News
X-37B approaches a year in space on its secret military mission –
One of the most mysterious craft ever to be flown by the U.S. military is approaching a year in orbit.
Business
U.S. diplomats at SOFEX highlight defense industry prospects in Middle East –
Commercial officers from the U.S. embassy in Jordan highlighted on Tuesday what’s on the wish lists of Middle Eastern and North African countries when it comes to defense equipment.
French aerospace defense sector improves, official says –
Orders for French fighter jets spiked higher last year but it was too early to say whether that signaled a trend that would continue, Marwan Lahoud, chairman of Gifas, the French aerospace industry association, said.
Airbus, Safran agree to space launcher joint venture –
Airbus Group and Safran have signed an agreement to put strategic missile launchers into their 50/50 space launchers joint venture, the two companies said in a joint statement.
Rockwell Collins to supply GPS for Navy bomb-disposal robots –
Rockwell Collins will provide 2,000 GPS receivers for Navy explosive ordnance disposal robots.
Raytheon can turn old American-made M60A3 yanks into killing machines –
Raytheon is pitching a new upgrade for the venerable M60A3 Patton main battle tank that would turn the elderly design into a competitive force on the modern battlefield-all at a fraction of the cost of a new vehicle.
General Dynamics awarded deal to integrate Stryker vehicle ‘lethality upgrade’ –
General Dynamics Land Systems has been awarded a $329 million contract modification to provide a 30 mm weapon for the U.S. Army’s Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle (ICV) lethality upgrade.
Textron expands unmanned aircraft training, maintenance operations –
Textron Systems, the manufacturer of military unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Shadow, recently opened an expanded center for UAV training and maintenance in Southern Virginia, officials announced May 9.
Defense
House committee unveils $575 billion defense appropriations bill –
A draft defense appropriations bill released May 10 in the House would provide war funding only through April 2017, a tactic that has drawn opposition from Democrats and the Pentagon.
Senators back smaller military pay raise for 2017, setting up legislative fight –
A Senate panel May 10 backed a 1.6 percent raise for troops in 2017, setting up a military paycheck fight with House lawmakers who have labeled that increase too small.
House spending bill includes stunted war fund –
Defying opposition from Democratic leadership, the White House and the Pentagon, House appropriators will consider a defense spending bill that boosts base budget needs by shorting war funding.
Senate panel rejects Pentagon’s call to shut military bases –
A GOP-led Senate panel is all but shutting the door on the possibility of a new round of military base closings.
Ayotte plans to block a new round of military base closures –
Senate Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee Chairwoman Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., said May 10 she plans to block the administration’s request for another round of military base closures when the panel takes up the defense authorization bill.
Special Operations Command breaks down buying barriers –
U.S. Special Operations Command is trying to break down barriers in the acquisition process through a collaborative exchange it calls SOFWERX.
U.S. Air Force issues RfP for initial design of next Air Force One –
As America prepares to pick its next president, the US Air Force is about to put Boeing on contract to begin designing the next version of Air Force One.
Pilot errors caused on-ground F-16 collision at Nellis –
Pilot error led to two F-16s colliding on the runway at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in 2015, which left one pilot with life-threatening injuries, according to an accident investigation report released May 9.
Air Force will announce B-21 name at AFA in September –
The U.S. Air Force will announce the name of the next-generation B-21 bomber during the Air Force Association’s annual conference in September, the service said May 10.
U.S. Air Force proposes Gulfstream G550 CAEW to re-host electronic attack gear –
The U.S. Air Force has requested permission from Congress to shift advanced electronic attack hardware from its EC-130H Compass Call aircraft onto Gulfstream G550 conformal airborne early warning airframes.
Army ground mobility vehicle program stalled until Congress passes budget –
The Army is nearly ready to move forward with a new ground mobility vehicle and a fleet of new logistics watercraft, but both programs depend on Congress passing a 2017 budget, a senior Defense Department official said May 10. However, the prospects for that happening look bleak, he added.
U.S. Navy dings Lockheed on littoral ship quality controls –
Lockheed Martin is under orders from the U.S. Navy to correct quality control failures in building its version of the Littoral Combat Ship, an issue that has delayed deliveries and resulted in three citations from the service’s shipbuilding inspectors.
Veterans
Survivors still expected at next Pearl Harbor Day, on 75th anniversary of attack –
Planners of the 75th anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, attacks on Oahu are optimistic that either an aircraft carrier or “big deck” amphibious assault ship and vintage aircraft will participate in the milestone commemoration, which likely will be the last major hurrah for a rapidly dwindling number of Pearl Harbor survivors.