News
Iran releases U.S. sailors held for 16 hours –
The morning of Jan. 13, Iran released 10 American sailors unharmed whose riverine boats drifted near Iranian waters, ending a nearly 18-hours of tense negotiations.
Business
BAE Systems announces more layoffs at Norfolk shipyard –
British defense giant BAE Systems Plc announced hundreds more layoffs at its shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia.
U.S. Congress moves gainst Pakistani F-16 deal –
The U.S. Congress is reported to have stymied Pakistani efforts to further acquire F-16 fighter jets, according to reports in local media. Analysts say the move could have implications for the bilateral relationship at a sensitive time if the proposed deal stalls altogether.
Aerojet bends rocket engine cost curve with 3-D printing –
In an increasingly competitive market, rocket engine manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne is looking to cutting-edge technology to dramatically reduce the cost of space launch.
Excalibur goes to sea: Raytheon smart artillery shoots back –
“It’s one of those rare instances where you’ve got a proven — combat-proven — production program that can be leveraged by another service,” Daniels told me. “[Other systems], they’re not anywhere near as real as this is.”
Estonia buys extra CV90s from Norway –
Estonia has bought additional CV90 armored fighting vehicles for its armed forces, signing a contract for 35 more CV90 hulls from Norway Jan. 8.
Warsaw seeks bids for micro-UAV requirement –
The Polish defense ministry’s armament inspectorate wants to buy six micro-unmanned air vehicle systems, to support the nation’s ground troops.
Philippine Navy seeks support for corvette received from South Korea –
The Philippine Navy is soliciting bids for the procurement of parts and logistics support for a decommissioned South Korean Po Hang-class corvette that it is receiving as a donation from the Republic of Korea Navy.
Russian helos still analyzing revival of Mi-14 amphibian –
Russian Helicopters has yet to make a final decision on whether to revive production of the Mil Mi-14 amphibious rotorcraft.
LCS launched SeaRAM test complete success –
The U.S. Navy successfully tested a Rolling Airframe Missile Block II from the SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense system for the first time.
FLIR wins SOCOM sensor contract –
FLIR Surveillance Inc. has been awarded a contract to support Special Operations Command sensors.
Saudi Freedom LCSs would help accelerate U.S. domestic program production –
An official leading the industry team building the U.S. Navy’s Freedom variant Littoral Combat Ship is anticipating that international orders for multi-mission vessels based on the LCS would boost production of the U.S. domestic LCS program.
Terma adds small boat radar to its SCANTER family –
Terma is introducing a new solid-state maritime radar for small boats requiring small-target detection capability in high-clutter environments.
CACI wins prime spot on $6 billion DIA IT contract –
CACI has been awarded a slot as prime on a huge Defense Intelligence Agency IT contract.
Indra to develop NH90 simulators for Spain –
Indra has won an $83.6 million order to develop a flight simulator system for the Spanish Armed Forces’ NHIndustries NH90 utility helicopters, the company announced Jan. 12.
Rheinmetall reveals Thai air-defence contract –
Germany’s Rheinmetall has announced it has secured a contract from the Royal Thai Army for four Skyguard air-defense systems.
Defense
Lawyer: Bergdahl should be awarded POW medal, Purple Heart –
A military lawyer representing accused deserter Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl called for the Army to award his client several medals, including the Purple Heart and the Prisoner of War medal, during a pre-trial hearing Jan. 12.
This new DARPA chip could give U.S. a leg up in electronic warfare –
This chip — an “exceptionally high-speed analog-to-digital converter,” known as an ADC — would benefit U.S. equipment that operates on the electromagnetic spectrum (radios, radar, etc) by increasing the ability to process portions of the electromagnetic spectrum at a drastically higher rate than current jamming and anti-jamming equipment.
Food Stamp formula shouldn’t factor in housing allowances –
Many struggling military families can’t access federal food assistance due to the way their income is calculated on the assistance application, anti-hunger advocates testified Jan. 12 at a hearing on Capitol Hill.
Navy weighing options for a family of future surface ships –
The Navy is currently charting its new roadmap for a family of future surface ships it hopes to enter the fleet sometime in the 2030s.
SeaRAM achieves RAM Block 2 firing first ahead of destroyer deployment –
The U.S. Navy has successfully completed a first firing of the Block 2 version of the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile from a Mk 15 Mod 31 SeaRAM launcher.
U.S. Navy reveals details about lasers on next-gen ships –
A new U.S. Navy large surface combatant might feature futuristic weapons that, until now, have been the province of science fiction.
Veterans
VA failed to spend $1.9 billion designated for health care, report finds –
An audit of the Veterans Health Administration’s private health care program books finds the department failed to spend $1.9 billion — or 40 percent — of the $4.8 billion designated for non-VA care in fiscal 2013.
House lawmakers press VA on $624-million scheduling system –
Two House lawmakers say the Department of Veterans Affairs is preparing to overspend by unnecessarily creating its own $624-million scheduling system to ease persistent delays in veteran health care.
House committee demands to see messy boxes of VA claims –
The chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee is demanding that the Department of Veterans Affairs turn over boxes containing benefits materials from St. Petersburg that were found in disarray in a Georgia scanning center.
VA to request more money for $1.3-billion electronic benefits management system –
Department officials told the House Committee on Veterans Affairs that it expects to request more money from Congress for its $1.3-billion electronic benefits management system, which has helped decrease a backlog of paper disability claims but also increased in cost by 122 percent since it was set up in 2009.
After 75 years, remains of five dead Pearl Harbor sailors are identified –
Almost 75 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the remains of five U.S. sailors who perished when their battleship was sunk there have been identified, the Pentagon said Jan. 11.
