The U.S. Army’s Northrop Grumman-manufactured next-generation protection system for its fleet of helicopters has been cleared for full-rate production, according to an April 30 Pentagon announcement.
The Army awarded Northrop a nearly $1 billion contract to produce the Common Infrared Countermeasures program, known as CIRCM, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2026. The service…
Army Eyes Autonomous Robotic Arm to Rapidly Resupply its Futuristic Long-Range Howitzer
April 30, 2021
Extended Range Cannon Artillery System, or ERCA, being tested in an M109A7 self-propelled howitzer at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona in 2019. (U.S. Army)
An Austin, Texas, startup company will show off a new type of autonomous robotic arm for Army officials looking for a way…
Watchdog expresses concern over using US Navy interceptor for homeland missile defense
April 30, 2021
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Government Accountability Office is skeptical the Navy’s SM-3 Block IIA interceptor would work as part of a new plan for a layered homeland defense against intercontinental ballistic missiles.
In a report released this week, the GAO said the SM-3…
WASHINGTON — Point Blank Enterprises is the most recent nontraditional business to come out of the woodwork as a competitor for the U.S. Army’s concept vehicle design phase to replace the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle.
The company announced April 26 on its website that it had submitted a bid. The announcement comes almost two weeks after the Army’s deadline for solicitations.
While…
Boeing reported a wider-than-expected first-quarter loss on Wednesday, although revenue met Wall Street forecasts as the company generated cash by delivering more new airliners than it did a year ago.
Boeing lost $561 million — or $537 million after accounting for a…
Army Fields First New Air Defense Strykers in Europe
April 28, 2021
The 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (5-4 ADA), 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, is the first unit in the Army to receive the Mobile Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) system, April 21, 2021. (Jordan Allen /U.S. Army)
U.S. Army modernization…
WALTHAM, Mass. — Raytheon Technologies on Tuesday reported first-quarter net income of $753 million, after reporting a loss in the same period a year earlier.
The Waltham, Massachusetts-based company said it had net income of 50 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for costs related to mergers and acquisitions and restructuring costs, came to 90 cents per share.
The results beat Wall Street…
Biden to nominate Frank Kendall as Air Force secretary
April 28, 2021
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has officially nominated Frank Kendall to serve as secretary of the Air Force and Gina Ortiz Jones for undersecretary of the Air Force.
The announcement, made by the White House on Tuesday afternoon, confirmed reporting by Defense…
MELBOURNE, Australia — China commissioned 60,000 tons worth of major vessels earlier this month, officially putting into service a new nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, a guided-missile cruiser and an amphibious helicopter carrier on the 72nd anniversary of its…
US State Department clears Australia to buy MQ-9B drones
April 27, 2021
WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department on Friday approved a $1.6 billion foreign military sale of MQ-9B drones for Australia.
The package includes up to 12 MQ-9B aircraft made by General Atomics, as well as Honeywell engines, ground control stations, training simulators, and various satellite terminals and communications equipment necessary for the MQ-9 pilot and sensor operator to control…
