Defense

SANTIAGO, Chile — Lockheed Martin will upgrade 36 operational F-16 fighter jets with the Chilean Air Force under a $177 million contract, the Pentagon announced. The deal, unveiled Oct. 31, will see those F-16AM/BM Block 15/20 MLU aircraft modified to the M6.6 standard. A Lockheed spokesperson told Defense News the program will provide an advanced identification friend or foe capability and the…

The Senate voted Thursday to confirm Adm. Lisa Franchetti as the Navy’s 33rd chief of naval operations, ending a months-long delay caused by Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s ongoing blockade of military nominations that he began in protest of Defense Department abortion access policies. Franchetti became not only the first woman to serve as the Navy’s top officer, but the first to serve on the Joint…

WASHINGTON — A reorganization of the Navy’s undersea warfare community two years ago has sharpened its focus on developing more modern warfighting tools, including a network of communications systems that will support joint all-domain operations, a top leader said. The reorganization allowed the attack submarine and ballistic missile submarine communities to each look at new construction and…

Senate lawmakers in the next few days will move ahead with confirmation votes on key leadership spots for the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, and Democratic leaders are eyeing ways soon after to force through hundreds of other senior officer promotions which have been held up for months. On Tuesday night, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., filed procedural motions to move ahead on the…