Author Archives: Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D
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Washington Spends Less On Weapons Than You Think (From Forbes)
February 10, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D Federal budget processes have become so complicated that most people can’t understand them. That helps explain why so much mis-information is floating around about the amount of money Washington spends on weapons. If you add all of the money allocated [Read More...] -
Former F-35 General Manager Explains Key Features Of Developmental Testing
February 7, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D The annual report of the Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test & Evaluation released last month contained a lengthy section on the tri-service F-35 fighter program. One of the issues raised by the report in that section was that the F-35 [Read More...] -
2014 Looks Like A Year For Big Mergers In Defense Services (From Forbes)
February 6, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D With Pentagon demand for technical services trending steadily downward, it is just a matter of time before some participants in that market segment decide it is time to get out. There has been little sense of urgency so far about [Read More...] -
Five Reasons The Latest Pentagon Testing Report On The F-35 Fighter Doesn’t Matter (From Forbes)
February 3, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D Release of the Pentagon operational testing chief’s annual report has afforded critics of the tri-service F-35 fighter program a new opportunity to assail the program. They cite deficiencies described in the report’s F-35 chapter to argue the program is not [Read More...] -
Cyber Isn’t Our Biggest Security Threat
January 31, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D This week the Director of National Intelligence, General James R. Clapper, told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that cyber attacks are the biggest security challenge the nation faces. A Defense News poll of national leaders found that sentiment is [Read More...] -
Rumors Of Sikorsky Divestiture Exaggerated — For Now (From Forbes)
January 28, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D Rumors that United Technologies might want to sell or spin off its Sikorsky helicopter unit have surfaced for the umpteenth time. If past experience is any indication the rumors aren’t true, but it is easy to see why some people [Read More...] -
Ex-Im Bank: How A Small Agency Delivers Big Benefits For America’s Economy
January 28, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D Executive Summary Click here to download the full study as PDF. The Export-Import Bank is the official export credit agency of the U.S. government, established during the Great Depression to create jobs by facilitating the export of American-made goods. The [Read More...] -
Lexington Institute Publishes A Study Of Ex-Im Bank Benefits
January 27, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D The Lexington Institute today is posting a study of the economic benefits generated by the U.S. Export-Import Bank that will become available in hard copy in mid-February. If you would like to read the study immediately, click here. If [Read More...] -
Raytheon Prevails Again In Jammer Contest (From Forbes)
January 25, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D Raytheon has been re-awarded a development contract for the Navy’s Next Generation Jammer, a program that ultimately could be worth over $10 billion to the nation’s third-ranked defense contractor. The company scored an upset win in July over teams led [Read More...] -
F-35 Is Not Too Pricey, Performance Is Better (From Aviation Week)
January 24, 2014- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D The tri-service F-35 fighter program is making rapid progress in retiring risk and winning political support. It is now over halfway through its flight-test schedule with no major problems identified, and eleven of America’s most important allies have committed to [Read More...]