The strike followed Houthi attack on a merchant vessel Monday. Houthi rebels launched an attack Friday morning after a U.S.-U.K. strike on more than 60 targets in Yemen. A U.S. Navy helicopter crashed into a Southern California bay during a training exercise Thursday night. All six crew members survived. The delays could have a cascading effect that hurts the Air Force’s ability to manage its units worldwide. The Pentagon has also paused negotiations on a performance-based logistics contract for the F-35 after cost and performance estimates underwhelmed. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., said the F-35 program has moved at "breakneck speed" to get capabilities and spare parts to Israel's fighter jets. “The hardware is good,” Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt said. “It’s the rate at which they’re producing them to meet our production and retrofit needs." Officials say a lighter vest would cut down on overheating issues and reduce back and neck injuries. The number of attacks on U.S. troops in the Middle East has risen to 66. The first TR-3 F-35's initial checkout flight comes as the Joint Program Office hunts for a way to accelerate deliveries, perhaps using interim software. Load More