- Lockheed Martin’s Q1 2014 sales were down 4% Y/Y to $10.65B. Aeronautics stood out as the one segment whose revenue grew this quarter, mostly thanks to the F-35 and C-5. Information systems and Mission systems sales on the other hand were down by 9% and 11% respectively, as a number of programs wind down or see decreased volume. Of late the company has been making acquisitions in an effort to reduce its current overwhelming reliance on defense.
Asian Pivot/Rebalance/Standstill?
- FT: Obama’s trip to Asia in 10 conversations.
- Yomiuri Shimbun: Senkakus “within scope” of U.S.-Japan treaty.
Eastern Europe
- The US Army is sending paratrooper companies from Italy for exercises to Poland and the three Baltic states, for a total of 600 soldiers.
Afghanistan
DARPA Seeks Crew Cut with ALIAS
- DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office (TTO) is organizing an industry day [PDF] about the Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) on May 14 in Arlington, VA. The goal is to develop automation that can be retrofitted into existing aircraft to reduce onboard crew.
- The US Air Force will hold an industry day on May 13-15 in Oklahoma City to discuss the modernization of avionics and subsystems in T-1A Jayhawks used for pilot training. They have a total of 178 aircraft fielded in 1992-97 that are intended to be used until 2035, but obsolescence is looming.
Submarines: the Invisible Queens
- Today’s video, from ASPI’s recent conference in Canberra, Australia, discusses building submarines from a US, French, and German perspective:
- Did you sit through 90 minutes of admirals lecturing about submarine doctrine above? Good, “Shoot ‘Em If You Got ‘Em” is your dessert, courtesy of VFA-27 and its Super Hornet pilots equipped with GoPro cameras: