$738B for DoD Not Enough, Says GOP
The nearly $1.4 trillion spending plan — which would prevent a government shutdown this fall and do away with the final two years of budget caps known as sequestration — includes about $738 billion for DoD in FY2020, a 3 percent increase from current year levels.
F-35 Will Miss Readiness Mark
Presumptive DefSec Mark Esper says the F-35 won’t hit 80 percent readiness this year, held back by a cockpit part that improves stealth performance.
China Lake at Epicenter of Quakes
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake was identified as the epicenter of the two major July 4 and 5 earthquakes and many more smaller quakes. The base remains “not mission capable” and closed to all but essential personnel. Water and power had been restored to most of the base by Tuesday.
Will Hefty Bonuses Get Pilots to Stay?
The Marine Corps’ fiscal 2020 aviation bonuses are aimed at enticing pilots to sign eight-year contracts and plug the flood of Marine aviators trading in their military wings to fly civilian skies.
Trump Says He Can Strike Iran Without Congress OK
President Trump says he does not need congressional approval to initiate military action in Iran. “I do like keeping them abreast, but I don’t have to do it legally.”
DoD Blocked LCS Cost Overruns from GAO Report
A week before the FY17 DoD budget — upped to $584 billion — is expected to finally reach the House floor, a congressional audit reports cost overruns in the controversial Littoral Combat Ship program were classified and kept out of an earlier Government Accountability Office report.
Israel, US to Sign 10-Year Defense Deal
This is the largest and longest such agreement between the two nations. No details yet on the agreement’s impact on Qatar’s and Kuwait’s ability to clear long-awaited fighter sales from the US.
Navy Won’t Use V-22 for F-35 Refuel Platform
The Marines are developing a variant of the V-22 Osprey to refuel their F35B fighter jets, the Navy will keep its V-22s on carrier delivery duty.
US Cyber Czar: World Not Ready for Cyber Treaty
US State Dept. cyber envoy says too much unknown for an international treaty on cybersecurity.
