UAE F-35 deal on life support after Emiratis cancel acceptance of weapons package

UAE F-35 deal on life support after Emiratis cancel acceptance of weapons package
UAE F-35 deal on life support after Emiratis cancel acceptance of weapons package

The UAE’s plans to buy the F-35 now seem rocky, with the Emiratis threatening to pull out of the agreement.

If Congress Punts Spending Bill, Navy’s New Frigate Would Suffer

If Congress Punts Spending Bill, Navy’s New Frigate Would Suffer
If Congress Punts Spending Bill, Navy’s New Frigate Would Suffer

The Navy is looking to get a new class of frigates in the water as soon as possible, but the budget wrangling between Congress and the White House might mean that gets put on hold.

Navy Backing Off 355 Ships, But Closer on Refueling Drone

Navy Backing Off 355 Ships, But Closer on Refueling Drone
Navy Backing Off 355 Ships, But Closer on Refueling Drone

There was some good news, and some bad news, for the Navy on Monday.

No New Ships: Trump Cuts Navy Shipbuilding, Aircraft Procurement

No New Ships: Trump Cuts Navy Shipbuilding, Aircraft Procurement
No New Ships: Trump Cuts Navy Shipbuilding, Aircraft Procurement

PENTAGON: Despite his campaign pledge of a 350-ship fleet, President Trump’s first budget cuts Navy shipbuilding and aircraft procurement below what was enacted in 2017, documents released today reveal. Despite Trump’s criticism of President Obama’s defense plans, this budget sticks with Obama’s shipbuilding plan for 2018: eight ships. And it actually buys eight fewer aircraft…

Fire Scout Drone’s First At-Sea Takeoff

Fire Scout Drone’s First At-Sea Takeoff
Fire Scout Drone’s First At-Sea Takeoff

Fire Scout makes it look easy to take off from a destroyer. It’s not. In video released today (above), the MQ-8C helicopter takes off from the destroyer Jason Dunham with its eyes closed — or rather with its cockpit windows painted over, because there’s nobody inside. Though derived from the widespread Bell 407, the Northrop…

Fire Scout Grows Up: Drone Getting Radar, Rockets, 2016 IOC

Fire Scout Grows Up: Drone Getting Radar, Rockets, 2016 IOC
Fire Scout Grows Up: Drone Getting Radar, Rockets, 2016 IOC

NATIONAL PRESS CLUB: They get so big, so fast. Once a child-sized helicopter that could just collect reconnaissance imagery, the Navy’s MQ-8 Fire Scout has graduated to a bigger airframe that will also carry a maritime search radar and laser-guided rockets. The tentative plan is to kick off the competition for the new radar with…

Can Fire Scout Drone Help Save LCS?

Can Fire Scout Drone Help Save LCS?
Can Fire Scout Drone Help Save LCS?

At 11 years old, the robot helicopter called the MQ-8 Fire Scout is a at least a preadolescent. But ever since the reconnaissance drone’s first flight in 2002, it’s had one big problem: It’s a little bit…little. So, at the Navy’s request, manufacturer Northrop Grumman basically did a brain transplant. It put the Fire Scout’s…