The Bold Alligator 2012 exercise, which took place in February with the Navy, Marine Corps and coalition partners, went well but showed some growing pains in communication, command structure and best usage of resources as the military tries to "reinvigorate amphibious capabilities" that atrophied during a decade of land wars, according to a condensed version of the "Exercise Bold Alligator - 2012: Final Report" obtained by Inside the Navy.945 words

A Lockheed Martin official said last week that he believes the company will reduce the price of the three variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to the point that the F-35A will only cost $70 million apiece, a figure that is at least 10 percent lower than government estimates because it doesn't include costs such as spares and support equipment. 514 words

The Navy and Lockheed Martin are in talks to buy additional Mobile User Objective System satellites despite a spartan fiscal environment, according to a Lockheed Martin executive, and the Navy confirmed it will examine the possibility.478 words

The full-rate production decision for the Standard Missile-6 won't happen until fiscal year 2013, after the Navy conducts additional tests this fall to verify corrections of deficiencies, according to a Navy official.522 words

The Navy and Coast Guard are teaming up to examine the feasibility of using renewable diesel fuel in Coast Guard cutters, according to a June 21 Naval Sea Systems Command statement. The Navy provided the Coast Guard cutter Henry Blake (WLM-563) with a 50/50 blend of F-76 and hydro-processed renewable diesel (HRD-76). The Henry Blake was selected because of the make and model of the cutter engines and the availability of HRD-76 at the cutter's existing fuel supply depot, the statement reads. There are no plans at this time for additional joint tests, according to NAVSEA spokeswoman Monica McCoy.99 words

Lockheed Martin will redesign the hook shank of the F-35C Joint Strike Fighter Navy carrier variant to make it similar to that of the F/A-18 Hornet to address problems with the aircraft's tailhook failing to snatch the cable on the carrier deck, a company official told reporters last week.345 words

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is 35 percent ahead on test flights and 24 percent ahead of planned test points so far this year, according to a Lockheed Martin official.221 words

The computer room and combat information center in the guided-missile cruiser Chancellorsville (CG-62) have been emptied out and prepared for installation of the new baseline 9 of the Aegis Combat System, the first upgrade in the Navy's plan to move to the new system that leverages commercial-off-the-shelf parts and enhances the ships' missile-defense capability.528 words

Lockheed Martin's chairman and CEO warned last week that $500 billion in cuts to the Pentagon's budget from sequestration would be "a blunt force trauma to industry," and leaders of the company's programs are seeking ways to soften the blow, through efficiencies and international sales, despite little guidance from government on how the cuts might take place.958 words

The Littoral Combat Ship program won't begin its first major overseas deployment until next spring, but Lockheed Martin is already discussing with the Navy how to advance the ship's mission packages and is considering expanding its waterfront presence overseas when the ships deploy, a company official said during Lockheed's 2012 Media Day last week in Arlington, VA.668 words

The Marine Corps has been flying the unmanned Lockheed Martin/Kaman-built K-MAX unmanned helicopter in cargo missions at night without incident, according to a Lockheed official, despite concerns raised in the 2010 concept of operations that such a practice could pose a risk to manned aircraft.344 words

The Navy is looking to industry for various initiatives to support the fiscal year 2013 fleet experimentation campaign plan, which address the fleet's highest priority issues, according to a Federal Business Opportunities notice.369 words

House Armed Services Committee members Randy Forbes (R-VA) and Todd Akin (R-MO) last week wrote to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert to express concerns about how the Obama administration's strategic pivot to the Pacific region may affect the Navy's carrier air wing construct.250 words

The Navy and the Missile Defense Agency plan to conduct Flight Test Maritime-18 this week using a more complex target than the one used in a successful May test with the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system, according to Missile Defense Agency spokesman Richard Lehner.376 words

To prepare the leaders of small military units for major challenges in the years ahead, the Marine Corps must rethink how it selects squad leaders and company commanders, enhance training for these leaders, provide them better high-tech tools and leverage science and technology investments, according to a study prepared for the service's top brass.791 words

A new review will check whether the Navy is issuing top-secret military clearances for illegitimate reasons and without proper oversight, according to an internal memo.190 words

The Pentagon's sales of significant military equipment to foreign militaries rose by $4.7 billion in fiscal year 2011 compared to the previous year, an increase of nearly 50 percent, according to Defense Department reports issued this year and last.808 words

U.S. and Chinese naval officials this month held their first maritime-safety meeting of the year in Hawaii, according to U.S. Pacific Command.200 words

The Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile program is conducting a series of key tests and preparing for an interim program review scheduled for this week, according to Glenn Kuller, director of advanced programs at Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control business.540 words