The aerospace giant chose to forego overall financial guidance for 2024 as it struggles with safety concerns in its commercial business.
By Michael MarrowBreaking Defense toured Boeing’s Seattle-area facilities where the KC-46A is built, and company officials explained fixes in the works for six critical issues, from new cameras to better seals on fuel lines.
By Michael MarrowThe Department of the Air Force Battle Network represents “the physical architecture, the product architecture, that’s needed” to realize JADC2 capabilities, Brig. Gen. Luke Cropsey, the integrating program executive officer for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management, said in an interview with Breaking Defense.
By Michael MarrowAir Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter indicated he was leaning toward buying 75 more KC-46A tankers as a bridge to an accelerated next-gen program.
By Michael Marrow“I was surprised the anticipated initial operational capability for NGAS is 2040. It is likely that this RFI and the subsequent Analysis of Alternatives will find that there are viable options for the Air Force to accelerate the fielding of KC-Z,” the Hudson Institute’s Tim Walton said in an email to Breaking Defense.
By Theresa HitchensRVS 2.0 provides a “quantum leap” in camera technology, said Lt. Col. Joshua Renfro of the Air Force’s KC-46 cross functional team. “We’re very confident in the product. We like where it’s going, and we really like what this is going to deliver to us down the road.”
By Valerie InsinnaRob Wittman, who is currently the top Republican on the HASC’s seapower and projection forces subcommittee, is seeking the chair of HASC’s tactical air and land forces subcommittee next year.
By Valerie Insinna and Aaron MehtaThe changes, including halving business divisions, come as Boeing’s defense sector finds itself at a crossroads, with new leadership contending with systemic financial issues tied to its large number of fixed-price contracts with the US government.
By Valerie Insinna“We’re not embarrassed by [the cost overruns]; they are what they are. And we intend to deliver against these contracts and satisfy our customers,” said Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun.
By Valerie InsinnaThe Israeli air force has been eager to replace its aging fleet of 707 refueling tankers, a move delayed by political instability.
By Arie EgoziCurrently, the Air Force envisions its next-generation KC-Z tanker as a family of systems, which could include a tanker aircraft as well as “other technologies, whether it’s survivability, or connectivity, or maybe efficiencies that we want to pull into that,” said program officer Paul Waugh.
By Valerie Insinna“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 InsinnaAlthough lawmakers repeatedly said their position wasn’t meant to favor a particular company, in some respects the debate was held over parochial lines, as some of the most outspoken had interests in their districts.
By Valerie Insinna