News
U.S. European Command bans troops from travel to Brussels –
U.S. troops and their families have been banned from traveling to Brussels in their free time until further notice, U.S. European Command said March 22.
Army announces Afghanistan deployment for 500 soldiers –
About 500 soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division will deploy to Afghanistan this summer, the Army announced March 22.
Business
State Dept. official: Foreign weapon sales reform unnecessary –
A top U.S. State Department official said she believes there is no need to reform the current Foreign Military Sales system, despite complaints from both foreign customers and Pentagon leadership that the current system is too slow.
Boeing likely to miss delivery date for tankers, Pentagon says –
Boeing is likely to miss the first major requirement of its $51 billion tanker program for the U.S. Air Force: delivering the initial 18 aerial refueling planes by August 2017, according to the Pentagon agency that oversees contracts.
UK extends work on anti-submarine frigate program –
A £472 million ($670 million) deal to continue work on a program to build a new class of Type 26 anti-submarine frigate has been sealed by the Ministry of Defence and shipbuilder BAE Systems, but both sides are being coy about when the warship’s production will get underway.
General Atomics wins Predator Block 5 contract –
General Atomics has been awarded a $53.8 million Air Force contract for the MQ-9 Reaper Block 5.
Tech haven Estonia attracting U.S. defense, cybersecurity business –
Technology executives from the Republic of Estonia have been touring the United States this week, and found an especially receptive audience in Washington, where they met with top U.S. defense and cybersecurity industry executives to strike up business alliances.
SIMBAD-RC completes final trials milestone –
MBDA is set to start first deliveries of its remotely controlled SIMBAD-RC ship self-defense system after successfully completing two Mistral missile firings.
Defense
DARPA expands Squad X program –
DARPA has expanded a program to give infantry squads more capabilities, including better sensors and navigation.
Army pilot links active, Guard and Reserve units for training, deployments –
The Army is launching a pilot program this summer that pairs active-duty units with those in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard so they can train together and even deploy together.
Army weighing THAAD deployments in Europe, Middle East –
A possible deployment of the Army’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense System to South Korea is still being discussed, but the service is also looking at possibly sending THAAD batteries to the European and Central Command areas of operations, the commanding general of Army Space and Missile Defense Command said.
Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship heads to the fleet –
The amphibious assault supership America is out of the yards and back in the fleet.
Navy refueling drone may tie into F-35s –
If you’re following the Navy’s new drone program, hold on to something. Keeping track of the various names of what used to be UCLASS and then became CBARS and is now the MQ-XX Stingray — or perhaps the MQ-25 — may make you as dizzy as keeping up with what the Navy plans to do with it. The Navy is in a hurry.
Veterans
2015 was the best year for post-9/11 veteran employment – and it’s not even close –
The annual unemployment rate for the latest generation of veterans in 2015 was the lowest ever recorded – by far, government statistics indicate.
Veterans unemployment down, but Calif. still a challenge –
The national unemployment rate for veterans in February was 4.4 percent, down from 5.2 percent a year before and a recession-high peak of 8.7 percent. But in California, home to the lion’s share of the nation’s veterans, the unemployment rate for vets remains higher than for the public.
Women veterans can find a mentor through American Corporate Partners –
American Corporate Partners announced March 21 a new mentoring program focusing solely on female veterans.
VA suspends top official in relocation scam –
The Department of Veterans Affairs is suspending the head of the Veterans Benefits Administration for allowing two lower-ranking officials to manipulate the agency’s hiring system for their own gain.
Space
James Webb telescope has final flight mirror installed ahead of 2018 launch –
NASA engineers in Maryland got a little closer to launch with the completion of testing on its science cameras and the installation of the final flight mirrors.
Astronomers discover ‘outrageous’ galaxies –
Astronomers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst believe the newly-discovered galaxies may be forming a new star every hour.
Would you vacation on the moon? –
The head of the European Space Agency has revealed ideas for an international “moon village” that combines the capabilities of space-faring nations around the world.
Part plane, part helicopter, part hovercraft –
Within just a couple of years, we might all be able to hop aboard one of these things for the ultimate sightseeing adventure.
Take a journey to the heart of Mars –
Like all planets, Mars is covered in craters, ridges and mountains that cause its surfaces to become lumpy.
