Defense Spending Bills Taking Shape
Both the House and Senate are proposing $675B in defense spending. The House passed its version of the defense appropriations bill last week. Lawmakers will return after the holiday to reconcile their differences in the legislation.
The F-35 Goes to War
The Israeli F-35 became the first to enter combat, according to the head of Israel’s Air Force. The F-35s were used in two recent strikes in Syria, he said.
US Revising Rules on Military Drone Exports
President Trump signed a memorandum late last week that revises rules for export of military drones, including big target and long-range reconnaissance drones such as the Predator and Reaper aircraft.
Boeing Loses Canada Hornet Deal to Australia
Canada dashes Boeing’s hopes for a buy of 18 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet jets, instead seeking an interim buy of used F/A-18 Hornets from Australia.
Hospital Ship Comfort Heading to Puerto Rico
The hospital ship Comfort will deploy along with increased federal and military aid for Puerto Rico,
VADM Sawyer to Lead 7th Fleet
VADM Phillip G. Sawyer, the new leader of the Navy’s troubled 7th Fleet, has arrived in Japan, replacing Joseph Aucoin, who was relieved last week after a second fatal collision involving one of his ships claimed the lives of 10 sailors.
Navy ID’s Sailors Killed in Destroyer Collision
The Navy has identified the seven sailors who died when the destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided Saturday with a Filipino cargo ship off the coast of Japan. One of the sailors was from Maryland.
Is Trump’s F-35 a Mistake or Deal Maker?
Industry analysts are trying to calibrate the F-35’s future from Trump’s F-35 tweets that it’s cost is ‘out of control’ and word of a multi-year block buy if Lockheed does not protest a buy of F/A-18s from Boeing.
Debate Over Military Budget Heating Up
The debate over the military budget is heating up in Washington between the defense hawks on Capitol Hill and the fiscal hawks in the Trump administration.
What’s Ahead for Cybersecurity?
Trump likely to push for increased cybersecurity in government, and also increased digital surveillance and encryption workarounds: Not so much on cybersecurity regulations for businesses.
