WASHINGTON — Since September, when the U.S. Air Force disclosed that it had flown a full-scale demonstrator of its future fighter, the defense community has been hungry for more details about the Next Generation Air Dominance program. And Air Force leaders have been loathe to provide them.
That’s what made unprompted comments by Air Combat Command head Gen. Mark Kelly so surprising during a…
Apache Helicopter Crash Injures Two Army Aviators
February 27, 2021
An AH-64 Apache helicopter hovers in front of the sun and conducts movement drills in Afghanistan. (U.S. Army/Sgt. Duncan Brennan)
An Army AH-64 Apache helicopter on a training flight crashed at Fort Rucker, Alabama, on Thursday, injuring the two aviators onboard.
The…
Top US Air Force general isn’t ready to buy E-7 Wedgetail just yet
February 27, 2021
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force’s top general wants to take a deliberative approach to replacing its aging E-3 airborne early warning and control planes. In other words, he isn’t ready to commit to the Boeing-made E-7 Wedgetail, despite support from the service’s top…
More missiles, dispersed forces are key to stopping Chinese invasion of Taiwan, says former US Navy official
February 27, 2021
MELBOURNE, Australia — The U.S. military needs to quickly deploy more anti-ship missiles capable of targeting invading forces heading to Taiwan, and ensure American assets within range of Chinese missiles are sufficiently dispersed or hardened against a preemptive strike.
At least that’s the recommendation made by Thomas Shugart, a former U.S. Navy submarine commander, during a Feb. 18…
Missile Defense Agency needs to get back to its advanced tech roots, top US general says
February 26, 2021
WASHINGTON — The Missile Defense Agency has drifted from an organization that researches and develops advanced technology toward one that focuses on procuring and sustaining fielded systems, but Gen. John Hyten, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wants the…
Israel chooses to buy Lockheed’s CH-53K over Boeing’s CH-47
February 26, 2021
JERUSALEM — Israel has decided to purchase Lockheed Martin’s CH-53K helicopter over the Boeing-made CH-47, the Defense Ministry announced Feb. 25.
The move is seen as essential for Israel, as its older CH-53 Sea Stallion “Yasur” helicopters have been in use since…
Lockheed Martin has a new F-35 sustainment proposal for the Pentagon that may improve readiness
February 25, 2021
WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin is pitching the Defense Department on a performance-based logistics contract for the F-35 joint strike fighter that company officials say will help improve the availability of spare parts and accelerate repair times.
The new proposal, which would run from 2022 to 2026, is a scaled down version of the more expansive proposal Lockheed floated in 2019. As such, the…
The first-ever World Defense Show in Saudi Arabia is a year away. Are event planners ready?
February 25, 2021
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabian Military Industries is the official strategic partner for the World Defense Show, a defense conference scheduled for an inaugural launch in March 2022 in Saudi Arabia, event organizers announced Monday.
Saudi Arabia’s…
(Getty Images)
CROWN POINT — The wife of a slain Navy veteran testified Tuesday their 165-pound dog didn’t give any indication her husband was in danger before he was fatally shot by a guest in their house earlier this year.
Jessika Lile broke down in tears as she…
The Lockheed-Aerojet deal hampers hypersonics
February 24, 2021
Recently, Lockheed Martin announced its intent to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne to create a vertically integrated company that would, in effect, corner the hypersonic propulsion market. For Lockheed. this may be a good idea. However, in defending America, other factors must be considered.
It would be wise for the Department of Defense and the Federal Trade Commission, which must approve the…
