News
Trump Chooses H.R. McMaster as National Security Adviser –
President Trump picked Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, a widely respected military strategist, as his new national security adviser on Monday, calling him “a man of tremendous talent and tremendous experience.”
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis: U.S. will stay in Iraq a while –
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Monday he believes U.S. forces will be in Iraq and in the fight against Islamic State militants for a while, despite some rocky times between the two nations.
Business
Underwater drones, border sensors are growth areas for Gulf nations –
As the global defense industry swarms to the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi, analysts are predicting that local threats from Iran and Yemen will keep the defense dollars flowing in 2017.
Airbus denies fraud allegations over Eurofighter Typhoon deal –
Airbus has denied Austria’s accusation of alleged fraud on a 2003 order worth €1.96 billion (US $2.08 billion) for 15 Eurofighter Typhoon jets.
Trump flirting with big Super Hornet order –
At the rollout of Boeing’s newest commercial airliner, President Donald Trump indicated his administration could be looking at a large Super Hornet order. Huge, even.
Air Force official cautions against increasing F-35 buy rate –
A sharp hike in the number of F-35As purchased in the near term could increase the overall price of the program, a U.S. Air Force official warned Congress Feb. 16.
Ukrainian company debuts tank-busting unmanned ground vehicle –
Ukraine’s SpetsTechnoExport is trying its hand at arming an unmanned ground vehicle, debuting its Fantom vehicle with an anti-tank missile system called Barrier.
NIMR flexes manufacturing might in UAE; unveils newer, nimbler combat vehicles –
Leadership at the Abu Dhabi International Defense Exhibition announced — among a variety of deals made by the United Arab Emirates on the first day of the show — that NIMR Automotive would manufacture several hundred 8×8 armored vehicles for the country’s armed forces.
Norway’s defense sector seeks lift through submarine deal with ThyssenKrupp –
The industrial-cooperation dimension of Norway’s recent submarine acquisition deal with Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has emerged as one of the first major visible signs of the Norwegian government’s strengthened industry-support policy at work.
Harris to provide spare radio parts to Defense Logistics Agency, Army –
Harris Corp. has been awarded a $403 million contract for radio parts.
Turkish Otokar wins deal with UAE to build amphibious armored vehicles –
Turkish company Otokar won a deal worth $661 million to build Arma 8×8 amphibious armored infantry vehicles for the United Arab Emirates land forces.
Russia’s Rostec to co-develop 5th-gen fighter with UAE –
Russia defense heavyweight Rostec will partner with the UAE Ministry of Defence to co-develop a fifth-generation light combat fighter, company CEO Sergey Chemezov said at IDEX in Abu Dhabi Feb. 20.
China boosts arms exports by 74 percent, while cutting reliance on outside providers, report finds –
China has become less dependent on arms import over the past five years due to increased military capabilities at home, while boosting its own exports by 74 per cent, according to a report released Feb. 20.
Russia, UAE to discuss upgrade of Pantsyr-S antiaircraft missile/gun systems –
Russia and the United Arab Emirates plan to discuss the upgrade of Pantsyr-S short to medium range antiaircraft missile/gun systems earlier supplied to UAE, Russia’s Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said Feb. 20.
Russia signs large contract on delivery of T-90MS main battle tanks to Middle East –
Russia has signed a large contact on the delivery of T-90MS main battle tanks to a Middle East country and plans to close a deal with another foreign customer soon, Russia’s Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said Feb. 20.
Polaris unveils two-seat diesel MRZR-D2 –
Polaris Feb. 20 unveiled an MRZR-D2 two-seat diesel engine version of the baseline MRZR all-terrain vehicle.
IDEX 2017: EDePro targets Hornet at rotary-wing UAV market –
Serbia’s EDePro is developing a lightweight rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the X-01 Strsljen (Hornet).
IDEX 2017: China develops SR7 rocket launcher –
China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) has expanded its family of multiple-rocket launchers (MRLs) with the development of the SR7.
F-35C needs new outer wings to carry AIM-9X –
The head of the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) says the outer wings of 32 carrier-based C-models need to be replaced to carry the Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder.
How often does the F-35 need to refuel? –
A recent, lengthy journey by U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs traveling from Arizona to Japan has sparked a quiet debate within the Pentagon about how often the stealthy fighter needs to refuel.
Defense
Mattis to decide soon on U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan –
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he plans to make some decisions soon on whether to recommend an increase in the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and whether the totals should be based on military requirements rather than pre-set limits.
Army is offering two-year contracts and cash bonuses to grow the Army –
The U.S. Army is offering bonuses worth up to $40,000 or enlistment contracts as short as two years as it tries to recruit 6,000 more soldiers this year than it had planned.
U.S. Navy test fires Trident missile as tensions heat up with Russia and North Korea –
The U.S. Navy announced Feb. 16 it had conducted a test launch of its Trident II D5 missile from an Ohio class ballistic missile submarine assigned to Submarine Group 9, out of Bangor, Wash.
Veterans
Drugs vanish at some VA hospitals –
Federal authorities are stepping up investigations at Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers due to a sharp increase in opioid theft, missing prescriptions or unauthorized drug use by VA employees since 2009, according to government data obtained by The Associated Press.
Space
SpaceX pushes back sending Dragon capsule to red planet –
The Red Dragon is a precursor for SpaceX’s ambitious Mars plans, which company founder Elon Musk unveiled at the International Astronautical Congress in Mexico in September.