All Department of Defense articles – Page 7
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NewsNiger moves to expel US forces from West African airbase
The military junta that overthrew Niger’s elected government in 2023 has ordered American forces to vacate their last remaining air base in the country, which has been critical to counter-terrorism operations in the troubled Sahel region.
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NewsPentagon declares full-rate production on F-35, years behind schedule
The US Department of Defense has approved Lockheed Martin for full-rate production on the F-35 stealth fighter programme, years behind schedule and well after the airframer had already started assembling the jets at maximum capacity.
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NewsWashington seeks to cut F-35 acquisition target in 2025
The Biden Administration is reportedly seeking to reduce its annual purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters from 83 to fewer than 70, citing constraints to the defence spending.
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NewsMerlin to develop autonomous KC-135 flight capabilities with USAF
Autonomous flight technology company Merlin has an agreement with the United States Air Force (USAF) to work toward uncrewed operations of the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker.
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NewsPentagon downplays vulnerability of US bases to drone attack
The US Department of Defense says its air defences in the Middle East have been “mostly successful” in more than 160 engagements similar to the recent attack in Jordan that killed three US Army troops.
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NewsBoeing pushes delivery of fourth T-7A to February
Boeing has delayed the delivery of the US Air Force’s fourth new trainer jet after quality control checks found components supplied by a sub-contractor failed to meet the company’s standards.
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NewsPentagon releases photos of intercontinental B-1B combat mission
An unspecified number of Boeing B-1B long-range bombers flew an intercontinental combat mission from Dyess AFB in Texas to strike targets in Syria and Iraq on 2 February, as the USA began a retaliatory air campaign against militant groups involved in the deaths of three US Army personnel in Jordan.
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NewsStart-up Reliable Robotics receives approval for USAF flight-testing
Autonomous flight developer Reliable Robotics has secured “military airworthiness approval” to begin using its Cessna 208 Caravan to demonstrate the potential of pilotless flight to the US Air Force (USAF).
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NewsXwing delivers cargo to US Air Force with pilotless Grand Caravan flight
Autonomous flight developer Xwing recently operated a pilotless cargo flight with its modified Cessna Grand Caravan on behalf of US Air Force (USAF) officials.
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NewsDemand for aircraft helped push US foreign military sales to new record in FY2023
The US Department of State says American industry supplied nearly $81 billion-worth of military armaments and services to foreign partners in fiscal year 2023, a 55% increase compared to the previous year.
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NewsIran-linked UAV reportedly struck US base by approaching behind friendly aircraft
Unconfirmed reports suggest an Iranian-backed militia group was able to strike a US base in Jordan by flying an uncrewed aerial vehicle behind an American aircraft preparing to land at the site.
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NewsCroatia approved for $500m Black Hawk purchase
Arms export regulators at the US Department of State signed off on the deal between NATO member Croatia and US helicopter maker Sikorsky for eight UH-60 Black Hawk multi-role rotorcraft.
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NewsAdditional US manufacturers join USAF autonomous fighter effort
Three additional aerospace manufacturers – Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman – have confirmed they will participate in a US Air Force effort to develop autonomous fighter jets known as collaborative combat aircraft.
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NewsLockheed warns of fresh TR-3 schedule risk as F-35 shipments slow
Lockheed Martin chief executive James Taiclet has warned of another potential schedule slip for the F-35 programme’s Technical Refresh 3 (TR-3) activity, as shipments of the fifth-generation type fell below triple figures last year.
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NewsPentagon unveils first-ever national strategy for defence industry
The new National Defense Industrial Strategy hopes to address significant challenges that arose within critical manufacturers following the Covid-19 pandemic, including lack of critical inventory and labour shortages, and a slow-to-adapt government acquisition process.
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NewsAurora begins fabrication of X-65 ‘active flow control’ jet
The Boeing subsidiary is under contract by the Pentagon’s secretive Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to design and fabricate a novel aircraft that uses so-called “active flow control’ to manoeuvre, rather than traditional mechanical aerodynamic surfaces like flaps and rudders.
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NewsUS Congress restores funding to F-35 adaptive engine programme
Although the Pentagon wants to move on from the Adaptive Engine Transition Programme, lawmakers in the US Capitol approved $280 million in 2024 to fund the research programme that generated two prototype adaptive cycle powerplants for the F-35 stealth fighter.
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NewsUS Congress halts KC-135 replacement until USAF produces stealth tanker acquisition plan
The 2024 defence spending plan approved by lawmakers in Washington bars the US Air Force from issuing a formal strategy to phase out the ageing Boeing KC-135 tanker fleet, until the service produces an acquisition strategy for the Next Generation Air-refuelling System survivable tanker.
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NewsUS defence spending bill could expose new details of sixth-generation fighter development
Language included in the 2024 US defence spending plan will require the Pentagon to provide greater insight into how it plans to develop and field the next generation of combat aircraft, including sixth-generation fighters and autonomous support jets.
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NewsUS Congress approves nearly 12% reduction to A-10 fleet
For the second consecutive year, lawmakers who control US defence spending have approved the retirement of some Fairchild Republic A-10 attack jets, a move long-sought by US Air Force leaders.