MDA Shrugs and Lowers Goal to 39 BMD Ships | New Russian Hardware Seen Over Syria | Canadians Cut Steel on New Arctic Patrol Ships

by Editorial Staff | Sep 3, 2015 | Daily Rapid Fire

Americas * The Missile Defense Agency is lessening its ambitions for the number of ships that will be equipped with ballistic missile defense to 39 from 48. Between the Navy buying fewer, more expensive ships and opting not to staff ships in drydock with BMD-qualified...

Rep Probes Huge B-3 Cost Estimate Hike | Army to Test Chlorine Gas Spread | Russian Firm Developing Drone Tech to Render Stealth Features Useless

by Editorial Staff | Sep 2, 2015 | Daily Rapid Fire

Americas * The Air Force’s contrite admission that the B-3 bomber program would cost roughly double what it originally said it would isn’t going down well in Congress. Beyond the obvious financial pain involved with a program that hopes to produce planes...

DoD HR Overhaul Getting the Squinty Eye | DARPA Saw Avengers; Ready for Airborne Carriers? | A-10/F-35 Competition Set for 2018 (If AF Hasn’t Already Ditched the ‘Hog)

by Editorial Staff | Sep 1, 2015 | Daily Rapid Fire

Americas * The on-again, off-again Air Force comparison test between the F-35 and the A-10 for close air support is back on again, according to the Washington Times. The F-35 doesn’t carry – and isn’t anticipated to carry – the sorts of weapons...

Manufacturers: Careful with Parts Printing – Make Them Inspectable | Japan Launches Second Heli Carrier | Iran Looking to Russia for Long Deferred Aviation Purchases

by Editorial Staff | Aug 28, 2015 | Daily Rapid Fire

Americas * Technology allowing parts to be printed is rapidly seeing military adoption, but manufacturing experts warn that they need to be designed in a fashion to allow for inspection. * The Navy is prepping a patch of seafloor off Florida to be an undersea training...

Pentagon: JCS Chair’s Testimony Didn’t Imply F-35 Review | Russia: Our Stealth Fighter Can Fit Weapons Inside | DoD Lays Down Law on Reporting Data Breaches

by Editorial Staff | Aug 27, 2015 | Daily Rapid Fire

Americas * The Pentagon is codifying how and when defense contractors must report data breaches. * Lockheed is reportedly working on a U2 replacement. To be optionally manned, which is less apt to offend either pilot officers or policy wonks. A new U2 could well see...