DefenseNews

French-British underwater drone proves de-mining ability, says Thales

September 13, 2023
STUTTGART, Germany — Recent sea trials of a remotely operated underwater vehicle proved it is capable of neutralizing naval mines, a new milestone for the Franco-British Maritime Mine Countermeasures program, French firm Thales announced Wednesday. The program’s prime contractor and lead system integrator successfully demonstrated this final component of its system for the MMCM program, dubbed…
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DefenseNews

Navy decommissions littoral combat ship Milwaukee

September 13, 2023
The Navy decommissioned the littoral combat ship Milwaukee on Friday in Mayport, Florida, after less than 10 years in service. The ship, designed to serve for a quarter century, is one of the Freedom-class variants that the Navy is mothballing before they reach the end of…
DefenseNews

Air Force creates task forces to pilot modern deployments

September 13, 2023
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Air Force in fiscal 2024 will experiment with further changes to how it deploys airmen, service leaders announced at the Air and Space Force Association’s annual Air, Space and Cyber Conference here this week. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Monday the service is creating three “air task forces,” or packages of airmen that the Air Force can offer to…
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US Air Force prioritizing cloud-based command and control

September 12, 2023
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The U.S. Air Force is prioritizing the delivery of cloud-based command-and-control networks to forces across the globe, and is preparing to follow through even under federal spending that falls short of a full budget. The so-called CBC2 effort is…
DefenseNews

BAE Systems Hägglunds purchases Iron Fist for CV90s

September 12, 2023
JERUSALEM — Elbit Systems will supply the Swedish BAE Systems Hägglunds with its Iron Fist Active Protection System for CV90s in a deal worth $109 million, the Israeli firm announced Tuesday. Elbit noted the systems are intended for a European country, but declined to…
DefenseNews

Lockheed touts local links in Black Hawk-based helicopter pitch to UK

September 12, 2023
LONDON — Lockheed Martin’s U.K. subsidiary unveiled a local industry team, capped by aircraft assembly lead StandardAero, to support its Black Hawk-based bid for the British military’s New Medium Helicopter program. The roster of local companies is meant to put a British face on a U.S. military product, with the head of Lockheed Martin UK, Paul Livingston, saying the aim is to have 40% of…
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BAE Systems, QinetiQ sign pact on drone collaboration

September 12, 2023
LONDON — BAE Systems and QinetiQ are exploring the possibility of joining forces in the development of uncrewed systems, the two British companies announced Sept. 12. The companies said they have signed a framework agreement looking at the potential to collaborate in the…
DefenseNews

Boeing to deliver first T-7 to US Air Force, outlines testing plans

September 12, 2023
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Boeing plans to deliver the U.S. Air Force’s first T-7A Red Hawk on Tuesday, marking a major milestone for the trainer aircraft that has struggled with safety issues, software problems and schedule slips. In a briefing at the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber conference in National Harbor, Maryland, Col. Kirt Cassell, who leads the service’s…
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