Author Archive
Audrey Decker
Staff Writer
Business
Northrop expecting next B-21 production award by end of the year
But the company is still losing $1.2B on the first five production lots.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Boeing will look to ‘do less and do better’: CEO
Defense and commercial aircraft will remain at the company’s core, but “some things on the fringe” might have to go.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
F-35 tech problems, protracted negotiations hit Lockheed finances
Officials also seemed to back off its goal of finishing the TR-3 upgrade by next spring.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
F-35s still missing readiness goals, despite rising spending
The F-35 Joint Program Office’s “war on readiness” has yielded only small improvements since it was launched last year.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Northrop aims to double GMLRS rocket-motor output
Multiyear effort will help Pentagon rebuild stockpiles.
- Audrey Decker
Breaking News
Business
RTX will pay almost $1B for defrauding DOD, allegedly bribing Qatari official
That’s on top of the $200 million levied in August for illegal exports to China and elsewhere.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Bell presses on with FLRAA as Army cools on large programs
Service officials are banking on the future rotorcraft for a new air assault concept.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
Protest puts Army’s HADES spy plane on hold
The program is part of the service’s "No. 1 operational imperative," officials have said.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Boeing to cut 10% of workers as defense unit loses $2B in 3 months
Performance on fixed-price programs is “simply not where it needs to be,” CEO tells employees.
- Audrey Decker
Policy
NATO aims to publish its own commercial space strategy next year
The alliance document will resemble—but not duplicate—the Pentagon’s own recent plan.
- Audrey Decker
Defense Systems
Secret space plane tests new orbit-switching maneuver
The aerobraking X-37B will use Earth’s atmosphere to change its altitude using minimal fuel.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Lockheed taps deputy F-35 chief to take over program
The change, effective Dec. 1, comes after a rocky year.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
Industry ‘hamstrung’ by Space Force-intel community’s turf war
Commercial firms say NGA-centric acquisition can’t move fast enough to help combatant commands or foster innovation.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
The D Brief: Helene recovery; 100 new spy sats; Post-strike assessment in Israel; ULA certification launch; And a bit more.
- Ben Watson, Audrey Decker and Frank Konkel
Threats
'You can’t hide': Spy agency will have 100 new sats on orbit by year's end
Persistent imagery is key for future intel-gathering, NRO director says.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Can ULA clear the final hurdle on Vulcan?
The company is preparing to launch the heavy-lift rocket for the second time, on Friday.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
VIDEO: Russian fighter jet nearly sideswipes US F-16
U.S. officials said the "unsafe, unprofessional" move “endangered all.”
- Audrey Decker
Business
Aerojet digging ‘out of this hole’ as it clears rocket backlog, president says
Thousands of motors behind schedule last year, the company says its deliveries are catching up again.
- Audrey Decker
Policy
Mission systems sold separately: Air Force debuts ‘next-gen acquisition model’
Service says buying planes’ brains separately will help integrate the entire force.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
Dueling robot wingmen take the stage
Questions of survivability, missions, and sustainment of CCAs still linger.
- Audrey Decker