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Defense Industrialist

Nov 9, 2015

Of DEF and RNDF

By James Hasik

Starkly different defense conferences discussed why military procurement is still so broken. The Lund Initiative at the Atlantic Council was busy with conferences this weekend. Two of us spent our time at the 2015 Defense Entrepreneurs Forum (DEF) at the University of Chicago, and another spent it at the Reagan National Defense Forum (RNDF) at the Presidential Library […]

Defense Industrialist

Nov 7, 2015

LRS-B, the protest edition

By James Hasik

The inherent unknowables in this highly classified development effort render questionable the value of an appeals process. So Boeing, on behalf of its teaming arrangement with Lockheed Martin, has protested. Late last month, the US Air Force chose Northrop Grumman to develop and build its hoped-for Long-Range Strike-Bomber (LRS-B), and the losing bidder is naturally […]

Defense Industry
Security & Defense

Defense Industrialist

Nov 4, 2015

Mystery plane, challenging mission

By James Hasik and Rachel Rizzo

Is the bomber’s target set feasible, or even advisable? What’s the most important role for the USAF’s planned Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B)? What could it do that fighter-bombers, cruise missiles, and drones couldn’t? Arguably, a big manned bomber offers a unique combination of massive, repeatable, human-on-scene air power at a distance, which is valuable when […]

China
Defense Industry

Defense Industrialist

Oct 30, 2015

Is the development plan for the LRS-B realistic?

By James Hasik and Rachel Rizzo

Historical experience with incentives and concurrency provides cause for cautious optimism. Is Northrop Grumman’s plan for developing the US Air Force’s new Long-Range Strike Bomber realistic? That’s another known unknown in this mystery plane program. We do know that the development contract will be cost-plus-reimbursable-incentive, meaning that a percentage will be added to the direct […]

Defense Industry
Security & Defense

In the News

Oct 30, 2015

Ashooh on Combating ISIS in Syria

By Jessica Ashooh

Middle East Strategy Task Force Deputy Director Jessica Ashooh joins Voice of America to discuss the US decision to send special operations forces into Syria to combat ISIS:

Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Ashooh on Iran’s Peace Talks Invite

By Jessica Ashooh

Radio France Internationale quotes Middle East Strategy Task Force Deputy Director Jessica Ashooh on the significance of Iran’s invitation to join the international community in seeking a political solution to the war in Syria:

Iran
Syria

Defense Industrialist

Oct 29, 2015

Mystery plane, part 2

By James Hasik and Rachel Rizzo

Is the price tag for the LRS-B feasible? As Lara Seligman wrote in Defense News overnight, there’s a lot “we still don’t know” about the LRS-B, and as  development moves forward, there’s a lot we still won’t know. Northrop’s just-up website features not even the shrouded plane of its Super Bowl advertisement, but just a zoomie with a buzzcut and aviator sunglasses. On his earnings […]

Defense Industry
Security & Defense

Defense Industrialist

Oct 28, 2015

Mystery plane

By James Hasik and Rachel Rizzo

The secrecy around the USAF’s LRS-B brings military value, but some ill-understood costs. Yesterday, Northrop Grumman won the contract from the US Air Force to develop and build its new Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B). For advocates of the big planes, the announcement came none too soon. The USAF’s bomber fleet today consists of 158 aircraft, […]

Defense Industry
Security & Defense

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Ashooh on Kerry-Lavrov Talks

By Jessica Ashooh

Middle East Strategy Task Force Deputy Director Jessica Ashooh joins Voice of America to discuss what to expect from the talks between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov regarding Syria:

Russia
Syria

Defense Industrialist

Oct 23, 2015

Three things Canada should want with its next fighter

By James Hasik

If DND does drop the JSF, think radar jammers, cruise missiles, and a second seat. This week’s federal electoral victory by Canada’s Liberals probably means the end of the F-35A as a prospective fighter jet for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The immediate bad news accrues to Lockheed Martin, which stands to lose $6 […]

Defense Industry
Security & Defense

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