DefenseNews

Army evaluating first ‘launched effects’ prototype

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army is evaluating an initial launched effects prototype as it continues to experiment with requirements and capabilities for a future program. The service now plans to launch these small, uncrewed aircraft not only from air platforms, but from launchers on the ground or off vehicles and, as a result, is moving away from calling them “air-launched effects” to simply…
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DefenseNews

US Navy declares its mine countermeasures suite ready for operations

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy declared initial operational capability on its entire mine countermeasures mission package, which will operate off littoral combat ships and other potential motherships. The mission package includes four primary systems to find, identify and destroy sea mines: the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System and the Airborne Mine Neutralization System, both of which are…
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DefenseNews

Drones, planes need new weapons and sensors, says special ops official

TAMPA, Fla. — More options and less strain on humans are key to modernizing fixed-wing systems for U.S. Special Operations Command, according to the program executive officer in charge of the effort. Those themes extend to both piloted and uncrewed airframes, such as MC-130J Commando II and AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft as well as MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones, Air Force Col. Ken Kuebler told an…
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DefenseNews

Navy eyes private capital to modernize dated facilities

NORFOLK, Va. — U.S. Fleet Forces Command, facing major infrastructure spending shortfalls, is weighing alternative funding sources to fix them. Adm. Daryl Caudle told Defense News the military construction budget isn’t sufficient to address some issues at the bases and…
DefenseNews

Defense budget bill hit with delay over debt ceiling fight

WASHINGTON — The partisan fight over raising the debt ceiling has temporarily derailed Congress’ work on the annual defense authorization bill. The House’s markup of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act — initially scheduled to begin this Thursday —…
DefenseNews

Permanent fighter force for Kadena still an option: Air Force general

WASHINGTON — Nearly six months after the Air Force began withdrawing its aging F-15C and D Eagles from Kadena Air Base in Japan, the service is still trying to figure out its long-term plan to maintain a deterrent fighter presence at the Pacific region base. And permanently stationing a new force of fighters at Kadena is still being considered, Lt. Gen. Richard Moore, the Air Force’s deputy…
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