DefenseNews

Navy extending service lives of three cruisers

November 8, 2024
The Navy is keeping three cruisers in service for three additional years each – just after extending the service life for 12 destroyers. The service announced Monday that the Gettysburg, Chosin, and Cape St. George will now remain in service up until fiscal year 2029, rather than 2026. These cruisers have received modernization updates including “extensive hull,” mechanical and engineering…
Read more
DefenseNews

Boeing factory strike ends as machinists vote to accept contract

November 7, 2024
SEATTLE — Factory workers at Boeing voted to accept a contract offer and end their strike after more than seven weeks, clearing the way for the aerospace giant to resume production of its bestselling airliner and generate much-needed cash. Leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers district in Seattle said 59% of members who cast ballots agreed to approve the…
Read more
DefenseNews

Why the Defense Department needs a chief economist

November 5, 2024
The Department of Defense budget is growing, and the DOD is spending more money in novel industries and nontraditional areas than ever before. To ensure the DOD spends smartly in this new environment, Congress should authorize a chief economist to keep the DOD thinking about…
DefenseNews

Air Force to send bomber task force to Europe

November 5, 2024
The Air Force plans to soon send its latest task force of strategic bombers to Europe to train with NATO allies. U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa said on Friday that the bomber task force deployment will begin “in the coming days,” and would last several weeks.
DefenseNews

US Army buys long-flying solar drones to watch over Pacific units

November 4, 2024
The Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force has used a small number of Kraus Hamdani Aerospace K1000 Ultra Long-Endurance, solar-powered unmanned aircraft system across the Pacific theater in places like the Philippines and Guam in recent years. Now the Pentagon has ordered $20 million worth of the systems for the unit as well as special operators. The Pentagon made the award through the Accelerate…
Read more
DefenseNews

Italian Navy tasks Fincantieri to design drone-laden warships

November 4, 2024
ROME — The Italian Navy’s is planning for a future in which swarms of airborne, surface and undersea drones will deploy from its ships and has challenged shipyard Fincantieri to build and adapt vessels which are ready for the task. “We expect new navy vessels in…
DefenseNews

Strike, fixed-price contracts leave Boeing defense bleeding cash

October 24, 2024
Boeing has lost billions of dollars on the fixed-price KC-46 program, and a nearly six-week machinist strike has heightened the refueling tanker’s problems. (Airman Lauren Torres/Air Force) Boeing’s ongoing problems with a crippling machinist strike and costly fixed-price development contracts left the company — and especially its defense sector — hemorrhaging cash in the third…
Read more