News
Ukraine has lost 60 aircraft, taken down 70 in Russian invasion, Hecker says
Ukraine has lost roughly 60 aircraft so far since Russia’s renewed invasion of the country in February 2022, while the Russians have lost 70, according to the top U.S. Air Force commander for Europe.
How Russia uses US military veterans in its propaganda war against Ukraine
John David McIntyre served in the U.S. Army for little more than two years.
Business
Lockheed Martin resumes F-35 flights with engine vibration fix in hand
Lockheed Martin on March 6 morning resumed conducting acceptance flights of newly built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, nearly three months after an engine problem grounded new jets and halted deliveries.
Pentagon, Pratt finalize F-35 lot 15-17 engine deal
The agreement started as an undefinitized contract action in June 2022. Pratt & Whitney says the total value could reach as high as $8 billion.
Elbit announces howitzer, artillery system deals in Europe
Israeli defense company Elbit Systems has announced several deals in Europe this month, including a $119 million sale of ATMOS truck-mounted howitzers and a $133 million contract for PULS artillery rocket systems.
US nuclear bases to get security networking upgrade from Persistent
The U.S. Air Force tapped communications-technology company Persistent Systems to provide seamless networking for security operations at the nation’s three intercontinental ballistic missile bases in a contract worth nearly $76 million.
Oshkosh files protest over Army’s light tactical vehicle award
Incumbent Oshkosh Defense on March 6 filed a protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office over the U.S. Army’s decision to award AM General a contract to build the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
Defense
Preparing for Russia: Inside NATO fighter pilot training in Texas
More than 5,000 miles from NATO’s eastern flank, a new generation of allied fighter pilots is coming of age in North Texas.
First lateral entrants could join the Marine Corps within months
Marine officials underscored that lateral entry will not be a way for people to bypass Officer Candidates School or boot camp.
Army weighs changes to Futures Command modernization teams
U.S. Army Futures Command will spend the next three months reviewing whether its signature Cross-Functional Teams should remain in place, Gen. James Rainey, the command’s new chief, said March 3.
The Reaper UAV is getting its own drone swarm
Air Force special operators are rigging the venerable uncrewed aircraft with an ISR swarm that may take just one person to control.
Air Force slashes ‘bridge tanker’ buy, sets deadline for clean-sheet aerial refueler
Stealthy new tanker jet should arrive in the 2030s, service’s top weapons buyer says.
Veterans
Two soldiers killed in Korean War accounted for
Two soldiers who were killed during the Korean War have been accounted for, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.