Monday, October 22, 2018
The Navy is considering industry proposals to rapidly develop and prototype a sea-based hypersonic boost glide weapon that could be ready for deployment in four years, a scenario the service is exploring in accordance with guidance to develop a plan to reach early operational capability by late 2022.
Army leaders, refining the requirement for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle program, have prioritized four capabilities for a Bradley replacement: growth potential, the main gun, an advanced forward looking infrared sensor and active protection systems.
The Army has completed a capability development document for assured positioning, navigation and timing in all new mounted platforms, according to a service official.
To achieve its desired 355-ship fleet, the Navy will require in future years an annual shipbuilding budget of $28.9 billion, nearly $5 billion more than the service received in fiscal year 2019 and one-third more than the service has estimated, according to a new analysis published this week by the Congressional Budget Office.
The Air Force's contract with Boeing to develop and field a new MH-139 utility helicopter fleet allocates $408 million for development and $1.9 billion for procurement, a price tag that is roughly half the estimated total program cost the service forecasted in budget documents for the UH-1N Huey replacement program earlier this year.
President Trump said this week the Defense Department's budget in fiscal year 2020 will "probably be $700 billion," a potential cut of approximately 2.3 percent, though he said other departments will be asked to make 5 percent cuts.
To achieve its desired 355-ship fleet, the Navy will require in future years an annual shipbuilding budget of $28.9 billion, nearly $5 billion more than the service received in fiscal year 2019 and one-third more than the service has estimated, according to a new analysis published last week by the Congressional Budget Office.
The Air Force expects the F-22 Raptors left behind at Tyndall Air Force Base, FL, during Hurricane Michael to all be repairable, but officials are still waiting to conduct thorough assessments of the jets.
Industry offerings for the planned Bradley Fighting Vehicle replacement run the gamut as the Army prepares to issue a draft request for proposals and complete a final requirements document that avoids being overly prescriptive.
Analysts said this week they don't expect the planned merger of Harris and L3 Technologies to generate antitrust concerns and said the deal is likely to spur additional consolidation.
President Trump said today the Defense Department's budget in fiscal year 2020 will "probably be $700 billion," a potential cut of approximately 2.3 percent, though he said other departments will be asked to make 5 percent cuts. (UPDATED)
The Navy has awarded a $57.8 million contract to Austal USA for the Expeditionary Fast Transport 13, according to a Thursday Pentagon announcement.
The Pentagon has not been directed to send additional troops to the southern border, despite President Trump tweeting that a "caravan" of refugees from Central America poses a national emergency.
President Trump has tasked the Defense Department with taking a more active and expansive role in protecting the nation's critical infrastructure from cyberattacks by foreign adversaries, with efforts to secure the supply chain having emerged as the front line in this battle.
The Air Force needs another Bombardier business jet to bolster the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node fleet, the service said in an Oct. 15 notice.
