News:
Super-jet made in China –
China has unveiled its first-ever passenger jet built and designed by the country Nov. 2.
Pentagon suspends troubled missile defense system at center of ‘runaway blimp’ –
The Pentagon has suspended indefinitely an “operational exercise” of the troubled missile defense system called JLENS, whose giant, radar-carrying blimps were intended to help safeguard the skies over Washington.
Business:
Lockheed gets $5.37 billion for 55 F-35 fighters –
Contracts worth $5.37 billion have been awarded to Lockheed Martin to produce 55 Lot IX F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, the Pentagon announced the evening of Nov. 3.
Lockheed-Sikorsky deal clears final hurdle –
Lockheed Martin’s acquisition of Sikorsky Aircraft has cleared its final regulatory hurdle, paving the way for the deal to close later this week, the company announced Nov. 3.
U.S. Navy official eyes more Boeing F/A-18 fighter jet orders –
The U.S. Navy Nov. 3 underscored its desire to buy more Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets in coming years to deal with higher-than-expected operational demands and past delays in the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jet program.
Lockheed said to mull sale of $600 million asset portfolio –
Lockheed Martin, the largest global defense company, is exploring a sale of $600 million in alternative assets to reduce exposure to private-equity funds, people with knowledge of the matter said.
U.S. Army to complete M109A7 Paladin initial production –
The U.S. Army has exercised an option with BAE Systems worth USD 245.3 million for more M109A7 Paladin self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and M992A3 ammunition carriers, which will complete low-rate initial production.
F-35 data smuggler sentenced to jail –
A former Connecticut resident has been sentenced to 97 months in jail for attempting to send sensitive technical data on the F-35 engine to Iran.
Confirmed: Taiwan to purchase U.S. anti-submarine warfare helos –
Taiwan’s military recently confirmed that it intends to purchase ten Seahawk aircraft.
HAL team to visit Ecuador to resolve Dhruv copter crisis –
With Ecuador unilaterally terminating its contractual agreement with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for Dhruv helicopters, ministry of external affairs has now stepped in to resolve the matter amicably.
Lockheed pushes F-16 stress test to 27,000 hours –
Lockheed Martin has tested the structural integrity of an F-16C Block 50 over 27,700 equivalent flight hours as it seeks to life-extend the aircraft from 8,000 to 12,000 hours.
Will India purchase 154 fighter jets from Russia? –
A contract for the delivery of the aircraft might be signed this month.
U.S. seeks additional combat aerial refuelling capacity from Airbus –
The U.S. military is working with Airbus Defence and Space to gain emergency aerial refueling clearances for its fleet of combat aircraft operating in the Middle East, a company spokesperson said Nov. 2.
Budget deal trims bomber, destroyer, missile, drone programs –
U.S. lawmakers wasted little time in identifying which programs to trim as part of a bipartisan budget deal that required cutting $5 billion from the 2016 defense budget.
Defense:
Defense bill falls $5 billion to meet budget deal –
Lawmakers have reduced the 2016 defense policy bill by $5 billion to comply with the budget deal between Congress and the president, including $2.6 billion in “adjustments” to acquisition programs, according to a document circulating online.
House plans a new defense authorization bill this week –
House lawmakers are preparing to vote this week on a new draft of the annual defense authorization bill, which would trim spending totals by about $5 billion but leave intact an overhaul of the military retirement system and the renewal of a host of specialty pays.
Senate panel explores speed of U.S. military technology, weapons development –
The staggering rate of change and the unacceptable time it takes the Pentagon to introduce weapon systems is leading to “a steady erosion of U.S. technological superiority” over peer competitors and non-state actors such as the Islamic State. Those were consensus views at a Nov. 3 hearing on the future of warfare before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
