DefenseNews

US Air Force reports lower B-21 costs after negotiations with Northrop

The Air Force is seeing the unit cost of the B-21 Raider, its next stealth bomber, come down after negotiations with manufacturer Northrop Grumman, the service’s secretary said Tuesday. Frank Kendall told the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on defense the cost decline shows the negotiations are “going in the right direction.” He declined to discuss upcoming milestones for the B-21 in the…
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DefenseNews

Saildrone, Thales collaborating on sub-sensing unmanned surface vessel

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Two defense companies separated by vast stretches of water are collaborating on drone boats capable of spotting submarines. U.S.-based Saildrone and Thales Australia, a division of France-based Thales Group, on April 8 said they would outfit the former’s Surveyor unmanned surface vessels with the latter’s BlueSentry towed arrays capable of detecting and classifying…
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DefenseNews

Navy looks to shake up traditional carrier strike group model

When the destroyers The Sullivans and Delbert D. Black deployed in the fall to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, they joined the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group that was already well into its cruise. The warships’ arrivals were part of an experiment the Navy is currently…
DefenseNews

Ursa Major to build rocket motor prototype for US Navy

The Navy awarded propulsion company Ursa Major a contract to prototype and test a solid rocket-motor for the service’s Standard Missile program. Under the deal — part of the Naval Energetics Systems and Technologies program — the Denver-based firm will develop a new…
DefenseNews

Epirus directed energy to face off against vessels in US Navy testing

Defense contractor Epirus said its directed-energy weaponry will be tested against small vessels in an upcoming U.S. Navy experiment. The company’s Leonidas technology, which pumps out waves of energy capable of frying electronics, will be used in the 2024 Advanced Naval Technology Exercise-Coastal Trident, or ANTX-CT24, according to an April 4 announcement. The trials will examine how…
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Anduril to supply robotic combat vehicle software to US Army

The U.S. Army and Defense Innovation Unit selected Anduril Industries to develop a software framework thought foundational to testing and deploying future robotic combat vehicle payloads. The company announced the deal April 3 without providing details about contract length.
DefenseNews

UK expects ‘short-term’ delays in F-35 deliveries

LONDON — Britain’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed that software-update problems in the F-35 program will hit aircraft deliveries, though a key official said the delay is unlikely to affect the timing for proclaiming the fleet fully operationally capable next year. “We are aware of the current short-term delays to U.K. aircraft deliveries,” Procurement Minister James Cartlidge wrote in a…
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