DoD Sticks With F-35 Current Engine
The Pentagon is abandoning its efforts to develop a next-generation adaptive engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, going instead for an upgrade to the current F-35 engine — a major win for F135 maker Pratt & Whitney.
Lockheed Announces Layoffs at Pax
Lockheed Martin has announced the layoff of 176 workers at its Sikorsky division supporting the heavy lift helicopter program at NAS Patuxent River. The layoffs are effective April 27.
F-35 Production Flight Operations Resume
Lockheed Martin resumed accepting flights of newly built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters early this week, nearly three months after an engine problem grounded new jets and halted deliveries.
Retrofit Ordered for F-35 Fleet Worldwide
The F-35 Joint Program Office has ordered that all F-35 jets should be retrofitted with a fix intended to solve a potential engine vibration problem. This includes a global retrofit, not just for US aircraft.
US, Canada Ban TikTok on Government Devices
The US and Canada have given their agencies a month to clear TikTok from all government devices amid mounting fears of data ending up in the hands of Chinese Communist Party members via the Chinese-owned social media platform.
Probe Finds Pilot Error in F-35C Crash
Naval Air Forces investigators found that pilot error caused an F-35C Lightning II fighter jet to crash onto the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson before sliding into the South China Sea last year. The error “was not conducted in a reckless manner nor with malicious intent,” according to the Naval Air Forces Command.
Japanese Team Finds US WWII Sub
A team of Japanese researchers have located the missing submarine Albacore off Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost main island. USS Albacore (SS-218) had one of the most successful combat records of all Navy submarines in World War II when it sank near the strait between Hokkaido and Honshu islands, a main shipping channel on Nov. 7, 1944.
More Tax Relief for MD Military Retirees?
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore testified last week in support of a bill that would give the state’s military retirees a larger tax break. The tax exemption set would save Maryland veterans an estimated $30 million annually beginning in tax year 2024, according to the governor’s office.
1st Missile Strike Missed UFO @ Lake Huron
The first US missile fired Sunday at the unidentified aerial object over Lake Huron missed the target and “landed harmlessly” in the water before a second AIM-9X Sidewinder missile successfully hit and blew up the octagonal object.
Clutch Issues Ground Some V-22 Ospreys
A US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey approaches the flight deck of the Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary sea base USS Hershel “Woody” Williams on January 6, 2023. (US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conner D. Blake/Released) Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff. The US Naval Air Systems Command grounded a subset of V-22 Osprey aircraft last week due to hard clutch engagement issues with the tilt-rotor aircraft, reports…
