Business
F-35 chief expects savings from Pratt’s work on B-21 engine –
The chief of the F-35 joint program office expects engine-maker Pratt & Whitney’s work on the new B-21 bomber to reduce the cost of the next-generation fighter jet’s engine, the F135.
Navy awards tactical cloud contract to Charles River Analytics –
Charles River Analytics has been awarded a Navy contract for a tactical cloud.
Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base coalition prepares for annual lobbying blitz –
For small businesses that supply parts and services to aircraft carriers, 2016 looks a lot better than a few years ago.
Echo Voyager could help advance UAV autonomy –
Boeing’s Phantom Works says lessons learned during development of the Echo Voyager, a newly unveiled unmanned undersea vehicle capable of fully autonomous operations for three months or more, will aid with advances in the design of future unmanned air systems.
Air & Space to preserve Vought’s legacy –
A quirky aircraft company that helped to win World War II and guide the U.S. into the jet age with its unconventional designs will have its colorful history preserved by the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
U.S. announces possible Indonesia AMRAAM deal –
The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of 36 Raytheon AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM missiles to Indonesia.
Defense
Two key senators turn against Pentagon’s radar-carrying blimps –
Two U.S. senators with sway over federal spending have dealt a crippling bipartisan blow to the Pentagon’s troubled $2.7 billion program to use radar-carrying blimps to search for enemy missiles.
Focusing on planes, upgrading for future –
After many years of debate and planning, the Air Force is on a path to begin replacing its aging aircraft and perform upgrades that will keep some of the existing fleet operational until their successors are delivered.
U.S. Air Force faces 500 fighter pilot shortfall –
The U.S. Air Force is about 500 fighter pilots short of the total requirement, a deficit that is expected to grow to more than 800 by 2022, top service officials warned Congress.
L-3 Communications won’t have to pay Pentagon for damaging plane –
L-3 Communications Holdings Inc. won’t have to pay for as much as $13.7 million in fire damage to an Air Force intelligence plane caused by a company mechanic who failed to tighten a loose nut in the plane’s oxygen system.
Veterans
New law will cut off unemployment pay for GI Bill users –
Department of Labor officials are moving to cut off unemployment checks for veterans attending college on the GI Bill after lawmakers quietly approved the cost-cutting move last December.
Wounded Warrior Project fights to save face after high-profile firings –
The abrupt firing of Wounded Warrior Project’s top two business leaders March 10 came without any apologies for the embattled charity’s past financial moves, but with an acknowledgement that changes were needed to “restore trust in the organization.”
Space
We have liftoff! –
A spacecraft designed to search the atmosphere of Mars for clues of life on the surface of the red planet has successfully blasted off.
