Wednesday, May 16, 2012
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DOD Systems Engineering Experts See More F-35 Software Delays

Inside the Pentagon, May 17, 2012 -- The Defense Department's systems engineering experts expect more delays in the development of complex software essential for the operation of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, according to a previously unreported Pentagon assessment provided to lawmakers.

House Authorizers Concerned About 'Concurrency' Risks In Missile Defense

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House Appropriators Rap Pentagon For Reliance On Reprogrammings; $15.1 Billion In FY-11

DefenseAlert, May 16, 2012 -- House appropriators issued a stern rebuke of the Pentagon's fiscal management in a report citing "a disturbing degradation" of the system established more than four decades ago for constructing and executing Defense Department budgets.
DOCUMENT: House Appropriations Committee Draft FY-13 Defense Spending Report

Odierno Rejects House Panel's Restrictions On End-Strength Cuts

DefenseAlert, May 16, 2012 -- Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno today pushed back against language proposed by the Republican-controlled House Armed Services Committee that would interfere with the Obama administration's plans to reduce the size of the ground service.

Schwartz: Air Force F-35B Buy Unlikely

DefenseAlert, May 16, 2012 -- The Air Force does not have the resources or the need to buy the F-35B, the short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing version of the Joint Strike Fighter developed for the Marine Corps, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said today.

Pentagon Expects Wave Of Sidewinder Block II Orders In FY-12, FY-13

DefenseAlert, May 16, 2012 -- The Defense Department expects a near-term surge in foreign military sales of its premier short-range, air-to-air missile, the Sidewinder Block II, which could net Raytheon orders for as many as 883 additional missiles for 10 nations, according to military officials and documents.

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InsideDefense.com Insider

Lawmakers want to turn the tables on China, Iran; amendments submitted for House floor debate on FY-13 defense authorization bill; the F/A-18E/F fleet to fly much longer than originally forecast and much more.

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Defense Next 05/16/2012

Coast Guarding

The Senate Appropriations homeland security subcommittee yesterday approved fiscal year 2013 funding legislation totaling $45.2 billion, $1 billion below the previous year's enacted level, according to a subcomittee statement. Out of that, the spending bill includes . . .

05/15/2012

Veto Threat

The Obama administration late this afternoon threatened a presidential veto if the fiscal year 2013 defense authorization bill includes provisions proposed by House lawmakers on nuclear weapons policy and detainee matters. According to today's statement of . . .

05/15/2012

Thumb's Up

The Senate Armed Services Committee announced this afternoon that it was able to form a quorum and favorably reported out the following civilian Defense Department nominations: Frank Kendall III to be Under Secretary of Defense for . . .

Honors & Awards

Inside the Pentagon won awards in 2011 from the National Press Club and the Washington, DC, chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, respectively, for reporting on the Defense Department's failure to put required cockpit voice recorders on V-22 Ospreys and for a series of stories on DOD's auditing problems. Read the stories and all of our award-winning coverage from prior years.