DefenseNews

Electronic attack system to provide Navy more capabilities, flexible options

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s ship-based electronic countermeasure system will provide an unlimited supply of ammunition against incoming threats, allowing the service to be more dynamic, and will open up new concepts for other capabilities, the system’s contractor said. The Block III of the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, or SEWIP, provides ships a non-kinetic, electronic…
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DefenseNews

Defense top line ‘will probably go up’: Key Dems see GOP boost as path to a deal

WASHINGTON ― Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed says the defense top line “will probably go up” to win Republican support on the path to a budget deal for fiscal 2022 ― and some other key Democrats on defense matters grudgingly say the same. The comments came days after Reed’s panel unveiled plans for a $740 billion defense authorization bill which includes billions more in…
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DefenseNews

US has ‘no plans right now’ to increase LCS presence in Singapore, says Navy chief

MELBOURNE, Australia — The U.S. Navy no longer has concrete plans to increase the number of littoral combat ships deploying to the Indo-Pacific region on a rotational basis, the chief of naval operations has confirmed. Speaking to reporters at a virtual media roundtable while visiting Singapore, CNO Adm. Mike Gilday said that “there are no plans right now to actually increase the numbers…
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DefenseNews

Kendall confirmed as Air Force secretary after senators lift procedural holds

WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed former Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall to be the 26th Air Force secretary in a voice vote Monday, after defense officials assuaged the concerns of multiple lawmakers who were blocking the nominee’s path forward. Kendall will take over as the top civilian overseeing the Air Force and Space Force, potentially as soon as Tuesday. The Army veteran who…
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