DefenseNews

Louisiana Guardsman Deployed to Syria Dies After Non-Combat Incident

First Sgt. Casey Hart, 42, of Baton Rouge, died Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, after a noncombat-related incident at Al-Tanf Garrison, Syria, on May 9. (Baton Rouge Police Department Facebook page) A Louisiana National Guard soldier who was deployed in Syria died this week, the Defense Department announced Thursday. First Sgt. Casey Hart, 42, of…
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DefenseNews

US Soldier in Kuwait Dies After Non-Combat Incident

Convoys drive to Camp Beuhring, Kuwait, as U.S. forces depart Iraq in 2011. (Kathryn Whittenberger/U.S. Navy) A U.S. soldier deployed in Kuwait died Thursday, the Defense Department announced. The soldier’s name is being withheld until the next of kin is notified.
DefenseNews

SASC advances Air Force secretary pick, six other nominees

WASHINGTON ― President Joe Biden’s nominee for Air Force secretary and six other top Pentagon picks advanced out of the Senate Armed Services Committee by a voice vote June 10. The Senate must consider them before they can be confirmed. The nominations are as follows: …
DefenseNews

Italian, British F-35B jets train together for first time, all thanks to the pandemic

PANTELLERIA, Italy — The Italian Air Force is getting its money’s worth out of its single F-35B jet. The jet made a short landing Tuesday on the Italian island of Pantelleria to join a British Royal Air Force F-35B. The two Joint Strike Fighters practiced fast ground refueling from a parked C-130J, marking the first time F-35Bs from Italy and the U.K. have trained together. The British…
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DefenseNews

What’s a fair price for KC-46 spare parts? The Air Force isn’t sure

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Boeing an $88 million contract for spare parts for Japan’s KC-46 tankers, but service officials confirmed to Defense News on Monday the deal included about $10 million in costs that Air Force leaders investigated and could not determine if they were fair or reasonable. That finding has led to concerns from Capitol Hill that Boeing is…
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DefenseNews

Lebanese Navy to receive 7 offshore patrol vessels

BEIRUT — The Lebanese Navy expects to receive seven offshore patrol vessels, including four with help from France and three Protector-class OPVs that are part of U.S. military aid. “Currently, there is coordination with French shipbuilders to supply Lebanon with four…
DefenseNews

China will only benefit from the US Navy’s shipbuilding budget

The proposed U.S. Navy shipbuilding budget for fiscal 2021 contains only good news for China. The threat of a larger U.S. Navy has disappeared. Reductions of cruisers eliminate long-range offensive and anti-submarine warfare ships. Frigates and Marine expeditionary ship programs are delayed. Force assessments form the plan for the Navy. An assessment conducted in the 1970s and implemented in…
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