DefenseNews

V-22 Osprey: Investigation into Safety and Oversight

June 13, 2024
A House Oversight Committee panel that is investigating the safety and oversight of the V-22 Osprey aircraft following a string of fatal crashes has not received critical data or accident reports that its members requested months ago, two committee staffers told The Associated Press. The aircraft, subject of a hearing Wednesday, has faced safety, maintenance and reliability issues for decades…
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DefenseNews

Air Force, Space Force unveil tool for AI experimentation

June 11, 2024
The Air Force and Space Force launched a generative AI tool on Monday, encouraging airmen and guardians to experiment with using the technology for tasks like summarizing reports, IT assistance and coding. The services want to use the tool, which it’s calling the…
DefenseNews

Italian Navy starts doling out money for sub-sea drone technologies

June 11, 2024
ROME — Italy’s bid to master underwater drone technology has taken a step forward as local firms team up to respond to series of sub-sea Navy tenders, although an industry spokesman has said investment still needs a big boost. Firms including Fincantieri, Leonardo and civil energy company Saipem are forming groups to give joint responses to four Navy tenders seeking cutting edge undersea…
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DefenseNews

Firefly inks deal with Lockheed to launch up to 25 missions

June 7, 2024
Lockheed Martin selected Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket to fly as many as 25 missions for the defense contractor through 2029. The deal, announced June 5, commits Lockheed to 15 launch reservations and up to 10 optional missions. “The Firefly team has scaled up Alpha…
DefenseNews

Defense spending bill forces Israel arms transfers, nixes Ukraine aid

June 6, 2024
The House defense spending panel on Wednesday advanced the first draft of its annual Pentagon funding bill over objections from Democrats, who cited a provision that would block the president’s authority to withhold arms transfers to Israel and a lack of security assistance for Ukraine, among other partisan provisions. The $833 billion defense appropriations bill for fiscal 2025 would bar the…
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DefenseNews

Proposed House spending bill would add more F-35s

June 5, 2024
A proposed defense spending bill the House of Representatives released Tuesday would fund eight more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters in fiscal 2025 than the military originally planned. The Pentagon’s budget request earlier this year included money to buy 68 F-35s — 42 F-35As…
DefenseNews

DIU, Air Force pick four firms to prototype modular testing drone

June 4, 2024
The Defense Department has selected four companies to develop prototypes of a modular drone that can be used to test payloads, sensors and other technology, and be produced at high rates at an affordable cost. Anduril Industries, Integrated Solutions for Systems Inc., Leidos Dynetics, and Zone 5 Technologies will develop prototypes for the Enterprise Test Vehicle project, the Air Force Armament…
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