News
U.S. sending 615 new forces to Iraq –
The Pentagon is sending the troops to help bolster local forces as they prepare to invade the Islamic State group’s stronghold in Mosul.
Budget deal avoids government shutdown, finalizes next year’s VA budget –
Congress averted a government shutdown with a rushed budget deal that also settles the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction budget for all of fiscal 2017.
Business
India’s BEL eyes missile integration market –
BEL is establishing a Defence Systems Integration Complex at Palasamudram in Andhra Pradesh in southern India with an investment of more than $120 million, which will be country’s largest missile systems integration facility.
White House approves jet sales to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait –
The package reportedly includes 72 Boeing F-15E Strike Eagles for Qatar and up to 40 Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets for Kuwait. Bahrain’s package includes Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters.
Airbus Helicopters hands over first Mexican Panther MBe –
At the request of the navy, the aircraft has been delivered nine months ahead of schedule – a development which will ensure that all its new rotorcraft will be handed over ahead of a presidential change in Mexico in December 2018.
JLTV to provide more open and flexible C4 design –
Oshkosh will begin delivering its first Joint Light Tactical Vehicles to the U.S. Army this week, introducing a design that could better enable upgrading to the latest technologies, now and in the future.
Marine Corps orders radars from Northrop –
Northrop Grumman has been awarded a Marine Corps radar contract.
ViaSat awarded anti-jam contract –
ViaSat has been awarded a $33.3 million Air Force contract for anti-jam satellite technology.
ADAS 2016: Saab targets Gripen at Philippines –
Saab is to open an office in Manila by the end of 2016 to support the company’s campaign to sell its JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft to the Philippine Air Force, an official from the Swedish company told I HS Jane’s Sept. 28.
ADAS 2016: Leonardo Helicopters positions for growth in Asia Pacific with emphasis on training support –
Leonardo Helicopters is touting the company’s track record of providing support and training for nascent helicopter units as the company’s unique differentiator.
Link 16 modernization to improve Air Force airborne networking –
BAE Systems sees opportunity to fill gaps in the U.S. Air Force’s future battle network.
Defense
U.S. defense researchers concerned over age of facilities, personnel retention –
Maintaining modern research facilities is important to keeping and attracting quality engineers and scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory, its acting director told the House Armed Services Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee.
How to get F-35s, F-22s talking to fourth-generation fighters –
As fifth-generation aircraft such as the F-35 begin to come online, bringing with them advanced sensors and data fusion capability, the U.S. Air Force is looking for a way to build a battlefield communications network that will allow fighter jets of different generations to share a common picture.
GBSD: The biggest operational test program ever? –
The test and evaluation process for the Air Force’s next-generation intercontinental ballistic missile could be the biggest ever, even larger and more expensive than the F-35, an official at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., said.
Army must prioritize close-combat capability –
There’s no doubt in the Army’s Capability Integration Center chief’s mind that the Army must hone its close-combat skills, even as some have suggested America will fight future wars from a safe distance using mostly long-range strike weapons.
Marines on hunt for a ship-to-shore game-changer –
On the heels of two land wars and with the prospect of conflict with a peer or near-peer global power closer than it has been in decades, innovation is the watchword for the Marine Corps.
Veterans
Congress approves fertility services for wounded veterans but no funding –
The bill includes the language that allows the VA to provide in vitro fertilization treatments and other reproductive services but does not include the $88 million Sen. Patty Murray had pushed for to fund the benefit.
Privatizing veterans care moves from campaign trail to House resolution –
A key Democrat wants to bring the presidential campaign fight over veteran’s health care to the House floor, offering a resolution Sept. 28 that opposes the privatization of Veterans Affairs programs.
Space
Spacecraft ends its historic 12-year mission –
Scientists at the European Space Agency set the Rosetta orbiter on a collision course with the rubber duck-shaped chunk of ice and dust yesterday.