News
VA bosses in 7 states falsified vets’ wait times for care –
Supervisors instructed employees to falsify patient wait times at Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities in at least seven states, according to a USA TODAY analysis of more than 70 investigation reports released in recent weeks.
Business
Court reverses former Finmeccanica CEO Orsi’s acquittal –
An Italian appellate court has reversed the acquittal of former Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi on corruption charges, handing him a four-and-a-half year sentence for his role in the alleged offering of kickbacks to win an Indian helicopter contract.
Air Force orders jammers from Mercury Defense Systems –
Mercury Defense Systems has been awarded a $15.4 million Air Force contract for jammers.
Qatar buys Searchmaster radar for quasi-drones –
Qatar has selected Thales to provide a radar for its optionally piloted vehicles aircraft.
Lockheed Martin airships could fight food insecurity in the North, says company –
One of the largest aerospace companies in the world is making a big push towards helium airships, and they have their sights set on the Arctic as a potential market.
Navy orders more missile canisters for MK 41 VLS system –
Additional canisters for the storage, transport and launch of missiles are to be produced by BAE Systems for the U.S. Navy.
French military upgrades telecommunication networks –
Thales has been awarded two contracts to upgrade the French Ministry of Defense’s data and telephony infrastructure networks.
Defense
Air Force moving forward with possible A-10 replacement, general says –
The Air Force is taking a key step toward developing a dedicated close-air support plane to replace the A-10 “Warthog,” a top general said April 7.
U.S. Air Force backs off sixth-gen ‘fighter’ in quest for air supremacy –
The U.S. Air Force will begin an extensive campaign of prototyping and experimentation relating to new air superiority technologies, including new aircraft types, after completing a wide-ranging examination of future air battle concepts and weaponry.
Damage extensive for crippled U.S. littoral ship in Singapore –
The USS Fort Worth, the third Littoral Combat Ship deployed by the U.S. Navy, suffered “extensive damage” during the botched maintenance procedure in January that’s left the crippled vessel sidelined in Singapore ever since, according to the service’s top weapons buyer.
Supercarrier Ford to join Navy fleet in September –
The most expensive warship ever built, the $12.9 billion aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), is expected to join the U.S. Navy’s fleet in September, a Navy official says.
Space
NASA to test inflatable room for astronauts in space –
What makes the module unique is it’s launched folded up, and it’s inflated to its full size once in orbit.
SpaceX resuming deliveries to ISS –
After a nine-month hiatus because of a rocket failure, the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, is to resume cargo deliveries for NASA April 8.
