Defense and Space

The draft Nuclear Posture Review would lower the bar for a nuclear first strike and seeks to add new types of weapons to the U.S. arsenal.

Marines are used to getting people to move faster. Now a Marine is ordering the aerospace sector to do just that, and it would behoove industry to snap to it.

Speed matters on this week’s podcast as technical editor Graham Warwick talks to senior editor Guy Norris about his story on Boeing’s reusable hypersonic demonstrator concept and the rapidly evolving developments in hypersonics over the past year since he broke the story about the U.S. losing its lead in this increasingly important area of defense technology.

The U.S. targets China and Russia in its latest defense strategy, but what’s to stop both powers ganging up against Washington?

A U.S. appeals court decision may allow the U.S. Army to move forward with a sole-source purchase of UH-72 helicopters from Airbus.

The technology transition program, an Air Force budget line that funds advanced component development and prototyping, has grown exponentially since being established in fiscal 2014 and that trend is set to continue.

General Dynamics looks to ramp up corporate investments across its aviation and defense businesses, according to company chiefs, following expectations of growth in its Gulfstream and naval shipbuilding work.

Wall Street analysts peppered Raytheon Chairman and CEO Tom Kennedy and CFO Toby O’Brien with questions Jan. 25 after subsidiary Forcepoint reported a loss of $8 million in the fourth quarter of 2017.

The aircraft, which also was the first F-35B to be assembled outside the U.S, was formally handed over in a ceremony at Cameri on Jan. 25.

The production of this Cold War-era aircraft was suspended in 2008, but on Jan. 25 the defense ministry placed a new order with United Aircraft Corp. for 10 more airframes.

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that the Afghan Air Force will receive 10 fixed-wing AC-208B “Eliminator” surveillance and strike aircraft from Orbital ATK.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office says FAA and the Pentagon still have not approved any fixes to address security and operational risks to military aircraft from transmitting their position via ADS-B Out.

The military has much aging equipment and ammunition that needs to be replaced or upgraded.

Rotorcraft will become a focus of Thailand’s military imports in coming years.

The South Korean army rejected the bulky Surion as inappropriate for the attack mission, but the marines regard it as a candidate for the role.

Are London and Paris balking at the high costs associated with the UCAV demonstrator’s development?

India tests nuke-capable ICBM; court allows U.S. Army/Airbus sole-source deal; U.S. OKs Belgium F-35 sale; weapons tests on Russia’s most advanced fighter.

Proposed acquisitions for the Philippines Air Force include fighters, additional light trainers, airlifters and light-attack aircraft.

The U.S. Navy has tapped Orbital ATK to develop the first anti-radiation missile designed for internal carriage on the carrier-based F-35C Joint Strike Fighter.

All options are on the table at multi-industrial giants United Technologies Corp. and General Electric (GE), top executives said Jan. 24.

Described by the Defense Department as a “new intercontinental, nuclear-armed, undersea autonomous torpedo,” the weapon's development was first revealed in 2015 when a diagram of an ocean-going vessel leaked to the press.

Britain is mulling holding on to some of its Army infrastructure in Germany to provide a potential deterrent to a more aggressive Russia.

SpaceX’s first Falcon Heavy rocket roared to life on Jan. 24 for a long-awaited static test hotfire.

Swedish defense firm Saab is vehemently denying reports that it would split from a deal with Embraer to build Gripens fighters for Brazil if a tie-up between the Brazilian airframer and Boeing goes ahead.

Jakarta is behind in its monetary contributions. The finance ministry has refused to authorize a payment of $124.5 million due at the end of 2017 for the program.