News
Carrier group returns to South China Sea amid tensions –
Defense Secretary Ash Carter is expected soon to visit the Stennis on its patrol, which comes as the Obama administration grapples with how to respond to China’s territorial grab in the strategically vital South China Sea.
Business
Northrop’s mystery bomber bid may trigger review, CRS says –
Northrop Grumman’s winning bid to develop and build the U.S. military’s next-generation bomber was “substantially below” independent Pentagon and Air Force agency estimates, so Congress may seek to review their methodologies, according to a Congressional Research Service assessment.
Aerospace, defense sector largest contributor to U.S. exports –
The U.S. aerospace and defense sector’s gross exports increased by $5 billion in 2015 and are expected to rise this year, according to a Deloitte report.
Risks seen with Lockheed’s F-35 fighter logistics –
A failure in the computer-based logistics system that serves as the “brains” of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet could potentially ground the fleet because it lacks a back-up for processing data, according to a congressional report.
ASRAAM missile tests for F-35 underway –
U.S. Air Force officials are pressing ahead with testing of the British-built Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles for the F-35 Lightning II.
BAE Systems’ Archerfish will hunt for sea mines –
The animal known as the archerfish has a unique claim to fame — it shoots down and then eats airborne insects by spitting a stream of water at them. Well, BAE Systems’ Archerfish ROV (remote-operated vehicle) is a little different. It locates and then blows up sea mines, by shooting them with an explosive charge.
U.S. Air Force expects F-35 to be combat ready soon –
Despite facing technical issues in the aircraft, the US Air Force remains confident about the performance of the Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet, and expects the aircraft to be combat ready between August and December this year. The F-35 currently faces technical issues in its computer based logistics system, causing further delays.
Comtech to support DOD communications –
Comtech has won several Department of Defense contracts, totaling $14.3 million, for communications equipment.
Moog to supply Tern drone flight controls –
Moog Inc. has been chosen to supply the flight control actuation for the Tern UAV project.
Defense
Work: ‘Confident’ F-35 ejection issue will be resolved –
Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work is “confident” concerns about the safety of ejections for lightweight pilots from the F-35 joint strike fighter will be resolved, he said April 14.
Rockwell Collins to repair U.S. Air Force helmet-mounted displays –
Texas-based military aviation company Rockwell Collins has received a $20 million contract with the U.S. Air Force to repair and maintain the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System.
Four-year-old Navy ship needs $23 million in repairs –
A repair bill of an estimated $23 million and months out of action. That’s the cost to U.S. taxpayers and the Navy after the four-year-old littoral combat ship USS Forth Worth tried to operate its propulsion system without enough oil in January.
Veterans
Senators move to give veterans access to medical marijuana –
The Senate Appropriations Committee April 15 passed an amendment that would let Veterans Affairs doctors discuss and recommend marijuana as a potential medical treatment in states where it is legal.
Senate rekindles debate on helping wounded veterans have children –
Senators April 14 renewed the call to lift a decades-old ban on the Department of Veterans Affairs providing in vitro fertilization to wounded veterans looking to have children.
Veterans, lawmakers decry proposed cuts to GI Bill –
Veteran advocates and House lawmakers rallied April 14 on Capitol Hill to oppose cuts to the Post 9/11 GI Bill that they say would break a “sacred” trust.
Science & Technology
The XS-1 spaceplane moves closer to takeoff –
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is now entering the phase of its ambitious XS-1 program, which aims to make launching satellites a daily occurrence.
Aerojet Rocketdyne pushes AR-1 as best choice for Vulcan rocket –
Although United Launch Alliance maintains Blue Origin’s BE-4 is the engine of choice for its next-generation Vulcan launch system, Aerojet Rocketdyne continues to push its AR-1 engine as the best domestic solution to propel rockets into space.
