P-8A Poseidon, operated by Patrol Squadron (VP-16) in February, 2013. US Navy Photo
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) formally bought its first four P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft in a $1.49-billion contract with Boeing that also includes the U.S. Navy’s next nine aircraft, Boeing announced today. Read More
Fast attack submarine USS Seawolf (SSN-21) surfaces through Arctic ice at the North Pole on July 30, 2015. US Navy Photo
The Center for Strategic and International Studies has proposed creating a military code of conduct in a new multinational forum to discuss security concerns in the Arctic among Russia, the United States and other nations in the region. Read More
The following is an Aug. 26, 2015 white paper by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L) Frank Kendall on the Pentagon’s independent research and development (IR&D) initiative that’s part of Better Buying Power 3.0 acquisition reform. Read More
Reserve component Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operational Support Unit 7 use a Man Transportable Robot System “Talon” Mark 2 to approach a suspected bomb maker’s building during a mobility exercise at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in March 2012. AEODRS Increment 2 is meant to replace this system. US Navy photo.
This post has been updated to include additional information from the Navy regarding the fielding timelines of all three AEODRS variants.
Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) is moving forward with its Advance Explosive Ordnance Disposal Robotic System (AEODRS) tactical operations variant, the middle of three sizes, after approving the system to go into engineering and manufacturing development phase earlier this month. Read More
Left to right, the guided missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69), and the guided missile destroyers USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Carney (DDG 64) and USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) launch a coordinated volley of missiles in 2003. US Navy Photo
After Vietnam, the Department of Defense turned its attention back to the Soviet threat in Europe. Faced with an opposing force that was numerically superior, land-power-focused, and strategically positioned to overrun Western Europe, the United States initially turned to nuclear weapons to offset a battlefield disadvantage. Read More
Helicopter carrier Kaga (DDH-184) on Aug. 27, 2015. Japan Marine United Photo
Japan has launched the second in its new class of helicopter carrier — the largest Japanese ships since World War II — in a Thursday ceremony in Yokohama. Read More
Chinese amphibious warship Changbaishan deploys what appear to be several ZBD-05 infantry fighting vehicles as part of Joint Sea 2015 on Aug. 25, 2015. Chinese MoD Photo
Chinese and Russian forces conducted a first-ever joint amphibious exercise landing 400 marines on Russia’s Pacific Coast about 300 miles away from Japan’s home islands, according to a description of the exercise and photographs released from the Chinese Ministry of Defense on Wednesday. Read More
Sailors aboard the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) prepare to launch an MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 on Aug. 16, 2015. US Navy photo.
The Navy’s summer series of bilateral exercises in the Pacific gave the Littoral Combat Ship USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) a chance to demonstrate emerging capabilities of the new platform, using its rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the first time in an operational context. Read More
Oshkosh Defense L-ATV which won the competition for the JLTV for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. Oshkosh Photo
PENTAGON — The U.S. Marine Corps has no plans for buys of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) beyond the 5,500 to which the service has committed due to cost concerns around the Marines planned Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV), service officials said during Tuesday press briefing following the down select for the JLTV builder. Read More
Oshkosh Defense L-ATV which won the competition for the JLTV for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. Oshkosh Photo
The Army awarded Oshkosh Defense a contract with a potential value of $6.75 billion for the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) today, covering 17,000 vehicles for the Army and for the Marine Corps. Read More
