The Pentagon’s emerging “Arsenal Plane” or “flying bomb truck” is likely to be a modified, high-tech adaptation of the iconic B-52 bomber designed to fire air-to-air weapons, release swarms of mini-drones and provide additional fire-power to 5th generation stealth fighters such as the F-35 and F-22, Pentagon officials and analysts said. – Scout Warrior
The military wants to replace a host of current helicopters with aircraft that not only fly much faster, but can fly without a human pilot. The Army-led Future Vertical Lift program will study whether FVL should be an “Optionally Piloted Vehicle,” capable of accommodating a pair of highly-trained human pilots for complex combat missions or of flying with an empty cockpit for routine supply runs. – Breaking Defense
The Army is looking to increase the amount of system demonstrations to be conducted before committing to major investments, with plans to use that approach in an upcoming air-and-missile defense sensor competition, according to the Army’s deputy for acquisition and systems management. – Defense News
Raytheon Co. may have to pay millions of dollars to cover part of a 28 percent cost overrun on development of the most sophisticated smart bomb planned for the new F-35 jet and 11 other U.S. military aircraft. - Bloomberg
The Marine Corps is modernizing one of its most reliable battle platforms: the M1A1 Abrams tank. – Military.com