Defense Bill Includes Submarine Launched Nuclear Weapon
The Senate and House agreed on a $716 billion defense authorization bill which includes $65 million to develop a controversial new submarine-launched nuclear weapon, the Trident II D5 with a W76-2, aimed at deterring Russia.
Grosklags: Hypoxia Incidents on the Decline
Senate Armed Services Committee members hear that the rate of hypoxia incidents in the Navy’s T-45 training jets has decreased in the past six months. The frequency of these episodes has dropped from its peak of more than three per month to about one per month.
355-Ship Navy Not a Wish. It’s Now Policy
President Trump’s 2018 National Defense Authorization Act includes a provision that calls for the US to build up to 355 ships “as soon as practicable.” That makes achieving a 355-ship Navy national policy.
DoD Steps Up Efforts to Retain Technical Edge
The Pentagon is stepping up new efforts to rapidly integrate more commercial technology in DoD areas such as data infrastructure and management, cybersecurity, and machine learning. Deputy DefSec Patrick Shanahan says retaining a technical edge is paramount.
T-45 Training Grounded Indefinitely
The Navy has extended the grounding of all of its T-45 training jets indefinitely after a group of instructor pilots refused to fly the aircraft. The service’s engineers need to figure out what’s causing a spike in dangerous physical symptoms in pilots brought on by a drop in oxygen in the cockpit.
Pokémon a No-Go on Govt.-Issued Phones
The Pentagon urges troops and other DoD personnel not to play Pokemon Go on their government-issued cellphones, but there is no ban on playing the location-based augmented reality game on Defense Department property.
F-35 Fleet Grounded
If the F-35B is going to fly at the UK airshows, then the four planes now at NAS Pax River probably need to take off by tomorrow morning.
Read the Joint Strike Fighter DOT&E Report for Yourself
Lightning vulnerability, late software, high costs and lowered performance plague the aircraft.
