* Todd Harrison from the CSBA think tank explains [PDF] how the way the recent American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) tinkered with sequestration affects defense. His estimate is $42.7B in cuts spread over the last 7 months of the current fiscal year, a couple billion...
Malaysian F/A-18D:Bersama Shield 2010(click to view full) Malaysia has an unusual air fleet, which includes Russian MiG-29s and very advanced SU-30MKMs, alongside Boeing's F/A-18D Hornets. The MiG-29s are declining in numbers, and Malaysia had hoped to phase them out,...
* Some within the Obama administration see post-2014 US troops in Afghanistan down to just a few thousands, while others don't rule out a complete withdrawal. WaPo | WSJ | UPI | CSIS. * BAE and Boeing are interested in the huge F-16 worldwide aftermarket, reports...
* DOD Comptroller Robert Hale spoke at the Brookings think tank, where he confirmed, between a couple decent jokes, that a delay in the FY14 budget request was likely. His number for the impact of sequestration on FY13 - starting on March 1st unless it is further...
C-17 over Hawaii(click to view full) The rising cost of maintenance has made it a greater concern to the world's militaries, and new contract vehicles are reflecting that. Under the C-17 GSP/GISP, Boeing has total system support responsibility for the big transport...
2007 AAR experiment(click to view full) Quick question: what's the biggest limiting factor in today's aircraft? Answer: the pilot. Fortunately for pilots, they're also an aircraft's greatest advantage, which will keep them in the mix, and in the cockpit, for some time...
Former US Senator Chuck Hagel is widely reported as President Obama's pick to replace Leon Panetta as Secretary of Defense, to be officially confirmed later today. He will face certain opposition from some Republican senators. WaPo | Omaha World Herald. DARPA is...
* The US Navy is increasing the frequency of its Inspection and Survey (INSURV) program: inspections will occur every 30 months instead of 5 years. They want reports to reflect a more granular understanding of ship's readiness, and the goal is to measure material...
* Yesterday we rolled out a brand new version of our website. We are working on fixing a number of already-identified issues, but we hope that you will already enjoy a better user experience, from better printing to enhanced embedded media galleries and more. Feedback...