Army Secretary Mark Esper is planning to visit BAE Systems' York, PA, manufacturing plant as the service continues to hold off on a full-rate production decision for the Paladin Integrated Management system, he told reporters last week. The service decided in mid-July to defer FRP for the M109A7 self-propelled howitzer. Esper at a Defense Writers Group breakfast Aug. 29 attributed this to "insufficient welding" on the chassis. "I think we have that under control now," he added. Esper cited "quality...
