Boeing Is Overhauling Its Defense, Space And Security Divisions After Experiencing Financial Loses

FILE PHOTO: The Boeing logo is displayed on a screen at the NYSE in New York  

Breaking Defense: Under shadow of financial losses, Boeing makes sweeping changes to defense biz  

The changes, including halving business divisions, come as Boeing’s defense sector finds itself at a crossroads, with new leadership contending with systemic financial issues tied to its large number of fixed-price contracts with the US government.  

WASHINGTON — Boeing is overhauling its defense, space and security organization, cutting down from eight business divisions to four in the hopes of boosting performance amid a string of financial losses, the company announced today. 

“I am confident this reorganization will drive greater and more simplified integration and collaboration across Boeing Defense, Space & Security,” said Ted Colbert, chief executive of Boeing’s defense sector. 

“These changes will help accelerate operational discipline and program quality and performance, while stabilizing our development and production programs. These are necessary steps to put BDS on the path to stronger, profitable growth.” 

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WNU Editor: How can a major arms manufacturer lose money is such a "war-fever" environment? 

Boeing Is Overhauling Its Defense, Space And Security Divisions After Experiencing Financial Loses  

Boeing Defense to Cut Execs, Consolidate Divisions -- Defense One  

Boeing reshuffles defense unit after recent losses in key programs -- Defense News  

Boeing reorganizes defense unit in push to simplify -- Reuters  

Boeing reorganizes defense unit, Kay Sears to lead space and launch business -- Space News

Boeing Admits Its Defense Contracts Are Money Losers

A KC-46A Pegasus tanker takes off March 17, 2022, from McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, as part of the Air Mobility Command’s first KC-46 Employment Concept Exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Amn. William Lunn)  

Breaking Defense: Boeing defense racks up $2.8B in costs this quarter, with losses from KC-46 and new Air Force One  

“We’re not embarrassed by [the cost overruns]; they are what they are. And we intend to deliver against these contracts and satisfy our customers,” said Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun.  

WASHINGTON — Boeing disclosed a whopping $2.8 billion loss on defense programs this quarter, led by significant cost overruns on the KC-46 tanker and new Air Force One, the company stated today. 

Losses were sustained on KC-46, T-7A Red Hawk trainer, the Navy’s MQ-25 tanker drone, VC-25B — better known as Air Force One, when the president is onboard — and NASA’s Commercial Crew program, Boeing said in a news release. 

The overruns were “driven by higher estimated manufacturing and supply chain costs, as well as technical challenges” and “were also impacted by unfavorable performance on other programs,” Boeing said.  

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WNU Editor: Boeing is one of the largest recipients of aid and subsidies from the US Federal government. I am sure everything will even out in the end.

US Army Halts Apache Deliveries After Boeing Finds Improper Record-Keeping

Soldiers work on an AH-64E Apache at Camp Taji Military Complex, Iraq, in July 2017. U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. ISOLDA REYES 

Defense One: Army Halts Apache Deliveries After Boeing Finds Improper Record-Keeping At Helicopter Factory 

It’s the latest quality-control issue for the nation’s largest planemaker. 

The U.S. Army has stopped accepting Apache helicopters from Boeing after the company found that an employee kept “improper” records concerning parts installed on the aircraft.  

It’s the latest quality-control issue to bedevil America’s largest planemaker, which is trying to shift its company’s culture and repair its public image after two deadly airliner crashes and a production line that left tools and trash inside new tanker aircraft. 

“At this time the Army is still conducting a comprehensive review of a number of Boeing processes, production, and manufacturing plans for critical safety items applicable to all AH-64E aircraft production,” Lt. Col. Brandon Kelley, an Army spokesman, said in an emailed statement. 

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Update: Army halts deliveries of Apache attack helicopters over sacked factory employee's 'improper records for critical safety items' - in latest blow to hit Boeing (Daily Mail) 

WNU Editor: The problems keep on piling for Boeing.

Boeing Starliner's Historic Launch Ends In Failure Due To Software Error

Daily Mail: Boeing software glitch sends Starliner crew capsule into the wrong orbit minutes into its first test flight and it WON'T reach the ISS in major setback for NASA's astronaut taxi service

* The Boeing built Starliner crew capsule launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida atop an Atlas V rocket
* The Starliner left Cape Canaveral in Florida at 06:36 local time (11:36 GMT) on Friday 20 December
* The mission's only crew is a space test dummy known as Rosie based on WW2 character Rosie the Riveter
* The commercial mission is part of a programme by NASA aimed at reducing its dependence on Russia

Boeing's new Starliner capsule won't dock with the International Space Station after a software glitch caused it to launch into the wrong orbit just minutes after blasting off on its first test flight.

A glitch in the mission timing software caused the spacecraft to run to a different time than expected, causing it to start its burns and control movements too early into the flight - burning up fuel that it needed to get to the ISS.

This is another major setback for the aerospace giant, which is in the midst of a safety crisis over a software glitch that caused problems for its 737 MAX jet.

NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said that, if there had been an astronaut on board the capsule, it would probably still be docking with the ISS tomorrow, as they would have been trained to correct the error that caused the early thruster burns.

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WNU Editor: 2019 has definitely been a bad year for Boeing.

More News On Boeing Starliner's Historic Launch Ending In Failure

Boeing's Starliner Won't Reach Space Station, NASA Chief Says -- Space.com
Boeing Starliner's historic launch ends in mission failure -- FOX News/AP
Boeing's Starliner test capsule fails in space station mission -- Reuters
Boeing Starliner fails key NASA mission as autonomous flight system malfunctions -- CNBC
Boeing's Starliner encounters a problem: Spacecraft won't reach the space station on uncrewed test flight -- CNN

What Is Boeing's Mysterious Aircraft That Will Be Unveiled Next Week?

Robust? Check
Ready? Check
Changing future air power? Check it out!

See the reveal 12/19! #PhantomWorks pic.twitter.com/92PZCtIQP5

— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) December 14, 2017

Warzone/The Drive: Boeing Defense Teases Mystery Aircraft Unveiling By Hiding It Under A Black Sheet

The strange teaser came on Twitter, showing a puzzling design that the company says will "change the future of air power."

Boeing Defense posted a provocative Tweet today showing what appears to be a new aircraft design under a big black sheet with the teaser "Robust? Check. Ready? Check. Changing future air power? Check it out! See the reveal 12/19! #PhantomWorks" on their Twitter account. Phantom Works is the company's secretive leading-edge design house that is modeled roughly on Lockheed's legendary Skunk Works.

New military aircraft unveils can come with all the glitz and glamour of a new car model unveil, but what's different here is there seems to be nothing definitively known about this new aircraft or its origins at this time.

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WNU Editor: It s probably this .... Could "Phantom Swift" Be The Aircraft Boeing Defense Is Set To Reveal Next Week? (Warzone/The Drive).