Members of Congress would like to see a more expansive use of the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft in various global hotspots as a way to support U.S. Special Operations Forces and continue needed counterinsurgency efforts. The A-29 is turboprop light attack aircraft designed and built by Embraer which has been helping the Afghan Air Force battle insurgents for many years in Afghanistan. It has received rave reviews regarding its performance in theater as a platform which can support ground troops [ Read More…]

The proposed merger of Raytheon and United Technologies would create a vast aerospace and defense enterprise, but it would have no negative impacts on the competitive landscape.  Raytheon Chairman & CEO Tom Kennedy told me on June 10 that he can’t remember ever competing with United Technologies for a contract, which hints at how little overlap there is in the product lines of the two companies. However, there might be some significant benefits to competition from the combination because it [ Read More…]

In February, some 40 aerospace industry associations sent a letter to the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget warning that “the U.S. aviation industry is facing a technician and pilot shortage that threatens to undermine the growth and competitiveness of one of the most important sectors of our economy. The problem is particularly serious with respect to skilled aircraft maintainers. Failure to maintain a robust U.S. maintenance workforce will result in reduced airline [ Read More…]

After spending much of its corporate history as a very-low-visibility supplier to America’s military, L3 Technologies is stepping out on the eve of its merger with Harris Corporation.  The resulting combination will be the sixth-biggest military contractor in the world, but as the company told reporters this week, even before the deal is consummated CEO Chris Kubasik has brought major changes to L3’s culture.  He has divested most services to focus on technology, he has realigned operating units, and he [ Read More…]

The Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract will create a cloud like no other, private or public. The Department of Defense (DoD) envisions a “worldwide, highly available, exponentially elastic, secure, resilient cloud computing and storage environment that seamlessly extends from the homefront to the tactical edge.” JEDI will be DoD’s first war cloud. Hence, as many Pentagon officials have argued, the single-award contract is needed to avoid being limited by the slow pace of a multiple-award contract followed by the [ Read More…]

Philly Shipyard, one of the few shipbuilders in America focused on making large commercial vessels, has run out of orders.  Most of its workforce has been furloughed.  This is bad news for America’s military, which relies on the domestically-built and manned commercial fleet to supplement government sealift in wartime.  A 1920 law called the Jones Act was supposed to protect U.S. shipbuilders and the merchant marine workforce by reserving domestic routes exclusively for them, but if Philly is sinking, then [ Read More…]

Should an enemy submarine surface well beyond undersea or surface drone detection range and send intelligence to attack platforms — U.S. Navy platforms could be vulnerable in some instances. Fortified by targeting data from well beyond the horizon, enemy subs, planes and ships might, in this case, be well-positioned for a coordinated strike. However, should an interwoven web of Navy surveillance assets track and share vital information, coordinated surface, air and undersea drones could sustain an unprecedented advantage — and a new [ Read More…]

The Navy is planning to launch a massive, 50-ton undersea drone to expand mission scope, increase attack options, integrate large high-tech sensors, further safeguard manned combat crews and possibly fire torpedoes — all while waging war under the ocean surface. The 50-ton Orca, which would not fit in a submarine launch tube, brings an unprecedented sensing, endurance and attack advantage. The Navy has finished its Critical Design Review of the Orca, called an Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle, and begun construction, Capt. [ Read More…]

Postal reform is important for public safety. This has been largely overlooked as postal reform legislation languishes. With the Postal Service’s financial position becoming increasing untenable, and the threat of a liquidity crisis rising, it is important to take stock of these risks. A financially strong Postal Service will be better able to do its part in fighting the opioid crisis and have safer vehicles for its employees and the public. It will also be better able to provide many [ Read More…]

The U.S. military is in the midst of the most profound reconceptualization of the ways it will fight future conflicts in more than 30 years. To the three traditional domains of warfare – land, sea and air – space and cyber have been added. Some strategists include information as its own domain. Each Armed Service is developing concepts for employing capabilities in all these dimensions simultaneously and continuously to outmaneuver and overcome enemy forces. While a shared vision of future [ Read More…]