Christopher J. Castelli

Archived Articles
Daily News | June 8, 2012

The Marine Corps has ruled out mechanical failure as a cause of a fatal MV-22 Osprey crash in Morocco on April 11, according to spokesman Capt. Richard Ulsh.

Daily News | June 7, 2012

Senate authorizers are pressing the Pentagon to make cuts in electronic warfare, unmanned aircraft systems and other areas of duplication identified earlier this year by the Government Accountability Office.

The Insider | June 5, 2012

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in India today and had "productive meetings" with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Indian National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a statement.

Daily News | May 31, 2012

The Defense Department has not yet assigned senior officials to oversee developmental testing in most major weapons programs, according to a Pentagon report to Congress.

Daily News | May 24, 2012

The Senate Armed Services Committee today unanimously approved a $631.4 billion fiscal year 2013 defense authorization bill, rejecting proposed Air National Guard cuts.

The Insider | May 24, 2012

Pentagon Press Secretary George Little today downplayed the need to plan for the imposition of sequestration under the Budget Control Act.

The Insider | May 18, 2012

The Defense Department today released its annual report on China's military, noting the country is sustaining investments in advanced cruise missiles, short- and medium-range conventional ballistic missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, counterspace weapons and military cyberspace capabilities that "appear designed to enable anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) missions, or what PLA strategists refer to as 'counter intervention operations.'"

The Insider | May 17, 2012

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta issued a statement this morning pledging further assistance to Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system after meeting with Israel's defense minister, Ehud Barak.

Daily News | 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.

Daily News | May 15, 2012

House appropriators are recommending a $5.3 billion boost in Pentagon procurement spending, including major funding increases for missile defense, tactical fighters and military vehicles.

The Insider | May 9, 2012

British defense minister Phillip Hammond is slated to announce Thursday that the United Kingdom will drop plans to buy the F-35C aircraft-carrier variant of the Joint Strike Fighter and opt instead for the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing variant, according to published reports.

The Insider | May 7, 2012

Today's visit to the Pentagon by China's minister of national defense, Gen. Liang Guanglie, marks the first time in nine years that a Chinese defense minister has visited the building, a senior defense official told reporters.

Daily News | May 3, 2012

The Defense Department's inspector general has launched a review of Army cybersecurity, particularly the risks posed by portable high-tech devices.

The Insider | May 2, 2012

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress April 30 of a possible foreign military sale to Japan of an initial four F-35 Joint Strike Fighter conventional-takeoff-and-landing aircraft, with an option to buy 38 more of the same variant, according to a May 1 agency statement.

The Insider | April 30, 2012

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program was on the agenda today when Defense Secretary Leon Panetta met with Italian Defense Minister Giampaolo Di Paola at the Pentagon to discuss mutual defense interests.

Daily News | April 26, 2012

U.S. Special Operations Command is asking Congress to fund a $143 million shortfall in the command's fiscal year 2013 budget request to acquire significantly improved video capabilities for drones and aircraft, an urgent need endorsed by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

The Insider | April 25, 2012

Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), James Inhofe (R-OK), Susan Collins (R-ME) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are pressing not only the armed services but also the combatant commands to submit unfunded requirements lists to Congress for fiscal year 2013.

Daily News | April 11, 2012

A Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey crashed today in Morocco, killing two Marines during an annual exercise with the Moroccan military, said Navy and Marine Corps officials tracking the issue.

The Insider | April 9, 2012

The Navy has paused operations involving MQ-8B Fire Scout drones pending crash-investigation results, according to Naval Air Systems Command.

The Insider | April 9, 2012

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert has formally declined to submit an unfunded requirements list to Congress.

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