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

Policy

US-Saudi Military Relations Expected To Persist Under King Salman

The new king is the former Saudi defense minister, which should mean steady policy and weapons sales for U.S contractors. By Marcus Weisgerber

Ideas

Secretive Private Intelligence Contractors Need Better Oversight

The capacity for secrecy gets even deeper in the private sector – too deep. By Michael German

Science & Tech

The F-35 Has To Phone Texas Before Taking Off

Recent tests revealed the F-35 flies well enough, but not without calling Texas first. By Patrick Tucker.

Business

Lockheed Contractor Must Repay $27.5M for Overcharging Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

A Lockheed Martin contractor agrees to repay the government for overbilling for its products and services to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. By Charles S. Clark

Ideas

Want Bipartisan Success in Congress? Pass Defense Acquisition Reform

There are few things in Congress with more bipartisan support than fixing how the Pentagon buys everything – so get moving. By Andrew Hunter