The US and Israel on Wednesday signed the largest bilateral pledge for American military aid in US history, increasing aid to allow Israel greater flexibility for purchasing new hardware. The pledge, which goes into effect in Fiscal 2019, totals $38 billion at a rate of $3.8 billion per year. The current memorandum of understanding is for $3.1 billion per year. The agreement includes $500 million for missile defense funding. The increase will give Israel more money to upgrade its military infrastructure and aircraft fleet. Israel already has signed on for 33 F-35As with the first scheduled to be delivered in June.
The Air Force Research Laboratory awarded Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems Inc. and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems matching $17.7 million contracts for an "Off-Board Sensing Station,” which is an unmanned aircraft that would extend a manned fighter’s sensing range and also potentially carry additional weapons for that aircraft. The cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts…