The conservative Heritage Foundation think-tank has published its 2016 Index of U.S. Military Strength, a yearly accounting of America’s ability to project force around the globe. The report also saw rising threat levels for various American foes — as well as  perceived foes — including Russia, the Middle East, and North Korea. The overall threat level was marked as “Elevated.” Read More »

Lockheed Martin has landed a $76-million follow-on contract from the U.S. Air Force to produce Paveway II Plus Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) kits. The kits essentially modify conventional gravity bombs into more precise LGBs, and act as a cost-effective way to put conventional munitions on targets more accurately. Delivery is expected by the second quarter of next year. Read More »

Eni will be the operator of a joint venture with Statoil, Sasol and ENH after winning the bid for the exploration and development rights of the offshore block A5-A, in the area of Mozambique named Angoche, about 930 miles northeast of the capital city Maputo. The unexplored area of the Northern Zambesi Basin is thought to have significant hydrocarbon resources. Read More »

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this week that the USDA is partnering with 21 states to almost double the number of biofuel fuelling stations available to American motorists. Officials say the program will simultaneously lower U.S. dependence on foreign oil while supporting American farmers who make biofuels possible. The pumps will be installed in a matter of months. Read More »

The U.S. Navy awarded Raytheon a $159.9 million contract to manufacture and maintain the Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS), which provide a vital last line of defense for Navy ships. As part of the contract, Raytheon will be providing support equipment for the Phalanx and SeaRAM Weapon Systems as well as radar upgrades. Work is expected to be completed by August 2018. Read More »

First Solar, Inc. recently joined Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) to break ground on the Twin Branch Solar Facility in Mishawaka, Indiana. The project is expected to generate 2.6 megawatts (MW) of power. The Mishawaka facility will be the first of three plants First Solar is building for I&M with others planned for New Carlisle, Indiana and Watervliet, Indiana. Read More »

Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Sen.John McCain (R-AZ), recently delivered an impassioned opening statement as he chaired a hearing on U.S. strategy in the Middle East. Specifically, Sen. McCain called on the Obama administration to take solid military action in the region instead of relying on diplomatic solutions and to address Russia's role in the regional conflict. Read More »

The National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act of 2015, passed by bipartisan vote of 254-177, will make it easier for mining and mineral processing companies to get access to mineral rights by easing the permitting process. As it stood before, the permitting process for mineral extraction could take up to a decade before mining companies could tap new resources. Read More »

The House Homeland Security Committee discussed domestic security and terrorist threats posed by ISIS and the Middle Eastern refugee crisis. Of special note, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson testified about his concerns that violent Islamist groups could be trying to infiltrate terrorists into the country while posing as refugees. Read More »

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting communication technology designs for its Dynamic Network Adaptation for Mission Optimization (DyNAMO) program. The goal of the system is to enable independently designed communications and radio systems to work together so manned and unmanned combat systems can rapidly share information and data. Read More »

A unit of Cubic Corp., Cubic Global Defense (CGD) is demonstrating a range of innovative technologies developed to increase the combat readiness of fighter pilots and sailors at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) in Seoul, South Korea. The biannual event runs through October 25 and is being held at the Seoul Airport. Read More »

Coalition forces have conducted 7,603 airstrikes since operations began against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets, U.S. Army Col. Steve Warren told Pentagon reporters yesterday. Of that number, 4,933 strikes have taken place in Iraq, and 2,670 in Syria. The U.S. also issued a warning against Russia's continued military operations in Syria. Read More »

One U.S. service member died during the operation, which was requested by the Kurdistan Regional Government. U.S. Special Operations Forces supported the Iraqi Peshmerga to rescue 70 hostages at an ISIL prison near Hawijah, Iraq, Peter Cook, a spokesman for the Pentagon, said today. According to the Pentagon, the hostages faced "imminent execution." Read More »

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz praised the appointment of Dr. Martin Keller, who joins the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory where he served as the Associate Laboratory Director for Energy and Environmental Sciences. NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research. Read More »

The U.S. Department of Energy has issued its final authorization to Emera CNG, LLC to export domestically-produced compressed natural gas (CNG) to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States. Under the agreement, Emera can export up to 0.008 billion cubic feet of CNG each day for 20 years from Emera’s proposed facility in Florida. Read More »

According to the DOD, an airstrike conducted in northwest Syria by coalition forces killed a group of terrorists including Abdul Mohsen Adballah Ibrahim al Charekh, aka Sanafi al-Nasr, a Saudi national and the highest-ranking leader of the network of veteran al-Qaeda operatives known as the "Khorasan Group." A long-time jihadist, al-Nasr funneled money to al-Qaeda fighters. Read More »

Bradley H. Feldmann, president and CEO of San Diego, California-based Cubic Corp., was recently named a National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Fellow. The designation represents the highest level of credentialing available to corporate directors and corporate governance professionals. NACD fellows must complete a rigorous foundation course within a 12-month period. Read More »

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed unveiled a plan on energy security that he said would end America’s dependence on Middle Eastern crude oil and usher in sustainable energy sources. Reed's legislation,  A Plan for America’s Energy Future, encourages the use of such domestic energy sources as wind, solar, oil and natural gas. It also calls for the development of clean energy technologies. Read More »

The U.S. Army acquired an initial shipment of BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser-guided rockets for use in ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The APKWS is a mid-body guidance kit that transforms a standard unguided munition into a precision laser-guided rocket. The rocket's precision has proven successful in use by the Navy and Marine Corps. Read More »

President's decision to keep U.S. troops in Afghanistan clears way for continued NATO presence. Read More »