Leaders Arrive in Singapore Ahead of Summit
President Donald Trump arrived in Singapore on Sunday for a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that could lay the groundwork for ending a nuclear stand-off between the old foes.
Raptor, Not F-35, Deployed for Security Mission
The F-22 Raptor has deployed to the Pacific as part of a theater security mission, swapping in for the Air Force’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
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.
New Presidential Helicopter Fleet on Schedule
Sikorsky is four years into its $1.2 billion contract to replace the president’s helicopter fleet with its VH-92A in 2019.
F-35, Warthog About to Go Head to Head
The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the A-10 Warthog are about to go head to head in comparison tests mandated by the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. The F-35 has been heavily anticipated since its development began in the 1990s, but the A-10 has provided the Air Force with close air support since it entered service in 1976 and has developed a loyal fan base along the way.
VADM Suggests Incentive Pay, Bonuses to Keep Pilots
VADM Robert P. Burke believes the Navy may need to offer aviation incentive pay and aviation bonuses to help retain pilots. “We continue to face challenges within some historically retention-challenged communities, particularly among aviators in specific model/type/series platforms,” Burke told Congress.
DoD Report Critical of F-35’s Progress
Lockheed Martin defends F-35’s progress in response to a critical Pentagon report saying efforts to improve the joint strike fighter’s reliability are “stagnant.”
UK’s Top Test Pilot Compares F-35, Harrier
The Royal Air Force’s top test pilot says there is no comparison between the F-35 and the Harrier. Andy Edgell, stationed at NAS Patuxent River, said the F-35 and the Harrier, despite broadly doing the same thing (landing vertically), are “almost incomparable” in flying terms.
Analyst: Space Corps ‘Not Dead at All’
Though the defense policy bill passed by Congress won’t create a new branch of the military dedicated to space, it does make changes that lay the groundwork for a Space Corps to become a reality in the near future. One analyst says, “This issue is not dead at all.”
Troops More Vulnerable to Data Breach Fallout?
Active-duty service members are among the 143 million Americans affected by the Equifax data breach and might be more vulnerable to its potential fallout.
