Textron Systems Aerosonde Hybrid Quad which will be participating in the Army Future Tactical Unmanned Aerial System Rodeo at Fort Benning, Georgia in March 2021. (Photo courtesy of Textron)
Textron Systems is preparing to show off its vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial system in an Army drone rodeo at Fort Benning, Georgia, for companies competing to replace the service’s RQ-7B…
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…
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 general in the Asia-Pacific region.
“I want to actually look at what options do we have,” Air Force Chief of Staff…
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…
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 the 1960s.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the decision to purchase new heavy-lift helicopters for the Air Force is a…
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…
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 sat on the stand listening to the hysterical 911 call she made in the moments after her husband, 42-year-old Nicholas Lile…