An F-35B Lightning II aircraft takes off from the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1). US Navy Photo
The F-35 program office is confident that the aircraft’s Block 2B software will be ready in time for the U.S. Marine Corps’ planned July 2015 initial operational capability (IOC) date, but a more pressing concern is modifying the existing Joint Strike Fighter fleet to combat-capable standards. Read More
An F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter prepares to make a vertical landing at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. in 2013. US Navy Photo
Delays in software developing and testing could limit the capabilities of the U.S. Marine Corps variants of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter when the plane becomes operational in 2015, according to a report released today from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Read More
The following is the March, 24 2014 Government Accountability Office report, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: Problems Completing Software Testing May Hinder Delivery of Expected Warfighting Capabilities. Read More
Coast Guard Icebreakers Polar Star (WAGB-10) and Polar Sea (WAGB-11) moored in an undated photo.
The Coast Guard will likely need help from other government agencies to fund its proposed new $1 billion heavy icebreaker the service says it needs to operate in the Arctic and Antarctic, outgoing USCG commandant Adm. Robert Papp told reporters Wednesday following his final State of the Coast Guard address in Washington, D.C. Read More
An A-10 returning from a training mission on Jan. 11, 2014. US Air Force Photo
The U.S. Air Force will retire the Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog and the Lockheed Martin U-2 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, but the service also hopes to invest in new technologies in the fiscal year 2015 budget proposal. Read More
The following is the recently released Pentagon Electromagnetic Spectrum Strategy.
Electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) access is a prerequisite for modern military operations. DoD’s growing requirements to gather, analyze, and share information rapidly; to control an increasing number of automated Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) assets; to command geographically dispersed and mobile forces to gain access into denied areas; and to “train as we fight” requires that DoD maintain sufficient spectrum access. Read More
Naval Nuclear Power Training Command at Goose Creek, S.C.
Senior enlisted instructors at the Navy’s nuclear reactor schoolhouse have been implicated in a “staff-to-staff” cheating ring that allegedly offered portions of written qualification test for instructors, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert and head of Naval Reactors Adm. John Richardson told reporters at a Tuesday news conference.
The Defense Department has released its annual Department of Office of the Director, Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) on Jan. 29. The report catalogues major U.S. weapons systems and presents an assessment of the all the service’s acquisitions that can tend to be highly critical.
The service’s often contest the findings of DOT&E as dated criticisms or a reiteration of known ongoing problems with weapon’s programs. Read More
Popular support of the U.S. military over the last few decades has helped lead to an increase in personnel-related costs across the force. If left unchecked, these increasing costs will overwhelm the Defense Department budget. Yet, there is no political will in Congress to implement change. Read More
MQ-9 Reaper. US Air Force Photo
As potent weapons as they have been in the years since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, unmanned aircraft — or drones as they are colloquially known — will have to evolve as the U.S. moves to counter rising challenges in the Western Pacific. Read More
