Industry

US Special Operations Command picks Anduril to lead counter-drone integration work in $1B deal

Anduril will provide counter-drone services to U.S. Special Operations Command for the next decade.

Commentary

What is 5G? An electrical engineer explains.

Will 5G mean no more bad cell connections in crowded places?

Leonardo stake in Hensoldt could boost FCAS, Tempest commonalities

A corporate tie-up between Italy’s Leonardo and Germany’s Hensoldt could make Europe’s two future fighters, the Tempest and the Future Combat Air System, more interoperable, a Leonardo official has claimed.

US hits Chinese defense companies with sanctions

The United States announced penalties on three companies it said were engaged in unspecified “missile technology proliferation activities.”

Evolution of Aegis Weapon System could underpin joint all-domain operations

Steps Lockheed Martin is taking today to virtualize its Aegis Weapon System are helping to underpin the U.S. Navy’s integrated combat system and the Pentagon’s vision for joint all-domain warfare.

Israel inks $3.4 billion submarine deal with Germany

The Dakar-class diesel-electric submarines will be produced by German manufacturer ThyssenKrupp and are expected to be delivered within nine years.

New DARPA research could make night vision goggles smaller

DARPA selected 10 teams to advance night vision materials research and prototype designs for smaller glasses.

Get ready for ‘computer-assisted’ shooting with the Army’s new optic

The Army is slated to pick the actual weapon in the coming months.

Amphib ship requirements study could spell bad news for Marines, industry

The Navy's amphibious ship requirements study isn't quite done yet. But all the signs are pointing to a smaller fleet for the Marine Corps.

South Korea inks largest arms export deal with UAE for missile interceptor

Valued about $3.5 billion, the contract for the Cheongung II KM-SAM weapons was singed Jan. 16 during a meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Emirati Prime Minister Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in Dubai as they discussed economic cooperation.

Turkey kicks off serial production for armed trainer Hurjet

Turkish procurement officials think that once the Hurjet has become combat-proven with its use in the Turkish military, its export prospects will flourish.

Pentagon tech chief says new rapid experimentation reserve is moving forward

Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Heidi Shyu expects to be able to kick-start the new Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve in fiscal 2022 with some help from congressional appropriators.

Boeing pledges expanded German industry involvement if the nation buys the F-18

While prospective local partners remained unnamed, Boeing claims its outreach effort would amount to deals worth about $4 billion.

Northrop looks to adapt electronic attack system for smaller ships

Northrop Grumman is looking to adapt its SEWIP Block 3 capability built for Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to smaller ship types.

For their next acts, former Trump administration DoD officials look beyond traditional defense contractors

The moves align with an increased focus by the Defense Department on transformative technologies — from artificial intelligence to 5G networks to hypersonic weapons.

What will the US Space Force be able to do with its new GPS III variant?

The U.S. Space Force has yet to launch all of the GPS III satellites at its disposal, but work on new, more powerful versions is already underway.

India’s Navy, private shipyards flounder as government gives preference to state-owned firms

The Indian Navy is unlikely to meet its goal of having a 175-ship fleet in the next five years due to a lack of funds and the government’s preference to award contracts to state-owned shipyards over private businesses, service officials have told Defense News.

Army finally picks an optic for Next Generation Squad Weapon

An estimated 250,000 optics will be delivered over the next decade to close combat troops.

Israeli subsidiary inks first public deal with UAE for work on A330 aircraft

The Elbit Systems subsidiary in the United Arab Emirates has signed a $53 million deal to supply direct infrared countermeasures and airborne electronic warfare systems for A330 tanker aircraft.

Naval Surface Warfare Center invests in additive manufacturing prototypes

The Pentagon believes new additive manufacturing techniques could help them protect military technologies from tampering or intrusion.

Workforce development, process improvements will make or break the Virginia-class submarine program

The submarine-industrial base is facing an increased workload even as it's already behind in deliveries, making it all the more important to get new processes and well-trained new recruits in place quickly.

Kristin Robertson to lead Raytheon’s space efforts

Robertson joins Raytheon from Boeing, where she led that company's autonomous systems business.

Turkey opens bidding for three new frigates

Only local shipyards or foreign subsystem suppliers partnered with a local shipyard are allowed to bid, according to the request for proposals.

Despite defense buildup, Japan’s arms industry struggles

Big Japanese defense manufacturers are struggling to sell 20th century tanks, aircraft and ships.

US Air Force squadron becomes first operational unit to drop StormBreaker bomb

It's a major step forward for the small diameter bomb, which at one point was delayed for about a year while a flawed component was redesigned and fixed.