Threats

Back to Iraq: US Military Contractors Return In Droves

Behind the president’s directive to ‘accelerate’ the counter-ISIS campaign came a surge in the number of contractors assisting in the campaign against ISIS.

Science & Tech

$460M CYBERCOM Contract Will Create Digital Munitions

Meanwhile, the military’s digital command hopes to recruit 6,200 operatives to thwart hacks against the US, aid troops overseas, and protect dot-mil.

Business

Small Defense Firms, the Pentagon Can Help You Fight Off Hacks — Just Ask

A GAO report says the Pentagon's program to protect small contractors against data theft has been underused.

Threats

Pope Pushes U.S. To Do More To Confront Global Insecurity

From the refugee crisis to diplomacy to the arms industry, Pope Francis pointedly reminded the U.S. of its leading role, and culpability, in the international community.

Threats

Industry: Pentagon Moved Too Fast on Cyber Rules

Companies fear they’ll have to rewrite their Defense Department contracts when pan-federal regulations arrive.

Business

Defense Contractors to Obama: Enough With the Executive Orders

Industry organizations lead a push against a tide of new regulations, such as the requirement to allow employees to take up to 56 hours' annual paid sick leave.

Business

Lockheed Snatched Up Sikorsky For a Steal

The No. 1 weapons builder flexed its muscle as other bidders for the Connecticut-based helicopter maker wilted in the face of military-civil monopoly rules.

Threats

The Other Group Looking Forward to the Era of the Iran Deal

Weapons companies - especially those from Russia and China - are standing by to upgrade Tehran's aging military equipment.

Science & Tech

Home Depot Has Better Cyber Security Than 25 US Defense Contractors

New rankings raise questions about the extent to which cybersecurity is a shared responsibility between government agencies and contractors.

Business

SpaceX Is Picking Up the Pieces of Their Rocket Business After a Weekend Explosion

The company is combing through thousands of data feeds to figure out what went wrong - and how to protect their core business.

Business

The Pentagon Is Trying To Make Its $400 Billion Fighter Jet Cheaper To Fly

As the F-35’s expected price tag settles around $165 million per plane, DoD is trying to trim the much larger operations-and-maintenance bills to come.

Business

Defense Contractors Unsatisfied with Thornberry's Acquisition Bill

A contractor's trade group representing some 400 companies say Rep. Mac Thornberry's acquisition reform bill further complicates an already complicated process.

Threats

How Mercenaries Are Changing Warfare

America's reliance on private military companies in Iraq and Afghanistan hasn't just expanded the industry; it may have changed the conduct of international relations.

Business

Pentagon: The Costs of Major Weapon Systems Are Finally Coming Down

More than four years since Ashton Carter took on reforming Pentagon acquisition, the cost of the largest arms projects is beginning to stabilize, defense officials say.

Policy

SpaceX's Biggest Military Advantage Isn't Just Cheap Rockets

As the upstart competes for Air Force contracts, it hopes that its competitor's reliance on Russian parts gives it an advantage.

Science & Tech

Boeing and Saab Deepening Relationship With Artillery Project

Often rivals, a U.S. defense giant and the Scandinavian aerospace firm deepen their ties on a ground-launched version of Boeing’s Small Diameter Bomb – and maybe more.

Business

Boeing Defense Creates New Development Business Unit

After aerial tanker delays, Boeing groups its military and space development projects under one new business unit to oversee new projects.

Business

Will Harris Acquiring Exelis Spur More Defense Firm Consolidation?

Analysts and the Pentagon have predicted consolidation in the middle tier of the defense industry for nearly five years, but until recently, not much has happened.

Policy

Northrop Grumman Cuts Ties With Conservative Policy Group

The defense contractor’s departure from the American Legislative Exchange Council follows an exodus of tech companies late last year.

Business

SpaceX Ends Lawsuit, Settles With Air Force for Future Launch Bids

Elon Musk’s rocket company announced a settlement with the Air Force over allegations it unfairly awarded an $11 billion space launch contract to a competitor. By Tim Fernholz