The “Milestone C” decision is a crucial moment signifying the department’s confidence in the performance of the F-35 and maturity of Lockheed Martin’s production system, though the plane has been in service for years.
By Valerie InsinnaA new approach to speed, scale and efficiency for the industrial base
Radars, EW, EO/IR, space imagery, and microelectronics are brought under one roof for a streamlined approach to common people and factories.
“This is just crazy,” agreed Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante.
By Michael Marrow
The Air Force recently confirmed the secretive plane was continuing flight testing out of Edwards Air Force Base.
By Michael Marrow
“Logistics really matters, sustaining really matters and we are doing that right now with Ukrainians and learning a lot because it’s interesting what you have to do when you can’t send your own US citizens into the country to keep the equipment going,” William LaPlante said.
By Jaspreet Gill
Bill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer, noted that China doesn’t have to deal with this kind of budget chaos. “We can teach them how to do that. That would be helpful,” he said.
By Breaking Defense Staff
“To stay ahead of our competitors, the Department of Defense needs access to the commercial supply chain of microelectronics,” William LaPlante, USD A&S, said. “It is absolutely essential, but it comes with inherent risks. The independent panel review is helping us better understand the risk-based approach we need to take.”
By Jaspreet Gill
“Industry has told us that they they think they can go faster, and we’re hopeful that we can accelerate the program,” said Laura DeSimone, Missile Defense Agency executive director.
By Theresa Hitchens
BAE Systems’ LR-PGK: The Superior Anti-Jam Solution
Going the distance to defeat emerging jam threats.
With the war in Ukraine raging, missile and other munition production seems like a sure bet. But the Pentagon knows industry is wary of getting burned should attitudes change and is trying to offer novel reassurances.
By Ashley Roque
“We’re not fighting [in] Ukraine with Silicon Valley right now, even though they’re going to try to take credit for it,” said Pentagon acquisition czar Bill LaPlante.
By Valerie Insinna
F-35 deliveries were suspended on Aug. 31 due to findings of a Chinese alloy in the supply chain.
By Valerie Insinna
After lawmakers raised concerns about potential abuse, there was a “Herculean” effort to rewrite the legislation.
By Jaspreet Gill
The meeting “will include a call for production support for things like gun barrels, ball bearings, and steel casings,” as well as obsolescent parts and microchips, a senior defense official said.
By Valerie Insinna
Earlier this week, the Pentagon acknowledged that it had stopped accepting deliveries of the F-35 due to Chinese alloys used in magnets inside the F-35 turbomachine.
By Valerie Insinna “I’m worried about the small supplier who signed a firm, fixed-price contract. It’s got 50 employees, and all of a sudden is dealing with 11 percent, inflation,” said Pentagon acquisition executive Bill LaPlante. “How do we deal with that company? We don’t want those companies to go out of business.”
By Valerie Insinna
