massive things used for bombing and surveillance, on the battlefield.
Australia’s new subs to operate Lockheed Martin combat system –
Lockheed Martin Australia emerged as the preferred bidder to supply the combat system for 12 Shortfin Barracuda Block 1A submarines, a diesel-electric derivative of French shipbuilder Direction des Constructions Navales Services’ Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine under the RAN’s so-called SEA 1000 Future Submarine Program.
Defense
One of youngest leadership teams in U.S. Army history is rocking boat –
This team, one of the youngest Army leadership teams in history, is aggressively pursuing enormous change in how the service conducts business.
U.S. Navy’s master plan to crush Russia, China’s lethal air defenses –
The Navy’s Next-Generation Jammer, to be ready by 2021, is designed to jam multiple radars at the same time and defeat future high-tech enemy air defenses.
Air Force evolving ISR to modern threats –
With the emergence of what Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has called a full-spectrum fight, or conflict with a “high-end enemy,” the Department of Defense writ large and the Air Force especially are trying to adjust from the counterterrorism/counterinsurgency fight of the last 15 years to meet these new challenges while not neglecting these initiatives.
Top Air Force general: Recent F-35 troubles not long-term problem –
The F-35 program has had a rough couple weeks, including a ground fire during training and a supply issue that led the U.S. Air Force to suspend flight operations for 15 F-35As. But the service’s top general said he is not worried that the recent problems could impact the future of the program.
Tactical vest can be scaled down depending on soldier needs –
A soldier might need to change the configuration of his or her tactical vest depending on the mission, and while it’s not always necessary to wear a complete vest, more than just a plate carrier is sometimes needed.
McCain, Cable first Navy warships to port at Cam Ranh Bay since war –
The destroyer USS John S. McCain and submarine tender USS Frank Cable this week became the first commissioned Navy ships since the Vietnam War to moor at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam’s strategically important South China Sea port.
Space
Boeing CEO vows to beat SpaceX to red planet –
Dennis Muilenburg ,the CEO of Boeing, made the prediction at a conference in Chicago this week and hopes that its technology will beat SpaceX to the red planet.