All Department of Defense articles
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NewsSierra Nevada expanding Australia presence amid AUKUS optimism
The American military systems integrator recently opened a subsidiary based in Adelaide, which will help support Australian acquisition programmes including the Boeing P-8 and Northrop Grumman MQ-4C, while also expanding the domestic production of defence technology.
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AnalysisWashington moves to deepen industrial ties with Australia amid regional tensions
Under an initiative dubbed the Regional Sustainment Framework, the Pentagon aims to push certain maintenance, repair and overhaul functions forward to overseas partners around the Indo-Pacific, with Australia as the initial target.
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In depth‘There is no kill switch’: Pentagon denies F-35 rumours as calls grow to ditch US defence products
With allied governments and industrial competitors now openly discussing possible cancellation of orders for the American stealth fighter, the Pentagon’s F-35 office is officially denying unsubstantiated rumours it can remotely disable the jets of overseas operators.
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NewsCollins advances bid to supply new F-35 power and cooling system
Although the Pentagon has not decided how to address long-term power and cooling needs of the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter, aviation systems supplier Collins Aerospace is hoping to oust current provider Honeywell Aerospace on the lucrative programme.
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NewsPentagon deploys additional aviation assets to US-Mexico border
Some 650 military aviation personnel from the US Army are being sent to the USA’s frontier with Mexico, including Sikorsky UH-60 and Boeing CH-47 helicopter crews, as part of Trump administration’s ongoing border security push.
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In depthF-15EX deemed effective against fifth-generation threats in Pentagon evaluation
The latest version of the venerable Boeing multi-role fighter has been assessed as operationally effective in an air superiority role by Pentagon auditors, including against fifth-generation aircraft operated by adversary forces.
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NewsNo more ‘must win competitions’ for Lockheed under de-risking strategy: CEO Taiclet
Chief executive James Taiclet says the defence giant has repositioned its portfolio of development programmes, including by accepting some short-term penalties in 2024 on a secretive aircraft development programme.
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NewsPentagon reduces withholding on F-35 payments, citing Lockheed’s progress on TR-3 development
Although the much-delayed Technical Refresh 3 update to the F-35 stealth fighter remains a work in progress, manufacturer Lockheed Martin has made sufficient advances that the Pentagon is now only withholding $3.8 million per aircraft, down from $5 million previously.
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NewsUS Air Force expands funding for sixth-generation engine development
Despite uncertainty over the future of its sixth-generation fighter development programme, the US Air Force is committing fresh funding toward a separate effort to develop a propulsion solution for “future air dominance platforms”.
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NewsTrump Administration orders military aircraft to support border crackdown
The Pentagon says fixed-wing transports will be used to repatriate some 5,000 undocumented migrants detained by US customs officials, while additional rotary-wing assets and crews will be deployed to the US-Mexico border to support monitoring efforts.
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NewsWatch cockpit footage from military aircraft battling California wildfires
In addition to the array of civil firefighting aircraft operating on the frontline of the historic wildfires in the Los Angeles area, military aircraft equipped with firefighting systems have also been deployed to support the effort.
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NewsStratolaunch to expand Talon-A reusable hypersonic vehicle into missile-defence testing
A $24.7 million million contract from the US Missile Defense Agency will fund expansion of flight capabilities for the Stratolaunch Talon-A, a reusable rocket-powered vehicle that aims to provide a test platform for hypersonic flight technologies.
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In depthWashington targets more than 130 Chinese firms as military suppliers
The list features numerous subsidiaries of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China that actively produce fighters, bombers, rotorcraft and trainers for the Chinese military, alongside commercial airframer Comac.
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In depthChinese air force ‘quickly approaching US standards’ in key areas, Pentagon says
Washington’s annual report on Chinese military power says Beijing has made significant advances in areas such as the production and fielding of unmanned aerial systems, while still facing challenges in long-distance logistics and command decision making.
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AnalysisPentagon reports nothing anomalous in rash of drone sightings over US airspace
Fuelled by rampant speculation on the internet, US law enforcement agencies have received more than 5,000 reports of unknown drones operating over airspace along the Eastern Seaboard in recent weeks, with most turning out to be commercial aircraft or hobbyist drones.
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NewsArcher teams with Anduril to develop hybrid-electric defence platform
Having long explored potential defence applications for its in-development Midnight air taxi, US start-up Archer Aviation has formed a partnership with Anduril to “jointly develop” a hybrid-electric aircraft for military purposes.
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NewsCongress orders review of US air-to-air missile inventory needs
A provision in the draft legislation covering 2025 Pentagon operations would require the US Air Force and US Navy to assess their inventory requirements for air-to-air missiles, including possible extension of AIM-120 AMRAAM production beyond 2028.
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NewsLawmakers move to cut US F-35 purchases over ‘long-standing’ sustainment issues
A provision in wide-ranging defence legislation covering Pentagon operations for 2025 would limit new acquisitions of the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter to 48 examples until concerns about availability rates and aircraft sustainment are addressed.
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NewsPentagon again grounds Osprey fleet after recent ‘near-crash’
The US miltiary’s fleet of Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotors are grounded for the second time this year after what the Pentagon describes as a “near-crash” in November.
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In depthNational leaders argue strong defence industry is essential to USA’s geopolitical position
Amid a turbulent transition into a new presidential administration in Washington, senior figures in the government are urging a continued commitment to the USA’s defence industry, at a time of precarious global security.