“If the price of a platform is variable and the Pentagon plans for three and isn’t really adjusting for inflation, eventually they’re going to realize they get two,” said Aerospace Industries Association CEO Eric Fanning.
By Valerie InsinnaThe art of the possible in autonomous ground vehicles
The Diamondback ground robot can even launch and retrieve drones.
Lockheed CFO Jay Malave said the company currently expects the program to become profitable on an annual basis around the 2028 timeframe.
By Valerie Insinna
Eyeing risks of losses, L3Harris’ Chris Kubasik said, “I think the industry as a whole is going to continue to no-bid these contracts until [DoD uses] the right vehicles.”
By Michael Marrow
“We have learned a ton of lessons, especially around contracting,” said Boeing Defense CEO Ted Cobert. “We’re working together to make sure that anything we do going forward will heighten the probability of getting things done in a timely manner.”
By Valerie Insinna
The Air Force is once again accepting deliveries of the troubled tankers — but the service’s acquisition chief warned Boeing must get its act in order ASAP.
By Colin Clark
The Air Force has refused to accept delivery of any more KC-46 tankers until Boeing fixes major problems — at the company’s expense.
By Colin Clark
As the Boeing tanker continues to see delays and cost overruns, the Air Force is airing its complaints.
By Paul McLeary
The connected warrior will have a common operating picture even when contested
Mobile, distributed command and control requires a common operating picture even in contested environments.
WASHINGTON: You’d think Boeing and the Air Force would have learned from Lockheed Martin’s experience with the F-35 and concurrency, which Vice Adm. James Venlet identified six years ago in our pages as a fundamental “miscalculation” in the Joint Strike Fighter program. The issue came to light Friday during a conversation about the KC-46 tanker…
By Colin Clark
UPDATED: ADDS Detailed Boeing Comment On “Being Much More Efficient” WASHINGTON: Boeing will probably deliver the first of the “low risk” KC-46 airborne tankers at least six months later than planned, the Air Force said this morning. “The Air Force will continue to support Boeing’s efforts to execute the program, however, the Air Force assessment…
By Colin Clark
CAPITOL HILL: The Air Force’s troubled KC-46 fuel tanker will probably be delayed “a couple of months” more, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein told the Senate this morning. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed to Breaking Defense that this means they expect contractor Boeing to miss the December deadline to deliver…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
WASHINGTON: Despite a turbulent Trump administration and a plummeting pound, the Anglo-American defense relationship remains strong, said the senior civil servant in the Ministry of Defence. “Under any circumstances, we’re going to continue to work very, very closely with the States,” Stephen Lovegrove, Permanent Secretary of the UK Ministry of Defence, told reporters this morning.…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.
NATIONAL HARBOR: The Navy wants to start building the upgraded “frigate” version of its controversial Littoral Combat Ship a year earlier, the frigate program manager said. The fixed-price, winner-take-all competition will “tentatively” happen in 2018 instead of 2019. To make that earlier date, Capt. Dan Brintzinghoffer said at the Sea-Air-Space conference here, the Navy will…
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.The Air Force’s new B-21 long range strike bomber acquisition program has encountered turbulence in recent weeks as Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, declared: “I will not authorize a program that has a cost-plus contract.” Justifying his position, the senator referenced his smart phone, explaining that: “Silicon Valley built the latest…
By David Deptula and Doug Birkey
To Sen. McCain: Why SASC Should Not Change B-21 Acquisition Rules
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) has placed language in the 1,600 pages of its draft of the National Defense Authorization Act that would fundamentally alter how standard acquisition policies apply to the Air Force’s B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber. The Air Force has meticulously followed all of the rules and regulations mandated by Congress…
By Adam Lowther