Blair failed to save 1bn Rolls-Royce US contract

Posted at: Sat Feb 4th, 2006

TONY Blair has failed to persuade President Bush to save Rolls-Royce's $2.4bn (1.36bn pounds, E2bn) contract to develop a second engine for America's Joint Strike Fighter, the F-35, The Business can confirm.

QDR leaves Repubs, Dems skeptical

Posted at: Sat Feb 4th, 2006

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Underwhelmed by the Pentagon's newest 20-year strategy plan, the Republican-led House Armed Services Committee said Friday it will soon produce its own. "It appears the (Quadrennial Defense Review) has become a budget-driven exercise, which limits its util...

Pentagon envisions end of the C-17

Posted at: Sat Feb 4th, 2006

WASHINGTON -- A Pentagon defense review Friday forecast shutting down C-17 production after the completion of the 180 planes planned, despite congressional objections to such a move when it became public several months ago.

Pentagon plans new arms to meet rivals like China

Posted at: Sat Feb 4th, 2006

WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The United States will build new long-range weapons in a hedge against potential rivals like China, the major power best-placed to challenge U.S. supremacy, the Pentagon said in a new strategic blueprint on Friday.

Lockheed eyes JSF passive sensor for B-2, UCAV

Posted at: Sat Feb 4th, 2006

ORLANDO, Fla.--Lockheed Martin [LMT] thinks the sophisticated passive detection and tracking system that it is building for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) has applications for additional stealthy platforms like the Northrop Grumman [NOC] ...

Air Force settles on 183 Raptors, plans new bomber by 2018

Posted at: Sat Feb 4th, 2006

ORLANDO, Fla.-The Air Force has accepted a smaller F-22 Raptor fighter fleet, would like to field a new long-range strike platform around 2018 and expects to commence the competition for a new tanker platform before the end of this year, the service’s...