News:
U.S., Japanese naval forces stage show of strength –
Japan and the United States staged a naval show of strength off Tokyo Bay Oct. 18 as they flashed a pair of powerful, flat-deck warships perhaps just days before the U.S. Navy plans to challenge disputed Chinese claims to territory in the nearby South China Sea.
Business:
GPS ground stations running late put Raytheon’s role at risk –
Raytheon risks being replaced as prime contractor for new ground stations to communicate with the U.S. Air Force’s GPS satellites because the project’s cost has more than doubled and its delivery date has slipped, according to Pentagon officials.
Industry breathes new life into technology through innovation –
Defense contractors at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference last week showed how they are breathing new life into already proven and fielded technology.
Pentagon agency handled record foreign arms sales in 2015 –
One key indicator of the health of the US aerospace and defense sector, foreign military sales, rose to a record high of $46.6 billion for fiscal 2015, but U.S. officials are warning of a dip in sales next year.
MOPping up: The USA’s 30,000-pound GBU-57 bomb –
Boeing’s GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator will undergo a second phase redesign, known as the Enhanced Threat Reduction IV, with a contract anticipated soon.
Companies irked by how Socom awards contracts –
A series of protests and lawsuits has bogged down a $1.5 billion U.S. Special Operations Command program designed to maximize competition and improve performance of contracts for a broad array of services, training and support.
Domestic firm shares $1 billion Indian gun tender with Korean partner –
In a major boost to India’s private sector, Larsen & Toubro, jointly with South Korea’s Samsung Techwin, beat Russia’s Rosoboronexport in the Indian Army’s $1 billion tender for a 155mm howitzer gun.
Lockheed, U.S. Air Force reach agreement on C-130 multiyear deal –
Lockheed Martin Oct. 17 said it had reached a verbal agreement with the U.S. Air Force on a five-year contract to build up to 83 C-130J Super Hercules transport planes for the Air Force, Coast Guard and Marine Corps through 2020.
Meet America’s THAAD: One of the world’s most advanced missile-defense systems that has China spooked –
In a conflict with either country, South Korea would benefit from the potential U.S. deployment of Lockheed Martin’s Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the country.
Onera explores Mach-8 missile engine technology –
Onera, which bills itself as the French aerospace lab, is exploring engine technology to fly a missile at Mach 8 and beyond, as France seeks a new-generation hypersonic system to replace its current stock of supersonic nuclear-tipped airborne weapons.
CRV to be (Australia) “Army’s F-35” –
The Australian Army’s new Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle will be a technological advance akin to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to Northrop Grumman Australia’s director for strategy and business development, Jim Bancroft.
Oshkosh debuts M-ATV 6X6 at AUSA –
Oshkosh Defense debuted its Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected All-Terrain Vehicle 6×6 at the Association of the US Army’s annual exposition, a technology demonstrator vehicle that provides protection and off-road capability at about half the cost of a wheeled armored personnel carrier, John Bryant, Oshkosh senior vice president for defense programs, said.
New Zealand Issues RFP for Hercules Sim Training –
The Royal New Zealand Air Force Oct. 16 issued a request for proposals for the provision of simulator training for its C-130H(NZ) Hercules personnel.
Bahrain not planning to buy Israeli anti-missile system –
The Minister of Information Affairs and Minister of Representatives’ and Shura Council Affairs Isa Abdulrahman Al Hammadi said the report by Fox News quoting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about an Iron Dome anti-missile system was not true.
Boeing mulls assembling either Apache or Chinook helicopter in India –
American aviation giant Boeing today said it plans to assemble either its Chinook heavy-lift helicopters or Apache attack choppers in India even as it gears to offer the possibility of manufacturing a fighter jet aircraft in the country.
Italy blocks Indian application to MTCR –
Italy has blocked India’s application to join a key missile and UAV technology control committee in protest of India’s arrest of two Italian Marines suspected of shooting dead Indian fishermen.
Defense:
In defense bill battle, military pay and benefits are casualties –
Military advocates lost on almost every big benefits fight they waged in the legislative run-up to the fiscal 2016 defense authorization bill.
U.S. Army plans for more equipment caches in Europe –
The U.S. Army is planning to set up more equipment caches — known as activity sets — in Europe as nerves continue to fray over Russia’s incursion into Ukraine, putting eastern countries, particularly with ethnic ties to Russia, on alert.
Budget uncertainty dampens promising procurement –
At the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual convention last week, the Army affirmed its commitment to several nearer-term vehicle procurement efforts and buying a future helicopter in the 2030s.
Expanded risk of neck damage to F-35 pilots –
Weeks after Defense News revealed that the military services has restricted lightweight pilots from flying the F-35 joint strike fighter, the US Air Force officially acknowledged an increased risk of neck damage during ejection to middleweight pilots as well.
Veterans:
Vets dismayed by VA payback rules on separation pay –
Stephen, a Marine Corps staff sergeant, agreed to leave the Corps a few years ago with “voluntary separation pay” when his service was drawing down. Little did he know he’d end up having to pay it back to the government.