DoD Buzz

BAE Calls F-16 Upgrade Push ‘Logical Step’

Brendan McGarry — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:41:16 +0000

The competition to upgrade foreign fleets of Lockheed Martin-made F-16 fighter jets is heating up, with BAE Systems and Boeing seeking to challenge Lockheed for the work. Next up may be Singapore.

Boeing and Embraer Partner to Sell KC-390

Michael Hoffman — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:40:47 +0000

Brazilian and U.S. defense firms sign agreement as Boeing denies any motivations to improve it's case to sell Super Hornets to Brazilian air force.

JLTV on Track Despite Sequestration

Kris Osborn — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:47:29 +0000

The Army remains on schedule to deliver a LRIP contract award in 2015.

Controversial M-17 Sale for Afghans Remains Undecided

Michael Hoffman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:45:45 +0000

Russian defense firm which maintains partnership with Syria continues negotiations for sale of helicopters to Afghan air force through U.S. Army.

Air Force S&T targets speed, guided weapons

Kris Osborn — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:21:56 +0000

Air Force scientists want to beef up bunker-buster type munitions such as the current GBU-28 to go after deeper, more fortified enemy targets.

Beechcraft Pursues New Buyers for AT-6

Michael Hoffman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:16:27 +0000

Stung by U.S. Air Force decision to pick Embraer's Super Tucanos, Beechcraft looks to move on.

Navy Order Seen Boosting Foreign Osprey Sales

Richard Sisk — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:14:07 +0000

A multi-billion-dollar purchase of Ospreys by the Navy may generate more international sales of the aircraft, despite its poor safety record in the past.

Poland to Pick Helo Supplier in $3 Billion Deal

Brendan McGarry — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:07:49 +0000

The contest has drawn bids from three industry teams, including Sikorsky, and represents one of the bright spots in the military rotorcraft market, which is poised for a downturn.

Navy to Buy 99 Ospreys in $6.5 Billion Order

Richard Sisk — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:40:31 +0000

The deal is likely to cement the aircraft's place in the U.S. military's long-term fleet and spur additional sales from international buyers.

Boeing Wins $4 Billion, Five-Year Chinook Deal

Brendan McGarry — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:04:59 +0000

The contract will bring the U.S. Army close to its goal of having an inventory of 464 F-models, the latest version of the aircraft and designed for service through 2030.

Benning Teams with University to Study Free-Flying UAS

Matthew Cox — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:48:48 +0000

The service joined with Georgia Tech to study how unmanned systems can fly together in groups without human involvement, a concept known as "swarming."

Lawmaker: Panel Ignored ‘Elephant in the Room’

Brendan McGarry — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 17:24:55 +0000

Automatic budget cuts remain on the books, yet lawmakers reject an attempt designed to give the Pentagon more flexibility in dealing with them.

Navy Scuttles All-Cap Messages

Richard Sisk — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:30:55 +0000

WE DON’T HAVE TO SEND MESSAGES THIS WAY ANYMORE, the Navy has decided.

Panel Ignores Pleas to Reform Defense Budget

Brendan McGarry — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:01:21 +0000

Congress continues to tackle the budgeting process while hoping that the cuts associated with sequestration go away.

Green Energy Deal Tops $23 Billion in May Awards

Brendan McGarry — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 16:03:07 +0000

The Defense Department wants to derive 3 gigawatts of power -- enough to power about 750,000 homes -- from alternative sources such as solar, wind, biomass and geothermal by 2025.

Navy Makes $6 Billion Multi-Year Destroyer Buy

Kris Osborn — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 04:40:15 +0000

The U.S. Navy has ordered up to 10 new DDG 51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers through a new $6.1 billion multi-year procurement deal, service officials said June 3. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW) was awarded a $2.8 billion contract for the design and construction of four DDG 51 class ships. One of the destroyers will be [...]

Pentagon: F-35 Operational Flights to Start in 2015

Brendan McGarry — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:44:15 +0000

The schedule has been delayed by about three years due in part to problems developing the Lockheed Martin Corp.-made aircraft and its software.

Senator to Obama: Warn China on Cyber Theft

Brendan McGarry — Thu, 30 May 2013 22:40:45 +0000

The letter comes amid revelations that cyber spies from China compromised more than two dozen of the Pentagon's most advanced weapons systems, from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System.

LCS Forges Common IT Backbone

Kris Osborn — Thu, 30 May 2013 17:01:32 +0000

LCS developers look to save money and offer more flexibility to commanders by setting common IT standards even with the different hulls. common standards

Marine Corps Speeds Up F-35B Development

Michael Hoffman — Wed, 29 May 2013 21:29:30 +0000

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos follows the Air Force in saying the IOC date for F-35 will be 2015.