Military News Center http://www.military.com/News/Home/0,13324,,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS Military News Center Wednesday, 25 November 2009 11:23:09 PM Australian Government Okays F-35 Purchase http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,206500,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS The Australian government has decided to buy 14 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters now and not review its larger commitment for operational squadrons for another few years. 2009-11-25 More JSF Test Planes, Software Work Needed http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,206472,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS The Pentagon is considering adding more flight test assets and software engineers to the $300 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program to avoid major delays to fielding the stealthy, single-engine aircraft. 2009-11-24 Avic Defense To Expand Civil Work http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,206407,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS Chinese fighter builder Avic Defense aims to build a large business jet as part of its strategy of exploiting military technology for its civilian sidelines. 2009-11-23 Problems Surface in Aetna Tricare Deal http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,206097,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS Aetna Government Health Plans of Hartford, Conn., appears to have gained an unfair advantage in competing for TRICARE?s North Region support contract, valued at $16.7 billion, by hiring a former chief of staff at TRICARE headquarters to help the company draft its winning proposal. 2009-11-19 BAE to Market Mantis UAV to North America http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,206073,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS Manufacturer BAE Systems is formulating its marketing of the Mantis medium-altitude long-endurance UAV demonstrator air vehicle in the U.S., following the recent kickoff of test flights of the U.K. version. 2009-11-18 Updated Swiss Fighter Bids Are In http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,205689,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS The three contestants for Switzerland's F-5 replacement program handed in updated bids to the Swiss government. 2009-11-18 Northrop Invests Own Money In Fire Scout http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,206036,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS Rather than waiting for the U.S. Army to flight-test the Fire Scout vertical-takeoff unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV), Northrop Grumman is investing heavily in a test program of its own. The company's impatience may well pay off -- when the Army finally makes a decision about air vehicles for its new Brigade Combat Team Modernization (BCTM) program, Fire Scout will be ready to go. 2009-11-17 Mantis Begins Search for Prey http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,205795,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS The U.K.'s Mantis medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) demonstrator completed a series of test flights using the range at Woomera in Australia. 2009-11-17 Helicopter Protection Enters New Era http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,205756,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS The Defense Department is kicking off a program to design, build and demonstrate prototypes of the Joint and Allied Threat Awareness System (JATAS) to protect U.S. Navy and Marine Corps helicopters and tiltrotor aircraft from dumb and smart weapons. 2009-11-12 Classified Bids Submitted For UK UAV http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,205560,00.html?ESRC=dodnews.RSS Three companies are vying to secure an unmanned air vehicle demonstrator contract at the heart of the British Defense Ministry?s so-called Novel Air Capability Vision, but details of their respective proposals for the program are being treated as classified. 2009-11-09