Defense Daily :: Daily Air Force procurement, legislation, jobs, programs and operations news

U.S. Solid Rocket Motor Industry Capable But Needs Investment: Report

Thu, 9 Jul 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Calvin Biesecker Suppliers and contractors in the United States are capable of meeting the nation's needs for solid rocket motors (SRM) but challenges remain, including the need for increased public and private investment and waning research, development...

Defense Auth May Hit Senate This Week; Levin Predicts No Veto

Wed, 8 Jul 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford Senate debate on whether to keep funding in the Pentagon policy bill for aircraft efforts opposed by the Obama administration could start as soon as this week. While the multi-day debate of the fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill...

Brogan: Oskhosh Likely To Build All 5,244 M-ATVs Without Help

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford An official overseeing the purchase of new all-terrain mine-resistant trucks said yesterday he is "pretty confident" Oshkosh Corp. [OSK] will build all 5,244 planned vehicles over the next nine months without enlisting...

House, SASC Support F-22, F-35 Engine Buys Dubbed Veto Bait

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford The House and a Senate panel defied the White House yesterday and authorized adding money to the Pentagon's policy bill for F-22 fighter jets and a second engine program for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Yet the future of the two...

Abercrombie, Gates Clash On More F-22s, Tanker Split Buy

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford Congress will likely approve more F-22s than the Pentagon requested and also should intervene in the Air Force tanker contract's structure, the head of a congressional defense panel said yesterday morning. Defense Secretary Robert...

Senate Sends War Supplemental To White House

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford The Senate in a 91-5 vote last night granted final approval to a $106 billion supplemental war-funding bill that adds funding for cargo planes and armored vehicles to the Pentagon's request. President Obama is expected to sign the...

HASC Bill Backs Parts For More F-22s, Japan Export Study

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford Pushing back at the Pentagon's plans to shut down F-22 production after 187 jets, a House panel yesterday authorized the purchase of parts for 12 more aircraft and directed the Obama administration to study the feasibility of Japan buying...

HASC Rejects Missile Defense Adds In Defense Bill Markup

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) marked up the fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill yesterday, spending most of the daylight hours debating unsuccessful Republican attempts to restore missile-defense funding the Obama...

House Panels OK New Littoral Ship Cost Cap, F-35 Second Engine

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford House authorization panels recommended last Friday changing cost controls for Navy littoral ships, prodding the service to enter into multiyear contracts, and adding monies to the Pentagon's budget proposal to continue the Joint Strike...

Hill Panel Crafts Ship Plan As GOP Seeks DoD Ship, Aircraft Roadmaps

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford The head of a naval subcommittee in Congress said that while he understands the frustration of Republicans who want to compel the Pentagon to produce a shipbuilding plan, his panel is ready to propose its own ship rundown tomorrow. The...

Gates Repeats Flexibility On Missile Interceptors

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford Defense Secretary Robert Gates told senators yesterday he would support increasing the number of ground-based missile interceptors in the United States--despite the lack of funding for more in the Pentagon's budget proposal--if he is...

Bartlett Eyes JCA, Pres Helo Changes As HASC Markups Near

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford The lead Republican on a House panel preparing to craft its version of the defense budget voiced concern yesterday about the Pentagon's proposed changes to the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program, yet predicted few changes to the...

SOCOM: Precision Fire Need Fuels Modified Gunship Plan

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is seeking funding to quickly convert up to a dozen MC-130W Combat Spear support-and-tanker planes to gunships partly because of the need for more precision firepower in Afghanistan, a senior...

Delayed Supp Includes All C-17s, Some C-130Js And Strykers House Wanted

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford Though House-Senate negotiations on the supplemental war-funding bill have slowed, the two sides have agreed to including funding for eight C-17 cargo planes and some but not all of the C-130J transport aircraft and Stryker vehicles...

Tanker Source-Selection Authority Still With SecDef's Office

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford The Pentagon still has control of the aerial-refueling tanker replacement effort and a decision on whether to transfer source-selection authority back to the Air Force does not need to be made before aircraft's solicitation debuts, a...

Boeing Submits CANES C4I Proposal to US Navy

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

Boeing [BA] earlier this week submitted its proposal to develop the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) program for the Navy, the company reported. Responses to the request for proposals (RFP), which went out April 2, were due...

Guard Bureau Chief Keeps Close Tabs On JCA Talks Amid Sherpa Concerns

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford The head of the National Guard Bureau said yesterday he is eager to learn how new plans being hashed out for the C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) will impact his needs for equipment including a new small-transport aircraft. Air Force Gen...

Schwartz Sees 38 Joint Cargo Aircrafts As 'Floor'

Fri, 22 May 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Emelie Rutherford The Air Force's top officer said yesterday the number of C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) could be increased above the 38 airplanes proposed in the Pentagon's budget, but predicted the program's transfer to the Air Force will not change...

Air Force Chief Wants Faster F-35 Buy

Wed, 20 May 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Marina Malenic The Air Force would prefer a more rapid production rate for the F-35 LIGHTNING II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) to boost its tactical aircraft fleet before fourth-generation fighter jets begin retiring in large numbers, the service's top...

'No Major Change In Demand Signal' For Airlift, Schwartz Says

Fri, 15 May 2009 0:00:00 EDT

By Marina Malenic The Air Force's top officer does not expect a forthcoming study on the Defense Department's airlift capacity to indicate any changes in the overall need for the capability. "The anticipation is that the new mobility capability study for...