DefenseNews

US Navy looks for cost-saving ideas in Running Fix efficiency effort

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Navy is accepting proposals for ways units and offices across the Navy and Marine Corps can spend money more wisely. Russell Rumbaugh, the U.S. Navy comptroller, said this Running Fix initiative, directed by the service’s secretary, asks everyone to think about processes that could be more efficient, resources that are no longer needed, and other ways to…
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Rafael intercepts drone with newly combined Spyder air defense systems

JERUSALEM — The newly configured Spyder air defense system has intercepted a drone during a test with the Israeli military, the weapon’s manufacturer announced Wednesday. The announcement comes amid the Israel-Hamas war and tension along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where the militant group Hezbollah is based. Hezbollah in recent months has fired Katyusha missiles and drones at…
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DefenseNews

US Army carves out its role in space

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army’s mission when it comes to operating in space and using space capabilities is shifting to adapt to the arrival of the U.S. Space Force. Before the Space Force’s establishment in 2019, the Army’s space-related mission areas included…
DefenseNews

Germany’s Hensoldt hires Thales executive to lead company

PARIS — Defense electronics specialist Hensoldt has hired a competitor’s executive as its new leader, the German company announced Monday. Oliver Dörre will become CEO at Hensoldt and replace outgoing boss Thomas Müller on April 1. Dörre joins Hensoldt from the…
DefenseNews

Here’s what the Navy is doing to boost SWO retention

Retention among surface warfare officers going into department head school is slightly down from last year, but numbers overall remain up as the service has launched several initiatives to keep SWOs in the service longer, according to officials. SWOs have historically departed their community at higher rates than the submarine and aviation communities, and the Navy has been working to keep more of…
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DefenseNews

Navy chief to prioritize getting more ships ready for action

ARLINGTON, Va. — The chief of naval operations said Tuesday the service must “get more players on the field” as international crises demand more of the naval force, in her first major address since taking the helm of the Navy two months ago. Adm. Lisa Franchetti said…
DefenseNews

‘Cautionary tale’: How Boeing won a US Air Force program and lost $7B

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force’s next-generation tanker was supposed to be the ideal candidate for a fixed-price development program. Indeed, when Boeing first won the deal to build what’s now known as the KC-46, the defense contractor said it would use a “low-risk approach,” basing its design on the existing Boeing 767 commercial airplane. The contract was firm-fixed-price, meaning…
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