News
Former NSA employee pleads guilty to taking classified information –
A former National Security Agency employee admitted on Dec. 1 that he had illegally taken from the agency classified documents believed to have subsequently been stolen from his home computer by hackers working for Russian intelligence.
Business
Mattis says Boeing working to fix tanker woes, meet commitments –
Boeing “has been excellent” working with the U.S. Air Force to fix as many as three potential deficiencies with its new $44.5 billion aerial-refueling tanker, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said.
Boeing will miss 2017 delivery goal for first KC-46 –
Boeing will miss its self-imposed goal to deliver the first KC-46 tanker to the Air Force by the end of the year, the head of the company’s defense business told Defense News in an exclusive interview.
France receives its first A400M fitted with pods for midair refueling –
France’s procurement office has revealed it received its 12th A400M airlifter, which is the first in the European program to be fitted with two underwing pods for in-flight refueling of fighter jets.
General Dynamics CEO on Asia: ‘Allies are justifiably worried,’ looking to invest –
General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic believes the Asia-Pacific region represents a growing market for American defense contractors – as long as firms are willing to be patient.
Naval Group, Fincantieri join forces in Canada warship tender –
Naval Group and Italian partner Fincantieri have filed a joint bid based on the FREMM multimission frigate in the Canadian tender for 15 warships, a spokesman for the French shipbuilder said Dec. 1.
Defense
Pentagon building wish list for new technology spending –
The military’s top weapons buyer wants to better coordinate the Defense Department’s investments across its labs and research offices.
IG: Millions worth of border scanner equipment in Afghanistan unused –
Equipment that the U.S. provided to the Afghan government to improve customs inspections at border crossings went unused and fell into disrepair after U.S. troops handed it over to the Afghans, the inspector general reported Dec. 1.
AT&L reorganization will take two years to complete –
The Pentagon plans to take two years to complete the reorganization of its acquisition, technology and logistics office, in order to avoid missteps as it creates two new replacement organizations.
Pentagon working on new ‘modernization strategy’ for technology investments –
The Pentagon is developing a new modernization strategy, with a goal of reporting out the best areas of technology to invest in during 2018.
DOD acquisition head: It’s time to halt some legacy programs –
The Pentagon is in discussions with Congress about pivoting away from technology development programs that may no longer be relevant, the building’s top acquisition official said Dec. 2.
Army helmet of the 2030s will have everything –
The Army is working to provide unprecedented situational awareness to soldiers from the time they’re pre-planning missions, en route to the target and on the ground.
Navy disciplines aviators who drew penis in the sky –
Two Navy aviators who used their EA-18G Growler to draw a giant sky penis over Washington State have been disciplined, according to Navy officials.
Air Force F-22s, F-35s deploy to Korea for Vigilant Ace exercise –
More than 12,000 service members from the United States will join airmen from the Republic of Korea in an air combat exercise in South Korea, according to the Air Force.
Veterans
Military IDs 100 killed on USS Oklahoma in Pearl Harbor –
The military has identified 100 sailors and Marines killed when the USS Oklahoma capsized during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 76 years ago, officials said Dec. 1.
Four common questions about VA benefits answered by an expert –
Numerous VA benefits for eligible veterans are available, but navigating the bureaucracy can be a real challenge, and many people miss out on benefits they have earned because they don’t know where to start. Too often I hear, “I’m fine, save it for someone who really needs it.” My response: These are benefits that you earned by serving your country! There is no saving them for someone else.