The Air Force has refused to accept delivery of any more KC-46 tankers until Boeing fixes major problems — at the company’s expense.

AFA ORLANDO: Two KC-46 tankers due to be delivered to the Air Force were grounded after government inspectors found tools and other debris left behind on the planes at Boeing’s plant in Seattle. The Defense Contract Management Agency and the Air Force required Boeing to make 13 changes to procedures to ensure the FOD will… Keep reading →

The Pentagon acquisition system has gotten so bad that it is undermining the nation’s military and literally obstructing modernization efforts, a panel of independent advisers told the House Armed Services Committee today. Representatives of the congressionally-mandated “809 panel” painted an alarming picture of the state of defense procurement. The panel delivered an interim report to the… Keep reading →

WASHINGTON: A plan to overhaul how the Pentagon buys services — a $155 billion annual business, bigger than weapons acquisitions — is now on the desk of the Defense Department’s top buyer. “It went to Frank Kendall this week,” Kenneth Brennan, deputy director of services acquisition for undersecretary Kendall, said. “He is the final signature” required to… Keep reading →

CAPITOL HILL: As F-35 program officials prepared to testify to the Senate Armed Services Committee, they announced they were keeping back some $25.7 million, or 5 percent, of payments for the F135 engine used in the Joint Strike Fighter. “Due to decertification of their Earned Value Management Process by the Defense Contract Management Agency, Pratt &… Keep reading →