Commerce Launches Tech Hub Grant Program
The US Commerce Department on Friday launched a program where cities can apply for grant funding to become technology hubs. The agency will accept proposals from regions across the country. The grants are part of last year’s CHIPS and Science Act to stimulate investments in new technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotech.
Pentagon: No Evidence of Aliens in UFO Cases
The Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities was told last week that none of the more than 650 unexplained anomalous phenomena, or UAP, incidents under investigation since the Pentagon’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office’s July 2022 inception were of an alien nature.
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.
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.
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…
DoD $1.4B Short on Next F-35 Contract
The Pentagon is $1.4 billion short for its next major F-35 contract with Lockheed. If more money isn’t found, the pending three-year contract, valued at as much as $30 billion, will yield fewer aircraft for the US’s costliest weapons program, which is now estimated at $412 billion.
Navy Makes Changes to Basic Training
The US Navy is revamping its boot camp basics to include 10 weeks of training instead of eight and adding more mentorship, life skills, and personal and professional development portions to the curriculum.
Navy Bests Army in Annual Football Matchup
The US Naval Academy Midshipmen beat the Army Black Nights in the annual football matchup Saturday 17-13. Navy now leads the historic series 62-52-7.
Report: Presidential Helicopter ‘Unreliable’ in Emergencies
A Pentagon report says the new presidential helicopter is unreliable in emergency situations and not “operationally suitable.”
Italian F-35B Lands on Carrier for 1st Time
An Italian Navy F-35B Lightning II landed on the ITS Cavour aircraft carrier for the first time Friday. The landing follows the compatibility testing in the US earlier this year, when two F-35Bs from NAS Pax River were deployed on the ship to test every aspect of the aircraft operations.
