News
Chinese jet makes ‘unsafe’ intercept of Air Force plane –
A U.S. Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft flying June 7 in international airspace over the East China Sea was intercepted in an “unsafe manner” by a Chinese J-10 fighter jet, several defense officials tell CNN.
Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilots collide over Georgia, eject safely –
Two South Carolina Air National Guard F-16 fighter pilots ejected safely after a midair collision overnight in eastern Georgia, the Guard said.
Business
Harris wins military dental IT contract –
Harris has been awarded a $30 million contract to provide IT services for Army, Navy and Air Force dental clinics.
New $3.5 billion deal paves way for Turkish-made Black Hawks –
After several months of negotiations, a $3.5 billion utility helicopter contract between the Turkish government and Sikorsky has taken effect, the program’s prime Turkish contractor announced June 7.
Turkey aims ‘vertical specialization’ with state-controlled companies –
The Turkish government has decided to launch three new state-controlled defense companies which it hopes will create "vertical specialization" in the industry.
No longer in shadow, Textron UAS reaches 1 million hours –
The first U.S. Army heavy attack reconnaissance squadron to deploy operationally with teams of Boeing AH-64 Apaches and Textron Systems RQ-7Bv2 Shadows has returned home from Iraq, and will begin briefing Army aviation leadership on how one of the most controversial parts of the sweeping Aviation Restructure Initiative worked in the heat of battle.
Qatar signs deal for 24 AH-64E Apaches –
Boeing and the U.S. government have signed a contract for the provision of 24 AH-64E Apache rotorcraft to Qatar.
RSVPs are due for French ‘Scorpion’ vehicle bid –
A deadline passed June 6 for a request for information in a planned off-the-shelf buy of a light multirole armored vehicle in the French army’s Scorpion program, two industry executives said.
Nigeria waiting for U.S. to approve Super Tucano sale –
The Nigerian Air Force is hoping to replace its Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jets with Embraer EMB 314/A-29 Super Tucano turboprops, NAF spokesman Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said June 6.
DSME launches South Korea’s first FFX-II frigate –
South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering has launched the country’s first FFX-II platform, the company confirmed with IHS Jane’s June 7.
Navy awards Africa telecom contract –
Rome Research Corporation, a subsidiary of PAR Technology, has been awarded a $1.8 million Navy contract to provide telecommunications for U.S. forces in Africa.
Cybersecurity company root9B wins CYBERCOM contract –
Cybersecurity firm root9B has been awarded a subcontract to support U.S. Cyber Command.
Bulgarian parliament bans sale of state-owned defense companies –
In a bid to maintain state control over the country’s defense industry, the Bulgarian parliament has approved on first reading a ban on the privatization of three state-owned defense companies, reports local news agency Novinite.
Raytheon says $1 billion cyber deal confirmed after protests –
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has reaffirmed a $1 billion contract won by Raytheon to protect the networks of dozens of federal agencies from cyber threats over protests by competitors, according to a company executive.
Defense
Senators defeat commissary privatization test – for now –
Senators moved June 7 to stall an effort to privatize commissaries.
New veto threat targets DOD reform proposals –
As the U.S. Senate debates its annual defense policy bill, the White House weighed in to issue a veto threat on Tuesday that targets the bill’s marquee proposals for defense acquisition reform and Pentagon reorganization.
Senate denies McCain, preserves dollars for non-duty-related health research –
A proposal to slash the Defense Department’s medical research budget was rejected June 7 by the Senate, preserving dollars inserted into the Pentagon budget by Congress each year for research on conditions from epilepsy and Lyme disease to traumatic brain injury and paralysis.
McCain disavows Northern Command plan as he takes more fire –
Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain is taking fire from a Republican rival over an idea he’s now renounced, for at least this year, to combine U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs with U.S. Southern Command in Florida.
Defense bill sparks ISIS war fight –
Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., filed legislation June 7 that would give the administration authority for three years to fight ISIS. Their measure is being offered as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Cruz warns he can’t support defense bill –
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned June 7 that he will vote against a bipartisan defense policy bill because of a provision that would require women to register for the selective service.
Dozens of U.S. Air Force aircraft in Europe for major counter-Russia drills –
BALTOPS. Anakonda. Saber Strike. Swift Response. Thousands of U.S. and allied service members are participating in exercises across Europe, from Poland to the Baltics, to improve interoperability and prepare for real-world conflicts. They come at a time when Russia is reportedly building new bases on the borders of Ukraine.
Air Force Thunderbirds return to flying after crash, but air show schedule uncertain –
The Air Force’s Thunderbirds returned to flying June 7 following a crash last week in Colorado, but their participation in several future air shows is either in question or canceled, Air Force officials said.
U.S. Senate votes to keep stealth bomber cost top-secret –
U.S. Senators voted behind closed doors to keep the costs of the U.S. Air Force’s B-21 from the public.
The F-22 Raptor: Back from the grave? –
The world’s most advanced fighter jet was canceled over cost. New threats have Congress asking if that was a mistake.
U.S. Army prepares for Shadow UAS engine competition –
The U.S. Army plans to release a solicitation for a Block III engine for its Textron Systems RQ-7B Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft system (UAS) later this year, according to the army’s product manager for the platform.
U.S. Army developing MUM-TX for Apache control of all UAVs –
The U.S. Army is to increase the scope of the manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities of its Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopter to include all unmanned aerial vehicles fielded by the US military, a senior service official June 7.
Russia, China have big naval dreams — U.S. Navy just responded –
The United States Navy has started work on plans for a new family of warships that will eventually replace the service’s current surface fleet. These new warships will be tailored to address a future global security environment that is expected to be quite different from the one the United States faces today.
New evolving Navy drone strategy envisions more autonomy, faster processing –
The Navy’s emerging drone strategy envisions a scenario where multiple drones can conduct ISR, search for mines and even find and attack targets.
Long-delayed Navy robot program passes design review –
The advanced explosive ordnance disposal robotic system program began nine years ago with the goal of fielding a family of small, medium and heavy robots, increments 1, 2 and 3 respectively, that would replace the thousands of bomb disposal robots rushed into combat at the outset of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
U.S. Navy to commence full ship shock trials on LCS 6 –
The U.S. Navy’s third Independence variant Littoral Combat Ship will undergo the first phase of full ship shock trial testing this week, officials confirmed to IHS Jane’s on 6 June.
Veterans
Commission to propose Tricare-like system for VA –
A blue ribbon panel studying the future of Veterans Affairs health care is poised to recommend an overhaul to the system that would create a structure similar to the Pentagon’s Tricare program, where veterans could choose to use either the VA for their care or see a network provider.
House proposal would give VA hospitals to nonprofit corporation –
The nation’s veterans hospitals would be transferred from the Department of Veterans Affairs to a charitable nonprofit corporation under a plan floated Tuesday by a House lawmaker. The proposal unveiled by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., who is the House GOP conference chairwoman, terminates the Veterans Health Administration’s role in hospital care, medical services and other health care and creates a Washington, D.C.-based corporation and board of directors to take its place.
Navy’s secret code-breakers honored for pivotal WWII role –
The more than 100 U.S. Navy intelligence code-breakers who played a key role in the World War II victory against Japan were honored in ceremonies at Pearl Harbor June 6, the 74th anniversary of the Battle of Midway.
Never again alone: Funeral honors veterans who died unclaimed –
Active-duty servicemen and servicewomen from each branch of the military escorted the remains of Sgt. Deborah Elaine Easler; Spec. 4th Class Leonard David Fairchild Jr.; Seaman Recruit Michael Lee McRill; Pvt. Calvin Coolidge Cherry Jr.; Pvt. Richard Eugene Traxler; and Fireman Robert Lowell Burk into the chapel at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on Gov. John Sevier Highway.
Seven decades later, Nevada WWII veteran awarded Purple Heart –
More than seven decades after he fought in the Battle of the Bulge, a 92-year-old World War II veteran from northern Nevada has been awarded the Purple Heart.
Veteran-turned-teacher testifies pep rally triggered his PTSD –
Seidel took the witness stand on the first day of trial in his federal civil case against the New Caney Independent School District in Montgomery County, saying school officials failed to provide the accommodations he needed for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Space and Technology
SpaceX will launch its first reusable rocket by October –
California-based SpaceX will relaunch one of its Falcon 9 rockets this September or October.
The tiny drone tank packing a pistol –
Israel’s General Robotics has developed tiny “combat robots” called Dogo that can climb stairs, traverse difficult terrain and perform with greater accuracy than a human.
A step closer to finding gravitational waves –
The European Space Agency’s LISA Pathfinder probe has set two gold and platinum cubes into the truest freefall ever achieved in a step towards a giant gravitational wave detector in space.
International
U.S. plans to commit combat troops to NATO’s eastern flank –
NATO officials are close to securing a deal that would station one U.S. combat battalion along with three allied battalions on Europe’s eastern flank as an additional deterrent to future Russian aggression, according to military experts. The plan to bolster military presence in Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania comes as NATO officials are preparing for the a summit in Warsaw set for July 8-9.
NATO show’s Putin who’s boss –
The two-week long Anaconda maneuvers, involving solders from 24 NATO and former Soviet ‘Partnership for Peace’ states including Ukraine have been held across Poland since 2006.