McMaster Choice as Security Adviser Earns Praise
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Choosing Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, 54, to be national security adviser is a brilliant decision by President Trump, CNN says. McMaster, 54, is the “smartest and most capable military officer of his generation, one who has not only led American victories on the battlefields of the 1991 Gulf War and of the Iraq War, but also holds a Ph.D. in history,” the CNN report states. Reuters calls McMaster a military officer known for speaking his mind and challenging his superiors. The New York Times called him a “compelling choice.”
Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David Shulkin is following in President Trump’s social media foot steps, Military Times reports. Shulkin was sworn in last week to his new position, and a few hours later you could find him at his Twitter account @SecShulkin.
A Russian spy ship has been spotted in the Atlantic Ocean just off the East Coast, but Pentagon officials say there is nothing to worry about, Military Times reports. “This is not something where we have seen where they have entered territorial waters, and as such it is lawful and very similar to operations we do,” a Pentagon spokesman said.
The Navy is making changes to the way it offers technical training, Navy Times reports. Gone will be the Class A school, the one that could last up to two years and for many sailors the only trade-school training they receive during a 20-year career in the service. Instead, the new regimen will include a shorter stint following boot camp that will be whittled down to just what sailors need to succeed in their first tour. Navy Times also reports Atlantic and Pacific fleet commanders will decide when sailors get their next level of training.
A poll taken ahead of the trans-Atlantic security meeting in Germany found that four NATO countries — Bulgaria, Greece, Slovenia and Turkey — said they would align with Russia, when asked which military power they’d want fighting on their side if attacked, Reuters reports. The majority of the countries polled chose the US as their go-to defense partner. China and Russia picked each other.
Speaking in Baghdad this week, DefSec James Mattis said he believes US forces will be in Iraq and in the fight against ISIS militants for a while, despite some contentious times between the two nations, AP reports.
Lockheed Martin’s second T-50A has performed its inaugural flight. Lockheed is making a bid for the US Air Force’s T-X competition. The Air Force is looking for a fast, two-seat plane to replace the Northrop Grumman T-38 Talon aircraft, UPI reports.
China recently placed a ban on purchasing coal from North Korea. That move could push the reclusive state into further provocations, South China Morning Post reports. China will suspend all imports of coal from North Korea for the rest of the year, in accordance with existing UN sanctions over Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
Military Times reports the US Navy conducted a test launch of its Trident II D5 missile from a ballistic missile submarine assigned to Submarine Group 9, out of Bangor, Washington. The launch of the nuclear capable missile system was part of regular tests that “are conducted on a frequent, recurring basis to ensure the continued reliability of the system.” The launch comes during increased tensions between the US and Russia and North Korea.
Contracts:
BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, is being awarded a $41,348,229 cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost reimbursable contract for rapid design, development, customization, fabrication, integration, test and evaluation, installation, certification, maintenance and upgrade, logistic, and life cycle support of new and/or existing communication-electronic platforms, equipment/systems and subsystems. These efforts are in support of the Naval Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Special Communications Mission Solutions Division. Work will be performed in St. Inigoes, Maryland (50 percent); Chesapeake, Virginia (40 percent); and Fayetteville, North Carolina (10 percent), and is expected to be completed in December 2018. Fiscal 2015, 2016, and 2017 aircraft procurement (Navy); and working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,092,626 are being obligated on this award, $970,940 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to 10 US Code 2304(c)(1). The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00421-17-C-0028).
ELTA North America Inc., Annapolis Junction, Maryland, has been awarded a $15,553,483 firm-fixed-price letter contract for counter-unmanned aerial systems. Contractor will provide the procurement, delivery, and training of 21 Man Portable Aerial Defense System kits. Production of the kits will be performed in Israel, and delivery/training to continental US locations is expected to be complete by July 28, 2017. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2016 and 2017 research, development, test, and evaluation; and procurement funds in the amount of $7,621,207 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8730-17-C-0016).
