DefenseNews

Del Toro says Disruptive Capabilities Office to solve Navy challenges

September 28, 2023
WASHINGTON — Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced initiatives aimed at making the service more responsive to warfighter challenges: the creation of the Disruptive Capabilities Office to quickly apply new technologies to operational problems, and a pilot program that would help programs of record be more agile. Del Toro said he signed off on the creation of the DCO to carry on the mission of…
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DefenseNews

Palantir wins $250 million US Army AI research contract

September 27, 2023
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army awarded Palantir Technologies a contract worth as much as $250 million to research and experiment with artificial intelligence and machine learning. The arrangement, announced by the Department of Defense on Sept. 26, runs through 2026. Exactly…
DefenseNews

Defense Secretary Austin’s salary cut to $1 under GOP budget plan

September 27, 2023
House Republicans on Wednesday approved a measure to slash Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s salary from more than $221,000 annually to less than $1, based on their dissatisfaction with his work so far. The move has little chance of becoming law, but underscores the growing animosity between conservatives and military leaders reporting to President Joe Biden. House Democrats dismissed the move as…
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DefenseNews

Northrop wins $705 million contract for F-35 air-to-ground weapon

September 26, 2023
WASHINGTON — The Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $705 million contract to develop and test a high-speed air-to-ground weapon known as a stand-in attack weapon that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter could wield to destroy enemy targets. Northrop said Monday that its work on the second phase of the weapon, which is also referred to as SiAW, will take place over the next 36 months in Northridge…
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DefenseNews

GAO blasts contractor-led F-35 maintenance as costly, slow

September 22, 2023
WASHINGTON — A lack of spare parts and technical data, poor training of maintainers, and a lagging effort to expand repair depots are dragging down the U.S. military’s ability to keep the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in the air, a government watchdog said in a report…
DefenseNews

Navy brings unmanned vessels to Japan to bolster fleet integration

September 22, 2023
WASHINGTON — Four unmanned ships are now operating out of Japan for the first time, as part of the U.S. Navy’s Integrated Battle Problem 23.2 exercise aimed at folding these unmanned vessels into routine fleet operations. These unmanned surface vessels aren’t operating under special protocols or extra safety measures: the USV Division 1 commander told reporters they’re being used as fully…
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