DefenseNews

Counter-drone missile competition possible in 2025, Army officials say

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The U.S. Army is considering holding a competition in fiscal 2025 for a next-generation interceptor to take out threats from unmanned aerial systems, Brig. Gen. Frank Lozano, program executive officer for missiles and space, told an audience Aug. 6 at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium. The Army uses its Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile…
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DefenseNews

Boeing on track to break PAC-3 Missile seeker annual production record

In the quest to ramp up Patriot missile production this year in the U.S., Boeing is on track to break its annual seeker production record, the company announced Aug. 6. “In the first half of the year, the program has surpassed its previous three- and six-month rolling PAC-3 seeker production records,” a company statement notes. “The program is also on pace to break its annual seeker…
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DefenseNews

Air Force weighs options to make up for B-52 cost, schedule breaches

DAYTON, Ohio—The Air Force is working to make up for schedule delays and cost overruns on two central components of its plan to keep the B-52 flying into the 2060s. The 1960s-era B-52, whose missions have ranged from nuclear alert during the Cold War to precision strikes against the Taliban, is the workhorse of the Air Force’s bomber fleet. The service is undergoing a $48 billion overhaul to…
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DefenseNews

Boeing names aerospace veteran Kelly Ortberg as new CEO

Boeing named a longtime aerospace industry veteran on Wednesday as its next chief executive, who will take over a company that has been rocked by legal, regulatory and production problems. Robert “Kelly” Ortberg, a former CEO at Boeing supplier Rockwell Collins, will…
DefenseNews

Boeing’s KC-46 has a new top-tier deficiency

DAYTON, Ohio — The Air Force and Boeing identified a new KC-46 deficiency this spring that’s causing damage to the tanker’s air system ducts — adding to the aircraft’s running list of unresolved, high-risk design flaws. The latest deficiency, designated a Category…
DefenseNews

Air Force picks five firms to build autonomy package for drone wingmen

DAYTON, Ohio — The Air Force has chosen five companies to build the autonomy system that will underpin the first batch of its uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet, according to a service official. Voorheis, program executive officer for fighters and advanced aircraft, described the autonomy package as the “brains” of the Air Force’s future Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCA…
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