News
Senate Democrats block DOD spending bill, seeking omnibus –
With their blockage of defense appropriations, Democrats are signaling that they are done with the process for passing individual appropriations bills and want to negotiate an omnibus.
Business
Turkish policy changes may mean bigger defense business –
In May, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan replaced Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, an Islamist romantic, with Binali Yildirim, a pragmatist like the president. That move has paved the way to reshuffle Turkey’s foreign policy calculus — from assertive, neo-Ottomanism to a realist approach.
Slumping U.S. helo market forces Sikorsky to look overseas –
Eight months after buying Sikorsky in an ‘excess capacity’ market, Lockheed is signing partnerships with non-U.S. companies.
MicroTech awarded $750 million Navy C3 contract –
The Navy has awarded MicroTech a $750 million contract to provide C3 systems.
Leidos to support Marine counter-IED systems –
Leidos has been awarded a $7.6 million contract for Marine Corps counter-IED systems.
Cubic awarded Navy Common Data Link contract –
Cubic Corp. has been awarded a $1 million Navy contract for Common Data Link systems.
Farnborough
Hope they were wearing seatbelts –
The incredible footage, captured at Farnborough, shows an Airbus A350 rise rapidly into the air seconds after taking off.
The Verdict: The F-35 transatlantic performance –
Lorraine Martin, deputy executive vice president of mission systems and training at Lockheed Martin, shares the assessment on F-35 transatlantic performance, as well as what’s in store for the Sikorsky division.
The F-35 takes to the skies at Farnborough –
Lockheed Martin’s F-35B showcased both speed and maneuverability during a display at the Farnborough Airshow, bolting across the skies before hovering above the crowd and doing a 360-degree rotation.
Raytheon eyes additional missions for Air Force trainer jet –
The U.S. Air Force is reportedly mulling the idea of using its new T-X jet trainer as an aggressor aircraft and even as a replacement for its A-10 Warthog aircraft, it emerged at the Farnborough air show July 12.
Lockheed lands first customer for armed Black Hawk –
Lockheed Martin has a first customer for its new armed Black Hawk design, and expects to have a base configuration certified by the end of the year.
Lockheed sees bright future for F-16V –
There might only be 15 F-16s remaining to be built at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility in Texas, but there is still a lot of life in the fighter, the company says.
Lockheed Martin looks to upgrade 500 in-service F-16s –
Lockheed Martin expects to upgrade 500 in-service F-16s to a new, AESA radar equipped, ‘F-16V’ format within seven years, after bagging orders for over 300 upgrades to date from South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.
Lockheed, Roketsan strengthen SOM-J missile pact –
Roketsan’s SOM-J cruise missile is on target to enter service with the Turkish air force’s future Lockheed Martin F-35As — and potentially those of other operators too – from the middle of the next decade, thanks to a strengthened relationship between the companies.
F-35C to conduct sea trials next month aboard USS George Washington –
The Navy’s F-35C will head back to the seas next month for the third round of developmental tests aboard the USS George Washington (CVN 73), the F-35 program executive officer said July 9.
Cybersecurity found lacking in U.S. Air Force’s troubled OCX program –
During the eight years Raytheon developed a new GPS control station, the company fell prey to one of the pitfalls that have plagued many acquisition programs throughout history, a key Air Force official said July 12.
Lockheed Martin unveils new armed Black Hawk –
Lockheed Martin has leveraged its Missiles and Fire Control division to develop, with its Sikorsky subsidiary, an armed version of the S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopter, which it launched at the Farnborough International Airshow 2016 during the week July 11-17.
Bell pitches naval variant of new tiltrotor attack chopper –
The V-280 Valor concept has the attention of Army brass, who are helping to fund its development through the Army’s Joint Multi-Role Demonstrator program as a solution for the Defense Department’s future vertical lift requirement. A full-sized demonstration model on display at the Farnborough International Airshow had Army designators on the side as an indication of the intended future customer.
Raytheon touts Patriot anti-missile performance in Yemen war –
Raytheon has claimed a Patriot anti-missile system used by Saudi Arabia has had a “100 percent success rate” in intercepting missile attacks by Yemeni rebels.
Merlin helicopters to fly from Queen Elizabeth in March 2017 –
The Royal Navy’s Merlin helicopters are to start flying from the decks of the U.K.’s new aircraft carrier by March 2017, a senior official said at the Farnborough air show July 12.
HAL, Safran in joint venture for helicopter engine support center –
India’s sole military aviation giant, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and Safran of France will form a dedicated joint venture company in Goa in southern India to create a helicopter engine support center aimed at domestic and worldwide needs.
U.S. Air Force considers expanded role for T-X –
The U.S. Air Force is considering expanding the scope of its T-X trainer requirement to include the role of an aggressor aircraft or potentially as a replacement for its Fairchild Dornier A-10 Warthogs.
Leonardo-Finmeccanica launches new dual role M-346FT –
Leonardo-Finmeccanica has launched a new dual role version of its M-346 jet trainer, which will be able to switch from training pilots to handling combat operations.
Leonardo lands tech deal to support Japan military –
Leonardo secured an export win for its Identification Friend or Foe technology in Japan. The news comes after another deal for the technology with the United Kingdom was announced.
U.K., Leonardo sign deal for unmanned helicopter tech –
Work on an unmanned rotor-wing technology demonstrator is set to get underway following the signing of a deal between Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s Helicopter Division and the British Ministry of Defence.
Embraer KC-390’s Farnborough Airshow debut –
Embraer’s new multi-mission transport aircraft, the KC-390, has made its maiden stop at the Farnborough Airshow. Still in the thick of flight testing, the aircraft is flying internationally for the first time on a summer tour of Europe and the Middle East.
U.S. Coast Guard shows off HC-27J –
The U.S. Coast Guard has brought its latest arrival to Farnborough, as it celebrates service entry of the HC-27J in style.
Thales-QinetiQ select Scorpion for U.K. training bid –
Thales and QinetiQ have signed an agreement granting them exclusive use of the Textron AirLand Scorpion jet for the U.K.’s upcoming Air Support to Defence Operational Training.
Royal Air Force mulls F-35A benefits as U.S. jets visit England –
The British public got its first taste of the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing aircraft purchased for the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy at an air show July 8, and it’s just possible they also got a glimpse of the next combat jet in line for purchase.
Defense
Pentagon resists Obama’s new plan to work with Russians in Syria –
The White House is pushing to cooperate with Putin’s forces in the fight against ISIS. But many in the U.S. military are saying: no way.
Pentagon chief seeks better use of U.S. forces in Afghanistan –
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said July 12 that the decision to give U.S. commanders more authority to work with Afghan troops and strike the Taliban will maximize the use and effectiveness of American forces in Afghanistan.
RIMPAC ships revolutionizing ways to bring forces inland from ocean –
The two sides of the Navy/Marine Corps amphibious coin — ship to shore via traditional watercraft and via aircraft such as the newer tilt-rotor Osprey — are a big focus of Rim of the Pacific exercises, and a growing interest for partner nations in the region.
The Army is testing genetically engineered spider silk for body armor –
Inserting spider DNA into silkworms yields a tough fabric that’s far more flexible than Kevlar.
Army merging electronic warfare into new cyber directorate –
The Army has disbanded its electronic warfare division, though this is not the end for its staff or electromagnetic spectrum capabilities. Instead, the Army will incorporate the EW division into a newly established cyber directorate at the Pentagon within the Army G-3/5/7, according to officials at Army headquarters.
Navy’s $12.9 billion carrier falls further behind schedule –
The USS Gerald R. Ford — the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier and the costliest U.S. warship at $12.9 billion — won’t be delivered until at least November, more than two years late.
U.S. Navy’s futuristic new weapons could be key to limiting a clash with China –
Lasers, railguns, and hi-velocity projectiles may let warships defend themselves without escalation.
Navy shipbuilding plan recommends $2 billion annual increase in fiscal 2018 –
The U.S. Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding plan projects spending increase to $16.8 billion in fiscal 2018 from $14.6 billion in fiscal 2017 if Congress restores funding to pre-sequestration levels.
Navy 30-year ship plan outlines SSBN incremental funding, pushes cruiser phased modernization –
The Navy released its 30-year shipbuilding plan to supplement the fiscal year 2017 budget request, which continues the service’s request to put its remaining cruisers into a phased modernization plan and notes the requirement for 52 small surface combatants despite Defense Secretary Ash Carter curtailing the program at 40 Littoral Combat Ships and frigates.
Veterans
House vets panel gets new ranking Democrat after lawmaker’s indictment –
The House Veterans Affairs Committee has a new ranking member after longtime Democratic Rep. Corinne Brown of Florida was forced to relinquish the leadership position after being charged in a criminal investigation.
Space & Technology
ESA backs revolutionary Sabre engine –
The European Space Agency has invested $11 million toward the development of an engine that could one day allow aircraft to fly anywhere in the world in just four hours.
Juno gets up close with Jupiter –
Juno’s visible-light camera was turned on six days after Juno fired its main engine and placed itself into orbit around the largest planetary inhabitant of our solar system.