For Congress, defense contracts are like baseball, apple pie

After President-elect Donald Trump attacked the cost of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter on Monday as "out of control," several lawmakers responded by praising the Pentagon's most expensive weapons acquisition. Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill are aware of the tens of thousands of jobs the aircraft generates in 45 states.

Alcoa’s new spinoff Arconic taps ex-Cornyn chief of staff as lobbyist

Alcoa signage displayed on a monitor on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 21 Aluminum giant Alcoa's spinoff into two companies is slated to take effect Tuesday - and the new spinoff, Arconic, already has a Washington lobbyist. Arconic has tapped Russ Thomasson, former chief of staff to Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn , to serve as the company's first hired gun on K Street.

India prepared to buy 200 foreign combat jets if they’re ‘Made-in-India’

A deal to buy high-end Rafale planes from France's Dassault was scaled back to just 36 jets last month. India is offering to buy hundreds of fighter planes from foreign manufacturers - as long as the jets are made in India and with a local partner, air force officials say.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Photo: AP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the market for 200 foreign combat jets, but there's a catch: they have to be made in India Indian Air Force is desperately trying to speed up other acquisitions and arrest a fall in operational strength - now a third less than required to simultaneously fight China and Pakistan India is offering to buy hundreds of fighter planes from foreign manufacturers - as long as the jets are made in India and with a local partner, air force officials say.

Govt offers to buy 200 foreign fighter jets – if they’re Made-in-India

NEW DELHI: India is offering to buy hundreds of fighter planes from foreign manufacturers - as long as the jets are made in India and with a local partner, Indian Air Force officials say. A deal for 200 single-engine planes produced in India - which the Air Force says could rise to 300 as it fully phases out ageing Soviet-era aircraft - could be worth anything from $13-$15 billion, experts say, potentially one of the country's biggest military aircraft deals.

Air Force’s KC-135 pilots enjoy thrill of refueling at 39,000 feet

The brown, craggy terrain of the Rockies, bluish rivers and the green of trees seem so close, and then a massive B-52 bomber comes into view, flying directly at you. Sure, your enjoyment of the view is hampered slightly by the fact that you're lying flat on your stomach and you have about a foot of room on any side, but it's still awe-inspiring to see such power gliding through the sky, seemingly effortlessly.

U.S. to begin selling weapons to Vietnam

President Barack Obama announced Monday that the United States would begin selling weapons to the Communist nation of Vietnam, a move that marks a stunning shift four decades after the two countries were engaged in war. Vietnam has long sought an end to the moratorium.