White House Objects to 2nd LCS in 2019
As the Senate takes up the 2019 Defense Appropriations Bill, the White House has made clear it does not approve of a provision that calls for two littoral combat ships in 2019, one more than the Navy asked for in its budget.
McConnell Says, “Russians Are Not Our Friends”
Senate Majority Leader notes alleged meddling in US and European elections and the 2014 annexation of Crimea, saying, “The Russians are not our friends … [they] are acting like the old Soviet Union used to act,”
Blue Angels Set for Major Upgrade
The Blue Angels Squadron is set for a major upgrade following a $17 million contract award.
Turkey’s F-35 Purchase Blocked by NDAA
The $716B defense authorization bill was signed earlier in the year than any NDAA for the past 40 years and also included a stall in the F-35 sale to Turkey and provided President Trump an opportunity to tout his Space Force.
Revenues Up 2nd Year for Top 100 Defense Contractors
For the second straight year revenues for the Top 100 defense companies in the world have increased, suggesting the defense industry has weathered sequestration-related budget cuts and emerged stronger. Total 2017 defense revenues for the Top 100 companies came in at $375.4 billion, a 2.9 percent increase over the companies represented in the previous year’s Top 100 list.
DoD Plans for Space Force Combatant Command
The Pentagon releases its four-prong approach for a Space Force combatant command as a sixth branch of the armed forces.
Fitness Trackers Banned for Deployed Troops
New Pentagon Policy: deployed service members will no longer be allowed to use fitness tracking apps or other wearable technology that relies on geolocation.
Military Families Dissatisfaction with Tricare Grows
Military families are growing more dissatisfied with their Tricare medical insurance according to a recent survey of more than 8,500 Tricare beneficiaries.
DoD Report Aims to Head Off ‘Strategic Surprise’
A Pentagon study is expected to consider “what potential technological capabilities may not be sufficiently acted upon by the Department of Defense in the decade to come, that will lead to US regrets in 2028,” says Michael Griffin, undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.
GAO: On Drones, Safety Oversight Is Lagging
A recent GAO report finds that as the nation’s fleet of small recreational and commercial drones soars, federal enforcement oversight is stalling.
