Lockheed Martin beat out Boeing to supply the Department of Defense with a set of next-generation tactical radios for aircraft, ships, and ground installations. Under a $766 million developmental contract announced March 28 for the Joint Tactical Radio System Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Stations program, the company will build modular interoperable radios for more than 160 platforms, including Army helicopters, Air Force C-130 transports, Navy submarines and surface ships, and USAF fixed and deployable ground command and control systems, enabling the sharing of secure voice and video communications. Lockheed Martin’s team includes BAE Systems, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon.
Three of four congressional committees with influence over defense policy have voted to change the official name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War—but final approval of the Pentagon rebrand is months away and not yet assured.