Archive for December, 2011

2011: The year that was

By Philip Ewing on Friday, December 30th, 2011

2011: The year that was

Looking back at the Washington saga that left the U.S. military worrying it would become a “paper tiger.”

Updated: U.S., Saudis ink deal for Boeing F-15s

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Updated: U.S., Saudis ink deal for Boeing F-15s

After a recent loss in Japan’s fighter competition, Big B comes roaring back with a $29.4 billion deal with Saudi Arabia.

The year of the chopping block

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 29th, 2011

The year of the chopping block

There’s no telling just how many programs are in the crosshairs as DoD tries to deal with the prospect of reduced budget growth.

Report: High cost prompts Israel to reject LCS

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Report: High cost prompts Israel to reject LCS

Israel reportedly has waved off on buying littoral combat ships and instead wants something cheaper.

Happy holiday links

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Happy holiday links

Links for this most joyous of seasons.

The coming defense ‘train wreck’

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

The coming defense ‘train wreck’

A year-ahead forecast paints a bleak picture of another year of dysfunction for the military-industrial-congressional complex.

Raptor takeoff

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

After Japan loss, Boeing looks for other fighter deals

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

After Japan loss, Boeing looks for other fighter deals

Boeing is confident about its offerings and plans to go after other deals in other countries. But how long can it keep up?

The Pentagon’s ‘savings’ illusions

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

The Pentagon’s ‘savings’ illusions

A commentator argues that politicians’ short-term priorities get in the way of the military’s true, big-picture needs.

Lockheed hopes to press F-35 momentum

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Lockheed hopes to press F-35 momentum

Despite problems and criticism in the U.S., the company thinks it can add still more new customers to Club F-35.

Japan is the latest F-35 customer

By John Reed on Monday, December 19th, 2011

Japan is the latest F-35 customer

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter scored a major victory when it was officially chosen to become Japan’s latest fighter.

Washington’s next move

By Philip Ewing on Monday, December 19th, 2011

Washington’s next move

If no one outside North Korea knows what it will do next, at least the U.S. can decide what its new strategy might be, analysts said.

Flying the Hornet

By Philip Ewing on Monday, December 19th, 2011

Transition for the North

By Philip Ewing on Monday, December 19th, 2011

Transition for the North

After the death of the Dear Leader, the world holds its breath as it waits to see what’s next.

Weekend wrap: Expeditionary links

By Philip Ewing on Friday, December 16th, 2011

Weekend wrap: Expeditionary links

The week that was. The links that were.

Russians pay visit for AF nuke inspection

By Philip Ewing on Friday, December 16th, 2011

Russians pay visit for AF nuke inspection

A team of inspectors dropped by to check up on the Air Force’s strategic bombers.

Boeing: F-35 hasn’t yet won in Japan

By John Reed on Friday, December 16th, 2011

Boeing: F-35 hasn’t yet won in Japan

Big B says, hey, hold on, this thing ain’t over yet: Its Super Hornet could still be Japan’s new fighter.

U.S. SF troops ‘deployed forward’ in central Africa

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 15th, 2011

U.S. SF troops ‘deployed forward’ in central Africa

American troops are in place and will begin to spread out alongside local host-nation militaries.

Eisenhower’s nightmare

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Eisenhower’s nightmare

John McCain uses a Senate floor speech to excoriate the “military-industrial-congressional complex.”

Was it worth it?

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 15th, 2011

Was it worth it?

U.S. Forces-Iraq has cased its colors, and people across the world are asking the same question.