Shelley K. Mesch

Shelley K. Mesch joined Inside Defense as an Air Force reporter in 2022. She had previously reported on business, technology and innovation at The Salt Lake Tribune and the Wisconsin State Journal.

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Archived Articles
Daily News | July 29, 2024

The Air Force this month stood up the first in a series of offices designed to better integrate capabilities across the service's organizations as part of its restructuring plan announced earlier this year.

The Insider | July 25, 2024

This Thursday INSIDER Daily Digest has news on the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance effort, the Navy's nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile program, the Sentinel nuclear missile program and more.

Daily News | July 25, 2024

As the Sentinel nuclear missile program faces ballooning total costs, Northrop Grumman executives stressed during their second-quarter earnings call today that those increases won’t be realized yet for several years, past the current contract.

The Insider | July 24, 2024

Lt. Gen. John Lamontagne has been nominated to become commander of Air Mobility Command, pending Senate confirmation, the Defense Department announced today.

Daily News | July 24, 2024

While still waiting to finalize the contract for the E-7A Wedgetail, the Air Force and Boeing have agreed on an "affordable price" for the warning and control contract, service officials said this week.

Daily News | July 23, 2024

While it's creating a new acquisition strategy for the Sentinel nuclear missile program, the Air Force will be reassessing how the program can meet the requirements set by U.S. nuclear policy for the ground leg of the triad, the service under secretary said today.

Daily News | July 10, 2024

Lawmakers overseeing the Defense Department are criticizing the management of the Sentinel nuclear missile program as the price tag has jumped to $140.9 billion, but many still support the Pentagon's decision to continue the acquisition effort.

The Insider | July 10, 2024

Ukraine's military will begin flying operational F-16 fighter jets later this summer, according to a joint statement from the White House, Denmark and the Netherlands.

The Insider | July 9, 2024

Assistant Air Force Secretary for Financial Management and Comptroller Kristyn Jones, who performed the duties of the service under secretary for more than a year, will retire from the government tomorrow, the service announced today.

Daily News | July 8, 2024

The Defense Department is committing to the LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile program despite the price tag jumping to $140.9 billion -- an 81% increase -- and facing years-long delays. (UPDATED)

Daily News | July 3, 2024

Blue Origin and Stoke Space Technologies today joined 10 other businesses in a pool able to compete for speedy space launches run through Space Systems Command.

The Insider | July 3, 2024

The Defense Department will spend $10 billion over the next few years to modernize tactical aircraft based across Japan, DOD announced today.

The Insider | July 1, 2024

Boeing has agreed to buy Spirit AeroSystems for an all-stock transaction valued at $4.7 billion, the company announced today, which will include taking on Spirit's Defense Department-related work.

The Insider | June 27, 2024

The Space Rapid Capabilities Office awarded 20 businesses with contracts with a cap of $1 billion as part of its Rapid Resilient Command and Control effort.

The Insider | June 27, 2024

Non-traditional contractors are pushing to get a leg-up against massive primes that have dominated the defense industry for decades, and the director of the Space Development Agency says he wants to be an enthusiastic partner.

Daily News | June 26, 2024

Non-traditional contractors are pushing to get a leg-up against massive primes that have dominated the defense industry for decades, and the director of the Space Development Agency says he wants to be an enthusiastic partner.

Daily News | June 25, 2024

The Air Force fired the director of its Sentinel nuclear missile program due to a "loss of confidence," a service spokeswoman said today, as the program faces a review for critical cost breaches.

Daily News | June 24, 2024

U.S. Space Command is planning to create a test case to develop data-fusion methods to better organize and display the mass amounts of data pouring into the command, Commander Gen. Stephen Whiting disclosed today.

Daily News | June 24, 2024

Several Democrats worry the Pentagon isn't taking its review of the Sentinel nuclear missile program seriously following a critical cost breach in the program, according to a letter sent to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today.

The Insider | June 21, 2024

The Space Development Agency is requesting proposals for infrastructure and mission integration for its Advanced Fire Control efforts, according to a solicitation posted yesterday.

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