Archive for Naval Warfare

Update on Osprey Deicer, Hydraulic Probs

By Colin Clark on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

Update on Osprey Deicer, Hydraulic Probs

The main problems afflicting the Marines’ vaunted V-22 Ospreys have been fixed, according to one of the Marines’ most experienced V-22 pilots. During a Monday visit to MCAS New River, Lt. Col. A. J. Bianca, the CO of VMM-261, explained the fixes to the deicer systems and the hydraulic systems.

A Brown Water Navy?

By Greg Grant on Friday, November 14th, 2008

A Brown Water Navy?

In a new paper, analyst Frank Hoffman dissects the Navy’s current maritime strategy and finds it wanting, particularly in terms of resources, which the strategy barely mentions. He proposes a new approach based on partnering with foreign navies and large numbers of small “streetfighter” ships.

Navy Fighter Gap: Which Way Obama?

By Colin Clark on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

Navy Fighter Gap: Which Way Obama?

The fighter gap. Sounds scary, doesn’t it? If things go as they are, the US will not have enough air-to-air attack aircraft to deploy the full complement required for its aircraft carriers. Boeing is making a valiant effort to convince the Pentagon and the public that the Navy’s fighter gap should be closed using F-18 E/Fs.

Morgan Stanley On Obama’s Pentagon

By Greg Grant on Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

Morgan Stanley On Obama’s Pentagon

Morgan Stanley’s defense industry analysts, led by sharp veteran Heidi Wood, have written up their initial thoughts on “Obama and Defense.” They said the “leanings” of players in the Obama administration will be to cut back on defense spending following a “reasonable” time in office, which in their accounting equals around 18 months into his term.

JLTV Protest: Big Contract, Big Stakes

By Colin Clark on Monday, November 10th, 2008

JLTV Protest: Big Contract, Big Stakes

In these days of tanker, CSAR-X and other protests it will probably come as small surprise that Northrop Grumman has filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office since it lost on its bid to gain part of the $100 billion or so Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program. “After careful examination of the data presented at the Nov. 5 [bid] debriefing, it is apparent that inconsistencies in the bid and evaluation process unfairly placed the Northrop Grumman team at a competitive disadvantage,” the company said in a press release.

Murtha on the Rocks? Dicks in the Wings??

By Colin Clark on Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Murtha on the Rocks? Dicks in the Wings??

In the last two days I’ve seen several stories citing polls that Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.), one of the most powerful House members, may lose to the GOP after making some very unwise comments about Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and whether Murtha’s own constituents would vote for the senator. Murtha’s defeat — he is the second-ranking member of the appropriations committee and leads the defense subcommittee — would put Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) next in line to make the big defense spending decisions.

DoD Budget Vault Closing

By Colin Clark on Monday, November 3rd, 2008

DoD Budget Vault Closing

Word from the Pentagon is that this week should see the final version of the 2010 budget sent to the White House.

Known in lovely Pentagon-speak as the POM lock, this will mean the services are barred from screwing around with their numbers any more. At least until the next administration comes in and they start running to the new folks crying, “the wolf is at the door! The wolf is at the door.”

Coasties Stripped of Acquisition Power

By Colin Clark on Friday, October 31st, 2008

Coasties Stripped of Acquisition Power

The Department of Homeland Security has stripped acquisition decision authority from the Coast Guard in the wake of the service’s disastrous management of the Deepwater program. The new arrangement should help DHS get the Coast Guard back on track, according to Robbin Laird, a defense consultant who has worked with the Coast Guard.

“With the coming of the new administration funding of appropriate homeland security functions is crucial. With this transfer of authority, DHS will be in a position to shape the future of the USCG and its approach to the future.

Young Spanks Air Force; Talks MRAP Light and More

By Colin Clark on Thursday, October 30th, 2008

Young Spanks Air Force; Talks MRAP Light and More

The Air Force generally does a rotten job of managing and budgeting for space programs. That was the strongest message sent today by John Young, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, as he discussed the 2010 budget and acquisition in general during a wide-ranging discussion with reporters today.
Although Young said he didn’t want [...]

Raid Pentagon Spending Or Leverage It?

By Commentary on Monday, October 27th, 2008

Raid Pentagon Spending Or Leverage It?

The debate about guns or butter hotted up last week, with Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) calling for an enormous decline in defense spending of 25 percent and the head of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, Rep. John Murtha (D-Penn.) saying money for weapons will have to come from spending slated to fund more Army personnel. Defense consultant Robbin Laird weighs in on the likely impacts of the financial crisis on defense spending.