Lawmakers push Army on autonomous Stryker, worry over weapon stockpiles

Lawmakers push Army on autonomous Stryker, worry over weapon stockpiles
Lawmakers push Army on autonomous Stryker, worry over weapon stockpiles

From Javelins to high-altitude ISR, the HASC tactical air and land subcommittee offers a view into lawmaker’s tactical concerns.

Navy Lays Out Plan To Close The Strike Fighter Gap Four Years Early

Navy Lays Out Plan To Close The Strike Fighter Gap Four Years Early
Navy Lays Out Plan To Close The Strike Fighter Gap Four Years Early

A senior naval aviation officer says a change to the F-35C squadrons, additional reserve aircraft from other services and a successful maintenance program will be key to resolving the longstanding shortfall.

Who’s Who in Defense: HASC’s Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee – Donald Norcross, Chairman; Vicky Hartzler, Ranking Member

Who’s Who in Defense: HASC’s Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee – Donald Norcross, Chairman; Vicky Hartzler, Ranking Member
Who’s Who in Defense: HASC’s Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee – Donald Norcross, Chairman; Vicky Hartzler, Ranking Member

Norcross and Hartzler lead the 16-member HASC subcommittee that has primary jurisdiction over Army and Air Force acquisition, Navy and Marine Corps aviation, and Army and Air Force National Guard and Reserve.

Replacing Spatulas With Robots At Army Ammo Plants

Replacing Spatulas With Robots At Army Ammo Plants
Replacing Spatulas With Robots At Army Ammo Plants

A worker died in 2017 scooping up explosive tetrazene by hand with a spatula. The Army and Congress agree an upgrade is long overdue — but it won’t be cheap.

House Armed Services Scrutinizes F-35 Costs, ABMS, Army Modernization

House Armed Services Scrutinizes F-35 Costs, ABMS, Army Modernization
House Armed Services Scrutinizes F-35 Costs, ABMS, Army Modernization

The HASC wants an independent cost estimate on the F-35 and some detail — any detail — on the plan to replace AWACS. It’s also a little curious about robot tanks.

Army Will Cull Hypersonic & Laser Weapons Portfolios: Jette & Murray

Army Will Cull Hypersonic & Laser Weapons Portfolios: Jette & Murray
Army Will Cull Hypersonic & Laser Weapons Portfolios: Jette & Murray

While Congress wrestles with CH-47 cuts, Army leaders are already looking ahead to hard decisions on high tech.

Parts Problems Slow F-35 Production; CAPE Says Flying Costs Target Not Likely

Parts Problems Slow F-35 Production; CAPE Says Flying Costs Target Not Likely
Parts Problems Slow F-35 Production; CAPE Says Flying Costs Target Not Likely

F-35 Program Executive Officer Vice Adm. Mat Winter today told the HASC tactical air and land subcommittee that Lockheed was guilty of just that, adding that this had helped lead to a shortage of an average of 600 parts each month, causing production line slowdowns and cost increases.

Keep 12 Carriers, It’s A National Imperative: Rep. Wittman

Keep 12 Carriers, It’s A National Imperative: Rep. Wittman
Keep 12 Carriers, It’s A National Imperative: Rep. Wittman

What does one of the most influential defense lawmakers on the Hill, Rob Wittman, think about the Trump Administration plan to cut the number of aircraft carriers from 11 to 10?

HASC Rejects JSTARS Recap, Speeds Up Ships

HASC Rejects JSTARS Recap, Speeds Up Ships
HASC Rejects JSTARS Recap, Speeds Up Ships

The House Armed Services Committee rejected the Air Force’s strategy to replace the E-8 JSTARS and questioned its plan for the EC-130H Compass Call, even as it accelerated Navy shipbuilding.

Army Plans To Halt WIN-T Buy; Shuffle Network $$

Army Plans To Halt WIN-T Buy; Shuffle Network $$
Army Plans To Halt WIN-T Buy; Shuffle Network $$

WASHINGTON: After almost a decade of reporting on the Army’s crucial networks, I’d thought they’d started to get things right. Boy, was I wrong. At a hearing this afternoon of the House Armed Services air and land subcommittee, the Army left lawmakers shaking their heads when they announced they plan to shut down the controversial…

Memos, Vetos, Spending And Those Elections

Memos, Vetos, Spending And Those Elections
Memos, Vetos, Spending And Those Elections

WASHINGTON: Congress has returned after a week of uncommonly beautiful weather for Washington in late August. But, with all the other miseries that Congress has wrought upon the American people in the last few years, lawmakers appear to have brought the hot and muggy weather back with them. What else might they have brought back? Could…

Billions In F-35 Upgrades Debated; Canada Election Fallout

Billions In F-35 Upgrades Debated; Canada Election Fallout
Billions In F-35 Upgrades Debated; Canada Election Fallout

CAPITOL HILL: While Congress and the media focus on immediate issues with the F-35’s ejection seat, the program has begun working on a long-range modernization plan to upgrade the Joint Strike Fighter’s combat power. This modernization package, with the so-called Block 4 software upgrade at its core, is essential to the aircraft reaching its “full warfighting capability,” Maj. Gen.…

No Battle Royal At HASC Markup Over F-35A; Dems Fold Fast

No Battle Royal At HASC Markup Over F-35A; Dems Fold Fast
No Battle Royal At HASC Markup Over F-35A; Dems Fold Fast

UPDATE: GOP Buries Dems On F-35 Vote; Mudslinging Starts early CAPITOL HILL: One of the highlights of today’s House Armed Services Committee markup of the draft defense policy bill is sure to was expected to be a series of votes on whether to shift $588.5 million to the National Guard from the purchase of an additional six Lockheed…

HASC AirLand Bumps Up F-35B, F-18, & Stryker; No F-35Cs Added

HASC AirLand Bumps Up F-35B, F-18, & Stryker; No F-35Cs Added
HASC AirLand Bumps Up F-35B, F-18, & Stryker; No F-35Cs Added

CAPITOL HILL: The House Armed Services Committee wants to add up to six F-35B STOVL jets to the Marine Corps budget, even as it demands new oversight into Lockheed Martin’s long-troubled F-35 program. The House draft National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2016 would not add any F-35Cs, the Navy variant. Instead, it will include up to a…