News
Lawmakers move to abolish draft –
As Congress begins debate on whether to force women to register for the draft, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers has a compromise solution: Get rid of it altogether.
Top Air Force acquisition official reassigned over financial disclosure issue –
The U.S. Air Force has reassigned Richard Lombardi, its principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, after he voluntarily disclosed that he had not reported a Northrop Grumman retirement account held by his spouse in his annual public financial disclosure form.
Business
Worldwide F-35 fleet exceeds 50,000 flight hours –
The global fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft has accumulated over 50,000 flight hours from 12 different locations.
Boeing to face SEC probe of Dreamliner, 747 accounting –
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating whether Boeing properly accounted for the costs and expected sales of two of its best known jetliners, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Northrop Grumman shows progress with InTop program –
Northrop Grumman has successfully implemented the ability to conduct multiple missions of different types, using its Integrated Topside (InTop) suite of systems. Tests were done, which conducted electronic warfare, information operations, and line-of-sight communications, simultaneously leading to performance within expectations.
CAE USA moves forward with Navy simulator program –
CAE USA is going ahead with a technology refresh contract for U.S. Navy MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopter simulators and training systems.
Lockheed Martin missile contract boost to extend production In Arkansas –
Lockheed Martin’s was recently awarded a $198.7 million boost to a previous multimillion dollar contract that will enhance production on an anti-ballistic system that President Obama recently touted as a deterrent to North Korea’s nuclear threat.
AMEC receives contract to support Aegis Ashore in Poland –
The U.S. Army awarded AMEC Programs a $182.7 million contract with options to support the Aegis Ashore missile defense system in Poland.
Consortium Acquires Assets in Bankrupt Danish Aerotech –
A local consortium headed by Danish industrialists Peter Bennedsen and Sønder Felding has acquired the trading name and core assets of defense company Danish Aerotech A/S, which was placed into a court-supervised judicial liquidation process in December 2015.
Raytheon wins $58 million Navy contract for support services –
Raytheon won a $57.8 million modification contract from the U.S. Navy to provide support to the ship self-defense system for continuing platform system engineering agent. The contracting activity is Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C.
The tank that thinks it’s a Swiss army knife –
Capable of clearing mines, digging trenches and causing wanton destruction in its wake, the British Army’s new battle tanks looks like the stuff of Hollywood action films.
Defense
After blimp’s wild ride, JLENS program will fly again, NORAD says –
After an embarrassing incident last fall where the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS) broke free in Maryland and floated into Pennsylvania dragging its mooring line, it appears the controversial surveillance blimp program will fly again.
U.S. Navy fires upgraded SM-6 missile –
The United States Navy tested the new, improved SM-6 missile last month, executing four successful test firings off the coast of Hawaii, the Navy announced last week. The Standard Missile-6 Block I – better known as the SM-6 – has been operational in the Navy arsenal since 2013, but until now was designed only as a surface-to-air missile, deployed to blast incoming enemy missiles and other aircraft out of the sky.
F-35 production to drop by 20, but Air Force officials downplay price impact –
The Pentagon has unveiled a new funding profile for the F-35 joint strike fighter, reflecting a drop in fighter jet acquisition over the next six years across the US services, international partners and foreign customers.
Veterans
VA home loan limit would end under proposed law –
Lawmakers have taken a step toward removing the cap on the amount the Veterans Affairs Department can guarantee under its VA home loan program, in legislation passed by the House this week.
Disabled vets need faster access to housing grants –
The Veterans Affairs Department needs more staff to handle its program that helps disabled veterans to purchase or modify homes to improve their independent living, according to advocates.
Veterans Choice program hurting some vets’ credit scores –
Some veterans are seeing their credit ruined by using the Veterans Choice health program because the Veterans Affairs Department is not reimbursing participating physicians promptly, forcing them to bill their veteran patients who often can’t pay.
Panel to VA: Stop studying causes of Gulf War illnesses, focus on treatment –
A scientific panel has concluded that the Veterans Affairs Department should stop searching for links between environmental exposures in the 1991 Persian Gulf War and veterans’ illnesses and instead focus on monitoring and treating those who have health problems related to deploying 25 years ago.
