According to Ken Krieg the proposed merger of launch services by Lockheed Martin and Boeing probably doesn’t fall within his “more competition rather than less” framework. Questioned about the Pentagon’s position on the creation of the United Launch Services, Kreig told reporters, “No comment” because “that is a very active piece of work” between DOD and the Federal Trade Commission. So, earlier reports of his approval may have been premature. Still, pressed that the merger would create a monopoly, he said, “I gave you my views on the desire for competition, but it’s got to be competition for which there is real competition.”
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.