Management

The Complicated Relationship Between John McCain and Frank Kendall

The Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer for the past five years says he’s lowered the cost of arms, but the watchdog senator never seemed satisfied.

Management

Air Force Needs the F-35 and A-10: Outgoing Secretary

As the Obama administration’s time grows short, Deborah James puts in a word for two polarizing aircraft.

Management

Trump is Now America’s Arms Deal Negotiator

His meetings and bombshell tweets with the heads of America’s two largest weapon makers show Trump will play a role in hammering out contracts.

Management

A New Military Jet Flies Just One Year After It Was Designed

The new Boeing and Saab plane took to the sky for the first time on Tuesday, showing defense firms can build complex weapons quickly.

Defense

General Fires Back at Trump: F-35 ‘Not Out of Control’ (It Just Needs Another Half Billion)

The Pentagon’s F-35 boss says costs are falling and he anticipates briefing Trump’s transition team soon, but he needs another $532 million to finish flight testing.

Management

Boeing to Move Defense Headquarters from St. Louis to DC

The move is the latest in the company’s year of restructuring, which has brought in a host of new leaders.

Defense

Defense Contractors Should Fear More Than Trump’s Tweets

It’s not just Lockheed and Boeing. As president, Trump can mess with just about any contract he wants, even high-priced fighter jets, ships and armored trucks.

Management

Trump’s Air Force One Tweet Rattles the Defense Industry

Was the president-elect trying to drive down a price tag — or slap back at a CEO’s policy suggestions?

Management

Boeing Defense CEO Weighs Spending More Time in DC

The shift would follow a raft of larger organizational and personnel changes at the aerospace giant.

Management

Decision Time: Half of U.S. F-15s Need Overhauls — Or Retirement

In a backseat ride over New Hampshire, the Eagle shows why it’s still lethal, yet increasingly expensive.

Defense

White House: $11.6B More Needed for ISIS Fight, Afghanistan

The request brings the expected 2017 price tag for both wars to $85.3 billion.

Management

Obama’s Final Arms-Export Tally More than Doubles Bush’s

Most of the $278 billion in approved sales have gone to Saudi Arabia and other Mideast allies.

Defense

As China Shows Off J-20 Stealth Fighter, A Bit of Context

It takes more than a flyby at an airshow to deploy fifth-generation fighter jets in combat.

Management

Kendall: The Pentagon’s Spending Less on Weapons, So Let Me Keep My Job

A 30-year-low in cost growth is part of the defense acquisition undersecretary’s closing argument for why Congress shouldn’t eliminate his position.

Management

Lockheed’s Pitch: Buy Our Training Jet, Save Taxpayers $1 Billion

Company officials say they can build the jets faster, and that should give them a leg up in the T-X bid evaluation.

Defense

US Allows Qatar to Buy F-15s — and Seals a $19B Sale of Jetliners

Officials deny linking the military and commercial deals, but insiders say otherwise.

Defense

The Air Force Just Dropped Two Fake Nukes

The tests in the Nevada desert come as tensions rise with Russia and the Pentagon seeks to replace its aging nuclear arsenal.

Defense

Pentagon Fronts Bomb Buys For Allies Fighting ISIS

A special budget account is being used to boost weapons production ahead of allies' formal orders.

Defense

U.S. Air Force Preps a Controversial No-Bid Purchase of Spy Planes

Lawmakers balk at replacing aging EC-130Hs with smaller Gulfstream G550s without open competition.