DefenseNews

Lockheed chosen to build new homeland missile defense interceptor

Nearly a year prior to a deadline for two competing teams to reach a critical design review phase in the development of a Next-Generation Interceptor for homeland defense, the Missile Defense Agency chose Lockheed Martin to move forward rather than carry both teams through the next phase of technology development. Lockheed and its Aerojet Rocketdyne partner completed the preliminary design review…
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DefenseNews

Get the US Navy’s frigate program back on schedule

The recent review of shipbuilding progress is an important step in correcting the current cost overruns and schedule slippage. However, the U.S. Navy secretary’s rather timid response of only directing the FFG design team to gather at the shipyard was far too timid. Many…
DefenseNews

MDA awards Lockheed $4.1B contract to upgrade battle command system

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $4.1 billion to continue to field, maintain and upgrade its battle command system, according to an April 11 contract announcement from the Defense Department. The contract period runs May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2029, with an option to extend it to April 30, 2034. “This contract will accelerate innovation and…
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DefenseNews

Army pushes more safety training as helicopter crashes spike

The Army has ordered an aviation “safety stand up,” with additional aviation training across the force following a dozen mishaps that have resulted in 10 fatalities in only the first six months of the fiscal year. By comparison, the Army had 10 mishaps and 14 fatalities for all fiscal 2023. The current number of mishaps is equal to or higher than the total annual mishaps reported each year…
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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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