The U.S. Air Force expects to approve Space Exploration Technologies to compete for military satellite launch work by mid-2015, six months later than originally anticipated, Reuters reported Wednesday. Andrea Shalal writes the Air Force said SpaceX has met 80 percent of the requirements for the company to be certified to pursue the branch’s Evolved Expendable […] More

Boeing is working with the U.S. Navy on a potential contract modification to extend production of the EA-18G Growler aircraft through the end of 2017 to accommodate the additional 15 planes funded by Congress, Reuters reported Friday. Andrea Shalal writes that Congress included $1.56 billion in the fiscal 2015 spending bill to cover the procurement of 15 more Growlers and enable […] More

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel supports the U.S. Navy‘s proposed modernization effort of the Littoral Combat Ships that are made by Austal USA and Lockheed Martin, Reuters reported Thursday. Andrea Shalal writes the Navy wants to integrate new missiles, radar technology and other combat systems into the LCS fleet. “The Navy’s new proposal, like the LCS, will […] More

Mike Petters, CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries, identified the energy market as a potential area of growth for the shipbuilding giant in an address to the Atlantic Council, Reuters reported Wednesday. Petters told the think tank Wednesday that Huntington Ingalls has invested in the energy sector and established healthcare centers at its facilities as part of its long-term goals, Andrea Shalal […] More

Boeing is planning to utilize systems engineering controls from military space programs for its $41 billion Ground-based Midcourse Defense system in response to reviews on the design’s reliability, Reuters reported Tuesday. Andrea Shalal writes that the company is coordinating with Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Adm. James Syring to revamp GMD by adopting a “space program” approach. “There’s a higher […] More

Lockheed Martin is developing a small reactor the company believes has potential to generate power through nuclear fusion, Reuters reported Wednesday. Andrea Shalal writes Tom McGuire, a program lead at Lockheed’s Skunk Works unit, said the organization seeks to attract government, academic and commercial partners for its compact fusion reactor project. Skunk Works conducted a study […] More

The Air Force could unveil the winner of a contract to build the branch’s long-range radar system as soon as next week, Reuters reported Wednesday. Andrea Shalal writes Pentagon acquisition chief Frank Kendall has approved the service’s Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar procurement plan. Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon are all vying for the contract. The […] More

United Launch Alliance will announce on Wednesday a collaboration with Blue Origin to develop and offer a rocket engine for U.S. space programs, Reuters reported Monday. Andrea Shalal writes the partnership seeks to replace Russian-made RD-180 engines that are used on ULA’s Atlas V rockets to lift off U.S. military satellites. Frank Kendall, the Defense […] More

Lockheed Martin is working with the Defense Department and F-35 suppliers to lower operation and maintenance costs for the fighter program over the next 50 years, Reuters reported Thursday. Andrea Shalal writes that Lockheed officials recently met with representatives from DoD and 90 key F-35 suppliers in Fort Worth, Texas to brainstorm cost reduction ideas. […] More

Andrew Tyler, CEO of Northrop Grumman‘s businesses in the U.K. and Europe, said that three European nations are interested in buying Global Hawk surveillance drones from the company, Reuters reported Wednesday. “At the moment I would say that the hottest three (potential European buyers) are Germany, U.K. and Norway, in the sense that we’ve got […] More

Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Airbus are bidding on a tender offer worth an estimated $5.5 billion to provide Denmark’s military with as many as 30 fighter jets, Reuters reported Monday. Teis Jensen and Ole Mikkelsen report that Danish officials will deliberate on the bids ahead of the award in mid-2015. The report said Saab was also qualified to bid on the […] More

BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin are bidding to secure F-16 modernization contracts with international customers as U.S. and European military organizations turn to upgrade work instead of new orders amid decreased funding, Reuters reported Monday. Sarah Young and Andrea Shalal report that the global market for F-16 upgrades is worth $10 billion over the next decade. John […] More