Archive for June, 2011

U.S. builds secret drone base for Yemen attacks

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

U.S. builds secret drone base for Yemen attacks

Does a new secret airbase indicate that the locus of terrorism has fully shifted? If so, what are American troops still doing in Afghanistan?

U.S. details aircraft on display in Paris

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

U.S. details aircraft on display in Paris

The Pentagon announces the officials and aircraft that it plans to send to this year’s air show.

The Army’s big network experiment

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

The Army’s big network experiment

Commanders want to know more than whether a batch of new network equipment works — they want to know how real soldiers actually use it in the field.

Marines ditch SAW for new auto rifle

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Marines ditch SAW for new auto rifle

The Marines’ new rifle can’t spit lead like their old light machine gun, but it’s so accurate it may not need to. Or so the brass hopes.

Happy birthday to the U.S. Army

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Should Iraq repay the U.S.?

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Should Iraq repay the U.S.?

A congressman has reportedly broached the idea that Iraq repay the U.S. for some of the funds spent on aid and reconstruction after the war. Is it an idea worth pursuing?

DoD libraries launch summer reading program

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

Harpoon missile launch

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

U.K. Apaches destroy 2 Libyan vessels, AA gun

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

U.K. Apaches destroy 2 Libyan vessels, AA gun

Built to kill tanks in land warfare, the British Army’s Apache gunships proved adept against naval targets off Libya.

Report: DoD testers not to blame for delays

By Philip Ewing on Monday, June 13th, 2011

Report: DoD testers not to blame for delays

The Pentagon’s test and evaluation teams aren’t the cause of setbacks in big weapons programs, a report concludes. The problems they find are.

The White House website crackdown

By Philip Ewing on Monday, June 13th, 2011

The White House website crackdown

Can the vast Internet real estate taken up by DoD and the intelligence community survive the White House’s planned purge of official websites?

Marines want to fast-track EFV replacement

By Philip Ewing on Monday, June 13th, 2011

Marines want to fast-track EFV replacement

The Marines’ top weapons developer says he wants to hurry up with determining the best strategy to replace its benighted Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.

Steve Trimble gets his own personal helo demo

By Philip Ewing on Monday, June 13th, 2011

Kit Up: The Army ditches the beret

By Philip Ewing on Monday, June 13th, 2011

Gates to NATO: You guys suck

By Philip Ewing on Monday, June 13th, 2011

Is a European missile shield worth it?

By Philip Ewing on Monday, June 13th, 2011

Is a European missile shield worth it?

As Washington looks forward to a world of harder choices about budgets and military reach, should it keep its missile defense commitments to Europe?

The battle to replace the Hellfire

By Philip Ewing on Monday, June 13th, 2011

The battle to replace the Hellfire

Three of America’s defense titans are angling to build the military’s next generation of air to ground missiles, with billions of dollars on the line.

Qaddafi to U.S. reps: Thanks for your support

By Philip Ewing on Monday, June 13th, 2011

Qaddafi to U.S. reps: Thanks for your support

Libyan strongman Moammar Qaddafi has thanked U.S. House lawmakers who voted to require the president “explain” the American role in the Libyan intervention.

Weekend wrap: Expeditionary links

By Philip Ewing on Friday, June 10th, 2011

Weekend wrap: Expeditionary links

The week that was. The links that were.

Marine aviators’ new weapon: the iPad

By Philip Ewing on Friday, June 10th, 2011

Marine aviators’ new weapon: the iPad

As the Army experiments with using smartphones or tablet computers on the battlefield, other troops, including Marine aviators, are blazing their own tech trails.