News
Russia wants to fly over U.S. with advanced digital camera –
Russia will ask permission Feb. 22 to start flying surveillance planes equipped with high-powered digital cameras amid warnings from U.S. intelligence and military officials that such overflights help Moscow collect intelligence on the United States.
Business
China defense companies remain secretive –
There was a time not long ago when Chinese defense companies exhibiting at international defense shows would provide no information about their products to journalists, or for that matter, even customers.
U.S. Air Force spending $491 million to upgrade B-52H radar –
The U.S. Air Force has earmarked $491 million over five years for the upgrade external link of B-52H radars. The modernization plan will replace the outdated Northrop Grumman AN/APQ-166 mechanically scanned array radar with further funds to be made available post-2021.
Rheinmetall, Bumar-Labedy sign Polish tank modernization deal –
Germany’s Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH and Poland’s state-run defense company Bumar-Labedy SA have signed a deal worth $144 million to modernize the Leopard 2A4 tanks, which are operated by the Polish military, Bumar-Labedy said in a statement.
Turkish Aselsan partners with Saudi enterprise –
Turkish military electronics specialist Aselsan, has signed a partnership agreement with a Saudi enterprise to cooperate on a joint venture.
Defense
Pentagon wants to make even more changes to troops’ retirement plan –
The Pentagon is fending off criticism that another round of updates to the military’s retirement system would benefit older career-minded personnel at the expense of younger troops who fulfill only a short-term obligation.
Pentagon chief sells Lockheed F-35 as best, even affordable, jet –
Lockheed Martin’s F-35, the Pentagon’s long-troubled and costliest weapons program, is now on course to become a success and even a relative bargain, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says.
JSTARS contract award slips; IOC in ‘mid-2020s’ –
The Air Force will delay an expected contract award for the service’s next-generation ground surveillance aircraft by as much as six months, at the same time giving itself more wiggle room to declare the new fleet operational in the 2020s.
The Air Force of the future: Lasers on fighter jets, planes that think –
Fighter jets that shoot high-powered lasers. Robots that mine hours of intelligence data in milliseconds. A tactical aircraft that can think for itself.
Air Force will move off Russian engines, general says –
Make no mistake, the Air Force doesn’t want to use Russian-made rocket engines, a top general said Feb. 19.
Air Force Test-Launches Minuteman Missile from California –
The U.S. Air Force says an unarmed Minuteman 3 missile has been launched from California’s central coast in the latest test of the intercontinental system.
Veterans
Lawmakers push to link veterans’ COLA with Social Security –
Veterans always get the same annual cost-of-living increase as Social Security recipients. But there’s no guarantee that will continue.
