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V-22 Osprey: The Multi-Year Buys

V-22 Osprey: The Multi-Year Buys

(click to view full) In March 2008, the Bell Boeing Joint Project Office in Amarillo, TX received a $10.4 billion modification that converted the previous N00019-07-C-0001 advance acquisition contract to a fixed-price-incentive-fee, multi-year contract. The new...

Trident II D5 Missile: Keeping Up with Changing Times

Trident II D5 Missile: Keeping Up with Changing Times

Trident II D5 Test Launch (click to view full) Nuclear tipped missiles were first deployed on board US submarines at the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, to deter a Soviet first strike. The deterrence theorists argued that, unlike their land-based cousins,...

MQ-9 Reaper: Unfettered for Export

MQ-9 Reaper: Unfettered for Export

0 Reaper, ready... (click to view full) The MQ-9 Reaper UAV, once called "Predator B," is somewhat similar to the famous Predator. Until you look at the tail. Or its size. Or its weapons. It's called "Reaper" for a reason: while it packs the same surveillance gear,...

F-35 Lightning: The Joint Strike Fighter Program

F-35 Lightning: The Joint Strike Fighter Program

  F-35B: off probation (click to view full) The $382 billion F-35 Joint Strike fighter program may well be the largest single global defense program in history. This major multinational program is intended to produce an "affordably stealthy" multi-role fighter...

Sikorsky’s $8.5-11.7B “Multi-Year 8” H-60 Helicopter Contract

Sikorsky’s $8.5-11.7B “Multi-Year 8” H-60 Helicopter Contract

US Army HH-60Ms (click to view full) In July 2012, the US military signed another huge contract with Sikorsky. With production of the Army's HH/UH-60M, and the Navy's MH-60S and MH-60R helicopters, all in full swing, there's no question about the need for future...

Digital Abrams: The M1A2 SEP Program

Digital Abrams: The M1A2 SEP Program

M1A2 SEP (click to view full) America's M1 Abrams tanks come in a number of versions. In addition to the M1A1 that is now standard, the US Army is beginning to field its M1 TUSK for urban warfare. It also operates the M1A2 System Enhancement Program (SEP), currently...