Tag Archives: F-35

Frank Kendall: Pentagon FY 2017 Focus on Research and Development Designed to Keep U.S. Military Edge

Frank Kendall: Pentagon FY 2017 Focus on Research and Development Designed to Keep U.S. Military Edge

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall in 2012. Department of Defense Photo

Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall in 2012. Department of Defense Photo

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Pentagon’s top weapons’ buyer said the Fiscal Year 2017 president’s budget paid in the research and development projects to “buy some options” for the U.S. to retain its military technological superiority. Read More

Stackley: Marines Set to Standup New F-35B Squadron in June

Stackley: Marines Set to Standup New F-35B Squadron in June

Navy's top acquisition official Sean Stackley testifies before the HASC on March, 23 2016. CSPAN Image

Navy’s top acquisition official Sean Stackley testifies before the HASC on March 23, 2016. CSPAN Image

The Navy’s top acquisition official told a key congressional panel Wednesday that “Marines absolutely love this aircraft” and expect to be fielding a new squadron of F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters in June. Read More

New Possible Chinese Radar Installation on South China Sea Artificial Island Could Put U.S., Allied Stealth Aircraft at Risk

New Possible Chinese Radar Installation on South China Sea Artificial Island Could Put U.S., Allied Stealth Aircraft at Risk

A Jan. 24, 2016 image of Cuarteron Reef in the South China Sea with what is likely a high frequency radar array. CSIS Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative, DigitalGlobe Image used with permission.

A Jan. 24, 2016 image of Cuarteron Reef in the South China Sea with what is likely a high frequency radar array. CSIS Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative, DigitalGlobe Image used with permission.

This post has been updated to include additional comments from the Department of Defense.

A possible new Chinese radar installation in the South China Sea could put American and allied stealth aircraft at risk as part of a wider detection network similar to U.S. efforts to find Russian bombers in the Cold War. Read More

FY 2017 Budget: Tight Navy Budget in Line With Pentagon Drive for High End Warfighting Power But Brings Increased Risk

FY 2017 Budget: Tight Navy Budget in Line With Pentagon Drive for High End Warfighting Power But Brings Increased Risk

Sailors man the phone and distance line aboard the Arleigh Burke-Class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG-57) on Nov. 7, 2014. US Navy Photo

Sailors man the phone and distance line aboard the Arleigh Burke-Class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG-57) on Nov. 7, 2014. US Navy Photo

This is the final version of this post.

PENTAGON — The Department of the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2017 lower-than-expected budget submission follows closely with an overall Department of Defense drive to build higher end warfighting capabilities — but at a cost, according to budget documents released on Tuesday. Read More

Canadian Participation in F-35 Program Remains Murky; U.S. Hopes for Open Competition for CF-18 Replacement

Canadian Participation in F-35 Program Remains Murky; U.S. Hopes for Open Competition for CF-18 Replacement

F-35 test pilot Maj Charles “Flak” Trickey fired the GAU-22/A 25mm gun from F-35A aircraft AF-2 in the first aerial gun test operating on the China Lake, California, test range, Oct. 30, 2015. US Air Force photo.

F-35 test pilot Maj Charles “Flak” Trickey fired the GAU-22/A 25mm gun from F-35A aircraft AF-2 in the first aerial gun test operating on the China Lake, California, test range, Oct. 30, 2015. US Air Force photo.

Canada’s participation in the global Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter remains in limbo, with conflicting reports coming out of the country since the installation of a Liberal Party government following the Oct. 19 election. Read More

Pentagon Requests Funding To Accelerate Harrier Data Link Upgrades

Pentagon Requests Funding To Accelerate Harrier Data Link Upgrades

An AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 prepares to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on Feb. 25, 2015. US Navy Photo

An AV-8B Harrier assigned to Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 311 prepares to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) on Feb. 25, 2015. US Navy Photo

The Pentagon has asked for an additional $7.5 million in the current fiscal year for the Marine Corps to get started on installing the Link 16 communication system on its fleet of Boeing AV-8B Harriers. Read More

Panel: Pentagon's Future Vertical Lift Program Should Form Detailed CONOPS Sooner Than F-35 Did

Panel: Pentagon’s Future Vertical Lift Program Should Form Detailed CONOPS Sooner Than F-35 Did

AVX Aircraft Company, Bell Helicopter, Sikorsky-Boeing Team, and Karem Aircraft all promise to build a Future Vertical Lift aircraft that is faster, more agile, can travel father and cost less than today's helicopters. Image courtesy of Karem Aircraft via U.S. Army.

AVX Aircraft Company, Bell Helicopter, Sikorsky-Boeing Team, and Karem Aircraft all promise to build a Future Vertical Lift aircraft that is faster, more agile, can travel father and cost less than today’s helicopters. Image courtesy of Karem Aircraft via U.S. Army.

The Future Vertical Lift program officials will need to develop the variants’ concepts of operations early in the process if they want to maximize commonality and cost-savings throughout the program’s life, a defense official said in a July 22 panel discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Read More