Archive for April, 2011

Has the international ‘farce’ worsened the crisis in Libya?

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Has the international ‘farce’ worsened the crisis in Libya?

A well-known defense analyst says the Libyan people are worse off, not better, because of how poorly the international community has managed its military intervention

One week later, no new answers on DoD’s next big review

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

One week later, no new answers on DoD’s next big review

The White House announced big cuts, a major review, and the potential for many changes for DoD. But it forgot to tell anyone in the Pentagon what it’s all about.

Tomorrow’s big programs should expect The Treatment

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, April 20th, 2011

Tomorrow’s big programs should expect The Treatment

Pentagon officials are promising to scrub programs rigorously as they get underway so they can control or predict costs as much as possible.

Bell flies OH-58 Block II candidate for AAS

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

DoD announces winners of the SecDef environmental awards

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

All right, armchair admirals: Deal with a small-boat swarm

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

All right, armchair admirals: Deal with a small-boat swarm

How can today’s U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and equipment best respond to the dreaded ‘swarm attack?’

Will DoD’s new cyber-strategy be enough?

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Will DoD’s new cyber-strategy be enough?

The Pentagon is reportedly close to releasing its new cyber-strategy. But how much can it help with actual preparations in case of a cyber attack?

Move and counter-move in DoD’s war on smugglers

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

Move and counter-move in DoD’s war on smugglers

Officials hope a new command post in Key West will help with the war on smuggling into the U.S. Drug traffickers, however, show a strong penchant for adaptation.

New general officer announcements

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

The Army’s new super-helicopter

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, April 19th, 2011

The Army’s new super-helicopter

A top Army official wants a very fast, brand-new helicopter in the field within the next two decades. The Army, however, has had some issues with developing new helos.

DoD: 3 U.S. new attacks on Libyan air defenses

By Philip Ewing on Monday, April 18th, 2011

American aircraft struck three Libyan air defense targets over the weekend, Pentagon officials said Monday. Air Force F-16CJs destroyed a surface-to-air missile site on Saturday, and they destroyed one SAM site and one radar site on Sunday, said Navy Capt. Darryn James, a top Pentagon spokesman. DoD says American warplanes — either the F-16CJs or […]

Your program has breached Nunn-McCurdy? Yawn.

By Philip Ewing on Monday, April 18th, 2011

Your program has breached Nunn-McCurdy? Yawn.

Just in time for tax day, a Pentagon announcement sets out the latest costs for all your favorite weapons programs, and rounds up all of last year’s Nunn-McCurdy’s breaches.

DoD inquiry clears McChrystal, for the record

By Philip Ewing on Monday, April 18th, 2011

DoD inquiry clears McChrystal, for the record

DoD’s report can’t substantiate many of the quotes or events in the now-infamous profile of him. The horse, however, is out of the barn; this is for history’s sake.

Twilight of the Bone — revisited

By Philip Ewing on Monday, April 18th, 2011

Twilight of the Bone — revisited

So is the B-1 the Air Force’s least — or most — expensive bomber to operate? It depends.

Boeing’s joint strike fighter blues

By Philip Ewing on Monday, April 18th, 2011

Boeing’s joint strike fighter blues

Boeing’s engineers say DoD should’ve picked their entry in the Joint Strike Fighter contest, given all the problems its competitor has encountered

The Navy’s acquisitions hiring boom

By Philip Ewing on Friday, April 15th, 2011

The Navy’s acquisitions hiring boom

The Navy Department plans to hire thousands of acquisitions professionals — inspectors, contract experts, testers, etc. — to restore “core competence,” officials say

Can the Army’s smartphone dreams endure?

By Philip Ewing on Friday, April 15th, 2011

Can the Army’s smartphone dreams endure?

The Army has ambitions of equipping every soldier with a mobile device — can they survive this week’s call for a big “review” and cuts to defense spending?

DoD: Warthogs, Spectres are there if NATO wants them

By Philip Ewing on Friday, April 15th, 2011

DoD: Warthogs, Spectres are there if NATO wants them

The Pentagon says NATO can use its Warthogs and Spectres for ground attack missions, so why is NATO trying to figure out where to get more strike aircraft?

The twilight of the Bone

By Philip Ewing on Friday, April 15th, 2011

The twilight of the Bone

The B-1 Lancer has had a successful second career as an insurgent-fighter over Afghanistan, but the fleet is supposed to begin shrinking.

Dempsey lays down a marker on potential cuts

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Dempsey lays down a marker on potential cuts

The Army’s new chief knows the era of cuts is coming, but he’s not going to just stand by and let the service coast to a “soft landing”