News
The next president’s military: Here’s a comparison of the candidates’ priorities –
Troops and veterans voting in the presidential election this fall won’t just be picking their choice for commander in chief, they’ll also be choosing which political party sets the agenda on military issues for the next four years.
Business
BAE: Brexit vote will have no short-term impact on revenue –
BAE Systems said though it expects some uncertainty as a result of the UK’s decision to exit the European Union, there’s no sign the vote will have a short-term impact on its business. The company’s statement comes as it rolls out first-half results that show a small rise in revenues compared to 2015.
Booze Allen to support Navy IT services –
Booz Allen Hamilton has been awarded a $13.2 million contract option for Navy IT services.
Raytheon awarded DARPA sensor contract –
Raytheon has been awarded two DARPA contracts to link different aircraft with different sensor suites.
Air Force kicks off competitions for two critical nuclear programs –
The Air Force moved ahead with two critical nuclear modernization programs July 29, releasing requests for proposals for its intercontinental ballistic missile replacement and a nuclear cruise missile.
MDA to name industry teams for laser UAV demo this fall –
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s longtime pursuit of laser weapons for shooting down ballistic missiles as they launch will receive another jolt of energy this fall, when the organization selects two flying testbed aircraft to carry its low-power laser demonstrator program into the stratosphere.
Poland seeks bilateral agreements to grow defense industry –
Poland is focused on developing bilateral relations with other European nations in order to grow its domestic defense industry, according to Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz.
The future of India’s defense exports –
Can India reach its ambitious target of exporting $2 billion in defense technology per year?
Defense
U.S. to return land to Japan used for jungle training –
The U.S. military will return 4,000 hectares (15.4 square miles) of land in Okinawa back to the Japanese government, reducing the amount of land administered by the U.S. military by 17 percent, according to a news release issued by the Public Affairs Office at Yokota Air Base, Japan, July 29.
Joint Force 2035: Lasers, biotech and global instability –
The U.S. military of 2035 will have to deal with the breakdown of global norms, the proliferation of dangerous technologies via the commercial sector, and hypersonic weaponry, according to a recent document issued by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
What’s hindering missile defense R&D? A lot –
According to a new report, the Missile Defense Agency is facing several challenges squeezing research and development, including numerous new responsibilities beyond its original scope.
The F-35 is so stealthy, it produced training challenges, pilot says –
The F-35 Lightning II is so stealthy, pilots are facing an unusual challenge. They’re having difficulty participating in some types of training exercises, a squadron commander told reporters July 27.
It could be years before billion-dollar war toy F-35 is ready for combat –
Don’t get too excited about the U.S. Air Force possibly declaring the long-delayed F-35 fighter jet ready for combat—if history is any guide, it won’t be sent into a fight for years.
MDA needs to fund more research into new technologies, ex-director says –
The Missile Defense Agency is facing a budget shortfall that could jeopardize research into next generation technology, a retired Air Force general said July 29.
U.S. Bomber Force preparing computer-killing HPM cruise missiles –
The next time U.S. bombers are called into action against a major regional power, their open salvo of cruise missiles might include a new breed of microwave-energy weapon designed to systematically fry electronic devices such as computers, radars and radios.
Top Marine aviator: F-35B is ready for war –
The F-35B is “ready to go right now” if it is needed to fly combat missions, the head of Marine Aviation told reporters July 29.
Veterans
Activists work to reduce veteran suicides –
Barry Willever, of the Vietnam Veterans of America, said PTSD is not a condition specific to a specific war or a specific age group. Veterans of the Vietnam War, he said, are often reluctant to talk about the trauma they experienced because the public reacted so negatively to that war. Now the organization is working to ensure no veteran returns from serving his or her country without a “thank you” and the services needed to get them through.
Space & Technology
Revealing some of the strangest aircraft the skies have ever seen –
Some look like spaceships, others leave you wondering how they ever got off the ground.