Archive for September, 2011

F-22s for the Marine Corps?

By John Reed on Friday, September 30th, 2011

F-22s for the Marine Corps?

Could the Marine Corps end up flying what’s arguably the best (and recently un-grounded) operational air superiority fighter in the skies today; the Air Force’s soon-to-be out of production F-22 Raptor? One Marine is suggesting the Marines do exactly that if the Corps ends up losing its beleaguered F-35B Joint Strike Fighters to budget cuts

China’s ability to make quality jet engines

By John Reed on Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

China’s ability to make quality jet engines

A new report by Naval War College professor Andrew Erickson claims that Western companies may be giving China “a 100 piece puzzle with 90 of the pieces already assembled” when it comes to developing jet engines for large aircraft — something that could greatly aid the PRC’s quest to modernize its military.

‘Doomsday memo’ ramps up DoD budget fight

By Christian Lowe on Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

‘Doomsday memo’ ramps up DoD budget fight

The House Armed Services Committee released a report Sept. 26 that says if the defense budget is cut any further, we’ll return to the military of “the post-Vietnam Carter era of the late 1970s” and have another Desert One debacle.

Boeing: Retire E-8s ASAP and buy P-8s

By John Reed on Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Boeing: Retire E-8s ASAP and buy P-8s

Boeing is proposing that the Air Force should start retiring its fleet of 707-based E-8 Joint STARS radar planes in 2013 and use money saved from that move to buy the P-8 Air to Ground Sensor plane that is based on the Navy’s P-8 subhunter.

IG shows no wrongdoing in ‘analyst’ briefings

By Christian Lowe on Monday, September 26th, 2011

IG shows no wrongdoing in ‘analyst’ briefings

no less than three investigations into the conduct of the DoD and “military analysts” prompted by hyperbolic media coverage from the New York Times found that there was no misconduct with special briefings given to former military officers who offered their take on military operations on cable and radio news shows.

DoD expands cyber-protection pilot

By Philip Ewing on Monday, September 26th, 2011

DoD expands cyber-protection pilot

After months of stories about enduring cyber-intrusions, the government could be making progress.

Weekend wrap: Expeditionary links

By Philip Ewing on Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Weekend wrap: Expeditionary links

The week that was. The links that were.

The changing of the watch

By Philip Ewing on Friday, September 23rd, 2011

The changing of the watch

The Navy’s new leader takes over at a time when the service could begin losing ships faster than it can add them.

Typhoon, F/A-18, F-35 could duel in Japan fighter bid

By Philip Ewing on Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Typhoon, F/A-18, F-35 could duel in Japan fighter bid

America’s twin aerospace defense titans want to avoid deja vu in the coming battle for a fighter deal with Japan.

Study: DoD spending creates fewer jobs than other types

By Philip Ewing on Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Not with a bang, but a whimper

By Philip Ewing on Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Not with a bang, but a whimper

F-35 delays have forced an Aussie parts-maker out of business. Is this an isolated case or is it ‘a canary in the coal mine?’

Joint multirole helo program in for wild ride

By John Reed on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Joint multirole helo program in for wild ride

The Army’s bid to field a new generation of choppers will be a “roller coaster ride” in the coming years, a general warns.

Quality time with the M203

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Can the Afghan army endure?

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Can the Afghan army endure?

With the U.S. on the glide slope to escape Afghanistan, skeptics are wondering how Kabul will sustain its armed forces.

A warning to Pakistan

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

A warning to Pakistan

SecDef and the Joint Chiefs chairman made clear to Senate lawmakers that Pakistan is running out of time to curtail cross-border attacks.

Has budget-cutting ‘hysteria’ reached its peak?

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, September 22nd, 2011

Has budget-cutting ‘hysteria’ reached its peak?

10 percent unemployment, a draft, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria — will defense advocates’ budget warnings continue to escalate?

America’s hidden industrial ‘surge’ weakness

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

America’s hidden industrial ‘surge’ weakness

A new report observes that if an emergency forced the U.S. to step up a major defense industrial effort, it might fall well short.

Study: Yes, a strategy could save the defense biz

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Study: Yes, a strategy could save the defense biz

A new study argues the U.S. can preserve key aspects of its defense base despite lean budgets, but whether it will is a whole other question.

The X-37’s uncertain fate

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

The X-37’s uncertain fate

The Air Force’s space boss said he’d be open to a discussion on the future of its ultra-secret space plane.

AF gen: GPS, LightSquared ‘can’t coexist’

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

AF gen: GPS, LightSquared ‘can’t coexist’

The Air Force’s space boss said his top priority is protecting GPS, and a proposed broadband network threatens it.