News
Mattis: Budget uncertainty leads to questions of whether America ‘has the ability to survive’ –
Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis believes that years of budget uncertainty have left the U.S. military in such a precarious position that if it is not solved soon, it will represent an existential threat to American security.
The Russians just test-fired an ICBM –
Both Washington and Moscow are modernizing their nuclear arsenals, but military leaders worry that Russia is ahead.
Business
Leonardo DRS talks military tech at Modern Day Marine –
Military Times caught up with a systems engineer at the Leonardo DRS booth at the Modern Day Marine expo.
Mattis calls for closer ties with industry in ‘areas where it languished’ –
U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis wants to open lines of communication between industry and the Pentagon, in what he described as a common-sense approach to increasing lethality in the military.
Sikorsky offers HH-60U for Air Force Huey replacement program –
Sikorsky’s David Morgan explains why the company believes the HH-60U is the best choice for the U.S. Air Force’s Huey helicopter replacement program.
Meet the new Leonardo DRS program chief, and take a test flight –
As the T-X trainer program continues to dominate U.S. Air Force news, Defense News catches up with the competitors at the Air Force Association symposium. Among them, Leonardo DRS, whose new T-100 program chief, Marc Lindsley, shares his thoughts on the state of the competition, before allowing Defense News Executive Editor Jill Aitoro to take off in the simulator.
Lockheed Martin ready to hit the ground running –
Lockheed Martin’s Michael Griswold, director of T-50 business development, says the company is ready to go on Day One if selected for the U.S. Air Force’s T-X trainer program.
Defense firms to Air Force: Want your planes’ data? Pay up –
It may be years before Air Force leaders can scrounge up the funds to turn on diagnostic gear they already own.
Czech Defence Ministry eyes $5 billion land modernization program, $2B vehicle acquisition –
Local observers say the considered vehicles include the Ascod, which is offered by General Dynamics European Land Systems; BAE Systems’ CV90; Rheinmetall’s Lynx; and Puma, made by Germany’s KMW and Rheinmetall.
ATHENA laser testbed system successfully shoots down drones –
Lockheed Martin has successfully used a 30 kilowatt laser to bring down drones during tests in August.
L-3 to provide mortar fuzes for U.S. allies in Syria, Iraq –
L-3 Fuzing and Ordnance has received a $16.5 million modification to an existing contract for mortar fuses to be delivered to U.S. allies in Syria and Iraq.
Gripen Aggressor enters the fray in U.S. red air competition –
Saab is exploring the burgeoning red air market with its Gripen Aggressor, but the new adversary aircraft could face a tough competition against cheaper, former military jets.
No proof of bribery in Eurofighter deal: Austrian parliament report –
A parliamentary inquiry into Austria’s $2 billion Eurofighter deal found no indications of bribery or that Airbus and its partners illegally influenced Austrian politicians, according to the final report on the matter.
Meggitt touts small arms training systems –
Meggitt Training Systems is displaying its FATS 100ML and FATS 100P small-arms training systems at the Association of the U.S. Army Annual Meeting & Exposition.
Thailand to acquire Mk 54 lightweight torpedo array kits –
Northtrop Grumman has been awarded a $18.6 million contract to produce Mk 54 Mod 0 lightweight torpedo array kits for operators of the weapon including Thailand, according to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense Sept. 19.
Lockheed Martin wins F-15C IRST competition –
Lockheed Martin’s Legion Pod has been selected as the infrared search and track system for the U.S. Air Force’s Boeing F-15C fleet, according to a company statement.
Defense
Air Force could ground more than 100 A-10s as early as fiscal 2018 as life of wings runs out –
The Air Force may be forced to ground a portion of its A-10 Warthog squadrons as early as fiscal year 2018, as their wings age out before replacements can be provided, the head of Air Force Materiel Command said Sept. 20.
Air Force commanders in the Pacific, Europe turn to deterrence amid threats –
The U.S. military must continue to innovate and work on how it can project power to hot spots around the world, according to the top Air Force commander in the Pacific.
As space threats proliferate, intelligence integration will be critical –
The space forces within the U.S. Air Force are trying to leverage intelligence professionals to counter these threats and enable forces in future congested and contested operating environments.
Pentagon’s F-35 deep dive to drive lower costs on block buy deal –
The Pentagon’s director of defense pricing is helping the F-35 joint program office nail down a better deal on a block buy, according to the program head.
Air Force: We’re low on bombs because Congress can’t pass a budget –
It’s hard to persuade arms makers to boost production, even to fight ISIS, without cash on the barrelhead.
U.S. Air Force explores cloaking device for tankers –
The U.S. Air Force will next month unveil the results of a study into survivability gaps on its fleet of tankers and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, the service’s head of Air Mobility Command says.
Robotic snake can save airmen 29 hours of aircraft inspection time –
Snakes on a plane are bad news if you’re Samuel L. Jackson, but they’re good news if they can help fix an old airplane without having to tear it apart.
U.S. Army is developing robot resupply vehicles –
Soldiers with the Army’s 1st Armored Division wrapped up their latest training evolution showcasing the Army’s newest capabilities in autonomous resupply vehicles, according to an Army release.
Artillery soldiers airdrop, test new targeting system –
Artillery soldiers at Fort Bragg, N.C., recently conducted parachute jumps while testing a new targeting system for artillery and mortar call for fire missions.
GAO finds worsening trends in naval maintenance, readiness and training –
A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office on the U.S. Navy has found declining ship conditions and worsening trends in readiness as a result of shortened training periods, increased deployment lengths, and reduced or deferred maintenance for meeting high-operational demands.
Veterans
VA fires medical center director for the second time this year –
Veterans Affairs officials for the second time this year fired the director of the department’s medical center in the nation’s capitol, this time using new accountability measures passed by Congress this summer.