Although the U.S. plans to reduce the number of warheads deployed on its long-range missiles and bombers, consistent with the terms of the New START Treaty, a recent Congressional Research Service (CRS) report notes that the nation also plans to develop new delivery systems for deployment over the next 20-30 years. During the Cold War, the U.S. nuclear arsenal contained many types of delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons, CRS says, including long-range missiles based on submarines, and heavy bombers that could threaten Soviet targets from their bases.
Two of Europe’s missile manufacturers have launched efforts to develop a laser-guided rocket to meet an expected German army requirement for the country’s Tiger attack helicopter. Diehl Defense has partnered with Israel’s Elbit Systems to develop the Guided Intelligent Light Armament (GILA) rocket, while MBDA Deutschland has signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkish armaments company Roketsan to collaborate on the development of a 70-mm guided rocket.
BATH, Maine — As the U.S. Navy and the industry team working on the DDG 1000 Zumwalt destroyer start to bring that ship to life, the focus is on avoiding some of the pitfalls that have tripped up the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Like the Zumwalt-class destroyers, the LCS vessels were built with research and development funds as the Navy looked to incorporate new technology — or uniquely combine existing equipment — in futuristic ship concepts.
The U.K. Royal Air Force has flown its first RC-135W Rivet Joint sortie, seven months after the aircraft was delivered to the U.K. The aircraft took off from RAF Waddington on May 23, after being awarded an initial release to service earlier this month by senior officers, and following a series of extensive audits of the aircraft’s safety case by the U.K.’s procurement agency, Defense Equipment and Support (DE&S), and by the U.K. Military Aviation Authority (MAA).
In observance of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report will not publish a May 27 issue. The next issue will be dated May 28. Aviation Week Intelligence Network subscribers can visit awin.aviationweek.com for updates.
MISSILE DEFENSE: The Democratic-led Senate Armed Services Committee met the Pentagon’s budget request for missile defense in its version of the Defense Department’s fiscal 2015 authorization legislation, providing $8.7 billion. Within that amount, the bill passed by the committee May 22 provides $351 million for Israeli missile defense programs. It adds $175 million to the president’s budget request for the purchase of Iron Dome counter-rocket interceptors for Israel, or for other programs the U.S.
Despite efforts to resurrect a competition, Canada may wind up reaffirming its first choice—a $41.39 billion purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters—by the end of June. Since December 2012, the Canadian government’s quest to replace its aging fleet of 77 Boeing CF-18 Hornets has been on hold. The government has been considering three options: sticking with its initial choice of a sole-source purchase of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, holding a new competition or doing nothing.
LONDON — A decision on whether to push forward with Turkey’s ambitious plan to develop an indigenous fifth-generation fighter could be made this September, industry officials have revealed.
BEIJING — The chances of a new South Korean fighter competition this decade are rising, with the air force, apparently fed up with the long-running KF-X indigenous fighter proposal, saying it may seek imported combat aircraft instead.
