Eurodrone engine candidates tout wares as decision draws near

As Airbus awaits a sign-off on its new European drone, a U.S.-owned Italian firm and a French company are on tenterhooks to discover who has been picked to supply the engine.

Airbus looks to keep portfolio flying in Europe through 2060 — with wider ambitions abroad

Despite growing competition in its backyard, Airbus is laser-focused on keeping its military aircraft in Europe’s skies — and hoping to soon make it across the Atlantic.

Egyptian defense expo highlights homemade tech to counter small drones

The Arab Organization for Industrialization and Benha Electronics each showed off their locally made systems.

France signs $18B weapons deal with UAE

The deal aims to boost military cooperation in the Persian Gulf amid shared concerns about Iran.

Commentary

The steps we must take to strengthen America’s national security innovation base

We must openly and honestly discuss novel and creative ideas to leverage America’s strength and compete against our adversaries’ coercion, theft and authoritarianism.

U.S.-EU leaders to unveil new forum for defense, security talks

Top U.S. and European Union officials are readying a new channel for dialog on defense and security issues, as both sides of the Atlantic stare down similar challenges, a senior EU military official said.

Advanced threats, operational changes drive training transformation for US Marines

Marines say live training is the gold standard for infantry — but they're increasingly seeing where that needs to be supplemented with synthetic training opportunities.

Department of Defense orders $316 million more in anti-jam GPS devices

The contract is part of the military's efforts to get M-Code ready GPS receivers into the hands of troops.

Russia sends missiles near Pacific islands claimed by Japan

The Bastion systems were moved to Matua, a deserted volcanic island in the middle of the chain.

Commentary

How an adversary could take advantage of Europe’s data releases

We underestimate the significance of the available information that a potential adversary can easily acquire.

‘Confusion’ emerges as new weapon class for Air Force cyber warriors

A new spectrum warfare wing wants to plug and play capabilities across platforms like LEGO pieces.

Lockheed unveils pared-down F-35 trainer with same software capability but a 90% reduced footprint

Lockheed Martin spent its own money developing this LITE trainer over the last 18 months after hearing signals from F-35 customers that they needed more training capacity for less cost.

With T-7 on the way, why is ACC eyeing a new trainer?

While the Air Force has a new trainer designed to teach new pilots how to fly in 5th generation fighter aircraft, the T-7A Red Hawk, Air Combat Command has started exploring the possibility of another Advanced Tactical Trainer.

Commentary

Responses to Russian anti-satellite tests should be more about capability than condemnation

The focus on norms of responsible behavior and international shaming is an area better served by State Department actions.

US Navy wants to create more lethal pilots for less money with simulators

The Navy wants to create better pilots for less cost, relying on simulators for more basic-level training and preserving the expensive live-flight hours for high-end tactics.

Vaccine mandate for federal contractors blocked in 3 states

The preliminary injunction stops the mandate from taking effect in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio.

Unvaccinated Guardsmen won’t be able to drill or draw federal pay: SECDEF memo

Guardsmen who refuse vaccination will not be able to participate in any drills or federal training, which could jeopardize their ability to stay in the military.

With defense bill stalled, will lawmakers ‘ping pong’ it home?

With hope of a normal legislative process almost gone, lawmakers are dusting off a nearly decade-old congressional playbook in the hopes of finding a way to get the annual defense authorization bill to the president’s desk before the end of December.

Egypt unveils locally made drones at EDEX 2021

The show was scheduled to take place in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

US Navy, Marines look for training systems with accurate adversaries, ability to track individual performance

The Navy and Marine Corps want a Peloton-like training system that lets individual service members see their physical and occupational history, strive to demonstrate improvements -- and be able to log in from anywhere in the globe as they move from assignment to assignment.

Airbus: Eurodrone project ready for takeoff – as soon as the contract is signed

“We have the green light from Germany, from Italy and from France, and we are in the waiting phase, basically every day now, on Spain,” one company executive said.

White House taps former Air Force official to run Pentagon acquisition

During his tenure at the Air Force, LaPlante oversaw the acquisition of the B-21 bomber through a complicated selection process.

Leaked crash video of British F-35B shows jet dropping off carrier ramp

The video shows the jet attempting to take off from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in the eastern Mediterranean.

Raytheon acquires SEAKR Engineering

This is the second company affiliated with DARPA's Project Blackjack to be purchased by Raytheon Technologies.

Croatia buys used Rafale fighters, as France eyes 12 new jets

During French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Croatia, Defence Minister Mario Banožić and his French counterpart Florence Parly signed a deal under which the Croatian Air Force will acquire 12 second-hand Rafale F3-R fighter jets.

Blue Canyon Technologies to build cislunar sensing micro-satellite for Air Force Research Laboratory

The contract reflects the Department of Defense’s increased interest in fielding new satellites capable of exploring what’s going on in cislunar space — far beyond where most DoD satellites operate.

Contractor vaccine mandate leaves room for companies to maneuver

Huntington Ingalls Industries first raised eyebrows earlier this month when it announced it would no longer require its workers to be vaccinated.

Commentary

It’s time for the defense industrial base to get vaccinated to ensure our security

This critical industrial base is now being tested in a way not experienced in our lifetime — not from an adversary, but from a virus. The industrial base is becoming our own worst adversary by delaying the research and production of systems vital to our national security due to employees delaying or objecting to protecting themselves and their fellow workers from COVID-19, an enemy that has already claimed more than 775,000 American lives.