Breaking DefenseThu 5th Aug

State Clears Biden Admin’s First Major Taiwan Arms Sale

State also ok’d the sale of RAM Block 2 Tactical Missiles and follow-on technical support for Aegis class destroyers for Japan, which would combine for a potential price tag of $195.5 million.

Defense NewsThu 5th Aug

Navy willing to pay more for more maintainable ships

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy is willing to pay more for new ships upfront if it means saving on maintenance and personnel costs throughout the life of the program, the head of amphibious, auxiliary and sealift programs told industry.

The War ZoneThu 5th Aug

Ripsaw Unmanned Mini-Tank Sent To The Army's Shooting Range For The First Time

The U.S. Army recently conducted the first live-fire testing with one of its prototype 30mm cannon-armed Ripsaw M5 unmanned mini-tanks, which are derived from a series of vehicles that have probably seen more time on movie screens than on the range. 

The War ZoneThu 5th Aug

Drone Makes First Autonomous Aerial Delivery Between Two Military Vessels

Drone manufacturer Volansi has announced it has completed the first-ever autonomous ship-to-ship drone deliveries. In the demonstration, two vertical takeoff and landing-capable unmanned aircraft made three successful deliveries between a U.S. Navy ship and a U.S. Coast Guard vessel off the coast of Key West, Florida, marking a milestone in the Navy's recent push for new unmanned logistics concepts to support its fleets.

The War ZoneWed 4th Aug

F-35s Have Flown Their First "Red Air" Missions As Dedicated Stealth Aggressors

U.S. Air Force F-35A stealth fighters have begun operating as red air aggressors during high-end training. The fifth-generation jets are currently making their debut in the latest edition of the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, as part of a wider initiative to increase the service’s ability to mimic the kinds of stealthy threats operated by potential foes, primarily China and Russia.

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

The Space Force wants to manage acquisitions by portfolio

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force believes it could improve the way it develops space capabilities by thinking in terms of portfolios, rather than developing each program of record independently.

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

Boeing Starliner Launch Date Under Assessment

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

US approves $270 million deal for Greek F-16 upkeep

WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department has greenlighted a $270 million support package for Greece to keep the country’s F-16 fleet current, according to an Aug. 4 announcement.

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

SpaceX Falcon Super Heavy Moves To Texas Launchpad

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

Boeing Order Book Driving Timing Of E-3 AWACS Replacement

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

NASA, Partners Study Spaceflight Muscle Tissue Changes

Breaking DefenseWed 4th Aug

ARRW Schedule Still On Track Pending Failure Review

That said, if ARRW continues to fail, the service could resuscitate the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW, pronounced hacksaw), mused Collins, who heads the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) Armaments Directorate and serves as program executive officer for weapons.

The War ZoneWed 4th Aug

This Is What The Navy's New Shipboard Electronic Warfare System Can Actually Do

The battle to control the electromagnetic battlefield is jumping into warp speed and these capabilities are especially important for protecting warships against many types of threats, from ever more advanced anti-ship missiles to swarms of drones. The Navy is now on the precipice of receiving the most revolutionary upgrade in electronic warfare capability for its surface fleet in a very long time via the AN/SLQ-32(V)7 Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block III, or SEWIP Block III, electronic warfare system. 

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

After latest flight test failure, US Air Force hopes to keep first hypersonic missile on track for production

WASHINGTON — The Air Force is still in the process of determining the root cause of last week’s failed hypersonic missile test, but the program still has time to push through flight testing and begin production of the new, cutting-edge weapon by the end of fiscal 2022, a program official said Wednesday.

Breaking DefenseWed 4th Aug

Congressional Report Could Be Major Step To Strengthen US Defense Supply Chain

It’s an issue experts have been sounding the alarm on for years, but now, armed with an official take from Congress, there is hope that there will be statutory requirements and real money put towards solutions.

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

Hensoldt Eurofighter Self-Defense Suite Study Will Accelerate LTE

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

Schedule Impact Unclear After ARRW Test Failure

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

L3Harris Caps Major Divestiture Run With $185M Sale To Arlington Capital

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

Boeing conducts first manned-unmanned teaming event with MQ-25 tanker

WASHINGTON — Boeing conducted its first manned-unmanned teaming test of the MQ-25A Stingray paired with U.S. Navy aircraft, demonstrating the unmanned tanker can take commands from pilots midair and adjust as the mission changes.

Breaking DefenseWed 4th Aug

It’s Time For A National Maritime Strategy

Like its predecessors, the sea services’ most recent policy statement, Advantage at Sea, concentrates on naval operations and almost completely ignores the US maritime industry. This is a missed opportunity. Whereas—despite its challenges—the Navy continues to field a potent force, the nation’s shipbuilding and repair, port operations, and fishing and offshore support fleets are languishing.

The War ZoneWed 4th Aug

Russian Nuclear Submarine Broke Down In Danish Waters

The Russian Oscar-II class nuclear guided-missile submarine Orel had an unknown problem with its propulsion system on July 30 while transiting Danish waters in the Baltic Sea near Denmark’s second-largest city Aarhus, prompting the Russian Navy to prepare to tow the submarine before it eventually resumed operation. The details of the incident aren’t exactly clear, but Russian submarines have had some issues in recent years. 

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

UK Royal Air Force Begins Hunt For VIP Business Jets

The War ZoneWed 4th Aug

India’s Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Has Gone To Sea For The First Time

India has joined the select group of countries to have designed and built their own aircraft carriers, with its first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, or IAC, named INS Vikrant, having begun sea trials today. While the program has suffered delays and cost overruns, the milestone is still a significant one for the Indian Navy and its air arm and is the next step toward India fielding its planned multiple-carrier force.

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

US Coast Guard updates cyber plans to reflect rapid threat changes

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard updated its cyber strategic plans, committing to use best practices to thwart threats and weave cyber planning into its traditional mission preparation.

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

General Electric robot navigates uncharted terrain in US Army demo

WASHINGTON — General Electric’s Research Lab set a little autonomous robot loose in a wooded course in upstate New York in a demonstration for the U.S. Army and the vehicle scooted quickly along, steering clear of downed branches, crunching over leaf piles and getting tripped up only once when it became wedged between two trees.

Breaking DefenseWed 4th Aug

DIU’s Butow Pushes Space Force Case On ‘Tactical ISR’ Mission

Over the past two decades, “there’s been a lot of need to have imagery and information products on the fly. … We don’t need a lot of that information for intelligence,” Steve “Bucky” Butow, Space Portfolio director at the Defense Innovation Unit, told the Navy League’s annual Sea Air Space 2021 show yesterday.

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

China reportedly converted civilian ferries for amphibious assault operations

MELBOURNE, Australia — China has converted civilian ferries for use in military amphibious operations, potentially enabling the country to significantly surge its amphibious assault capabilities in a contingency like a Taiwan invasion, according to a new report.

The War ZoneWed 4th Aug

Puzzling Hijacking Of Commercial Vessel In Gulf Of Oman Comes To An End

British authorities say the curious apparent hijacking of the Panama-flagged asphalt/bitumen carrier M/V Asphalt Princess is over and that it and its crew are safe, after armed individuals that had boarded the vessel left. However, the identities of these boarders and their motives remain unclear. Some reports have indicated that they were directing the ship to Iran, which has a history of seizing foreign commercial vessels, and this comes after multiple countries also blamed the regime in Tehran for carrying out a fatal drone attack on a Liberia-flagged, Israeli-operated tanker Mercer Street last week.

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

Softbank Eyes HAPS, Satellites For 6G Networks

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

Senate panel OKs Iraq war authorization repeal

WASHINGTON ― The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a measure Wednesday to repeal the 2002 and 1991 Iraq war authorizations, a further step toward Congress reclaiming its constitutional war-making powers from the presidency.

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

India’s Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Begins Sea Trials

Aviation ListWed 4th Aug

First Flight Test Of Hypersonic AGM-183A ARRW (Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon) Fails, Again.

The U.S. Air Force conducted its second AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) booster flight test on July 28, 2021, but, for the second time, it did not go as planned. The ARRW test missile, designated Booster Test Vehicle 1b (BTV-1b), was released by an Edwards AFB’s B-52H Stratofortress over Point Mugu Sea Range but its rocket motor failed to ignite after the separation.

Overt DefenseWed 4th Aug

IDF Retaliated as Rockets Launched From Lebanon

Three rockets were fired at the northern Israeli town of Kiryat Shmona from Lebanon on the afternoon of 4 August. Two of the three rockets landed in open areas in the town, prompting warning sirens, while a third failed to reach Israeli territory and landed within Lebanon.

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

Denmark To Base Patrol Aircraft In Greenland Year-round

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

Acting US Navy undersecretary James Geurts to retire this month

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s acting undersecretary will step down this month and retire from government service, with no replacement immediately announced.

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

Lockheed’s CFO abruptly exits, sparking search for replacement

WASHINGTON ― Defense titan Lockheed Martin has named a longtime company veteran as its acting chief financial officer Tuesday after Kenneth Possenriede retired suddenly.

Breaking DefenseWed 4th Aug

Boeing Eyeing How MQ-25 Can Talk To Pilots When The Carrier Cannot

The premise of the virtual demonstration, which received funding from the Office of Naval Research, was simple: What happens if the MQ-25 is on a mission and for some reason – such adversary jamming – the MQ-25 or the pilot of a plane it is refueling cannot communicate with the controller back on the aircraft carrier?

Overt DefenseWed 4th Aug

US State Department Greenlights The Sale of CH-53K Helicopters to Israel

According to a notification issued by the US State Department the sale of up to 18 CH-53K heavy-lift cargo helicopters to Israel has been cleared, in a transaction worth $3.4 billion. In a statement, the State Department said, “the United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.”

Overt DefenseWed 4th Aug

Fourth German-Built S-44 Submarine Delivered to Egyptian Navy

The last of four Type 209/1400 submarines was delivered to Egypt on 2 August. The German-made diesel-electric S-44 submarine embarked on its journey from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems’ Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft’s shipyard in Kiel, manned by its new Egyptian crew and arrived at its new home at the Egyptian Navy’s Alexandria Naval Base.

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

What Does Sudden Lockheed CFO Departure Mean For Prime?

Breaking DefenseWed 4th Aug

Hondo Geurts To Exit Pentagon

In a hand written note posted to his LinkedIn, Geurts said he would be leaving “later this month.” He added that “It has been an incredible honor to serve the country for all of these years in uniform, as a government civilian, and as an appointee.”

Overt DefenseWed 4th Aug

Australian Navy’s Final Hobart-class Destroyer Completes Testing

The third and last of the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) finished a four and a half month trial deployment to Canada and the United States. Its return to Garden Island RAN naval base in Sydney on 30 July marks its official qualification for operational duty.

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

The National Guard needs funding, not platitudes

“To do more with less” is a mantra every woman and man who served in the U.S. military is familiar with. To the National Guard, it’s a reality that impacts each member of the organization every fiscal year. Recently, however, this reality began diminishing morale, damaging talent retention, and impeding organizational efficacy and readiness; thus, making service as a “Citizen Soldier” a costly endeavor.

Breaking DefenseWed 4th Aug

Navy Says Constellation Hull Change Won’t Affect Internal Design

“The Italians did a very good job in the design of the internal spaces, and the flow of a lot of those spaces,” Capt. Kevin Smith, program manager for the Constellation class, told attendees at the Sea Air Space exposition on Monday. “You could say we bought a bigger house, [but] from a modeling and simulation perspective, it’s exactly the same.”

Overt DefenseWed 4th Aug

German Frigate ‘Bayern’ Sails to the Pacific

The German frigate “Bayern” set sail for the Pacific this week. On its six-month voyage, the vessel is set to participate in exercises with Australia, Japan, Singapore and United States. The ship is also expected to support NATO and EU counter-terrorism and anti-piracy operations being conducted in the Mediterranean and around the Horn of Africa as well as to help in the enforcement of UN sanction on the DPRK.

Defense NewsWed 4th Aug

Air Force to delay production of Grey Wolf helicopter

WASHINGTON — Boeing’s MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter will enter full-rate production later than expected, a U.S. Air Force program executive said Tuesday.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

F-16 Fighter Gets a Software Update in Flight

Although this doesn’t sound like a big deal, the ability to revive real-time upgrades is crucially important. Here’s why.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

The U.S. Cannot Allow China To Think It Will Abandon Taiwan

Speaking at Singapore’s International Institute for Strategic Studies, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recently outlined U.S. interests and commitments in the Indo-Pacific theater. He implied the U.S. would assist Taiwan in resisting China’s coercive measures, saying we will continue to assist Taiwan’s military, uphold our commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act, and that “we will not flinch” when our interests are threatened. 

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

Navy's New Triton Drone Getting Close to Taking Over

The Navy's new MQ-4C Triton drones hit a new development milestone last week, the Navy's project manager announced Tuesday.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

To Counter China, the Navy Should Retake the High Ground

OPINION: This week’s SeaAirSpace convention comes at a challenging time for the US Navy, which faces criticism about everything from its lack of strategy to subpar readiness. Lost in the wave of proposed solutions, however, is a fix to the growing shortfalls of naval airpower.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

Britain Kowtows to China in the South China Sea

The Queen Elizabeth strike group did not conduct a 12-mile transit. On Monday, the strike group quietly transited through the Luzon Strait between Taiwan and the Philippines. It is not clear whether the strike group did so in proximity to Taiwan. But considering its failure to conduct a 12-mile transit, that seems unlikely.

Breaking DefenseWed 4th Aug

BAE Cuts Operating Costs Of F-35 EW System By 50 Percent

Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide “software maintenance, depot test equipment support, logistics analysis, obsolescence monitoring, technical field support, and ‘reachback’ support for the F-35 U.S. Reprogramming Laboratory,” according to a company press release today

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

A Millennial's Retort: ICBMs are Essential

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

Navy Questions Future Viability of Super Hornets

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — If Congress mandates the Navy keep buying the current F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, the airframes will be in the fleet into the 2050s. But by then, the fourth-generation fighters likely couldn’t stand up to future threats, a service official said Tuesday.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

Canada's Arctic Problem

In 2007 Canada’s then prime minister Stephen Harper stated, “Canada’s new government understands that the first principle of Arctic sovereignty is: Use it or lose it.” The Conservative government of the time saw Canadian sovereignty of its Arctic north increasingly under pressure from other Arctic powers—including the United States and Russia in the short term and China in the longer term—forcing the Harper government to announce an Arctic warfare training center and a refurbished deepwater naval port. Great power competition in the Canadian Arctic—and fears of a great power seizing or shutting down the Northwest Passage (NWP) to deny it to others—had taken on a new level of concern. What is to become of the NWP in the future?

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

Lasers Destined for Fighter Jets Are Now Being Tested

Ahead of putting experimental directed energy weapons onto its fighter jets, the U.S. Air Force is testing how these systems will operate at high speed and high altitude, by trialing them in wind tunnels. Equipping fighters with directed energy, or DE, weapons, which use high-energy lasers or microwaves to engage threats, is a long-standing Air Force ambition, but one that has suffered from some well-documented delays. The latest wind tunnel work may help address some of the problems encountered so far.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

Helmand Attack Led by Taliban Commander Released From Prision

KABUL—The Taliban commander overseeing an assault on the key southern city of Lashkargah is one of 5,000 former prisoners released by the Afghan government last year under pressure from the U.S., Afghan and Western officials say.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

A New Maritime Surveillance Network Across the Indian Ocean

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

Man on a Mission: Biden's Withdrawal From Afghanistan

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

The Navy Says it Can't Afford to Fully Modernize

The Navy League of the United States this week presented Washington’s premier annual exposition of all things maritime.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

It's Time for Biden to Leave a Bad Deal in the Past

A change in Iranian presidents doesn’t change the badness of the Iran deal.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

America Needs a New Great-Power Strategy

During the four decades of the Cold War, the United States had a grand strategy focused on containing the power of the Soviet Union. Yet by the 1990s, following the Soviet Union’s collapse, America had been deprived of that pole star. After the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, US President George W. Bush’s administration tried to fill the void with a strategy that it called a ‘global war on terror’. But that approach provided nebulous guidance and led to long US-led wars in marginal places like Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 2017, the US has returned to ‘great-power competition’, this time with China.

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

Towards a Rigorous Code of Conduct for the South China Sea

The South China Sea became an important highlight of the recent ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus. All delegations agreed that maintaining peace and security in the disputed area is one of the most important issues in the region and called for unity in the defence sector. To keep the peace it will be necessary to preserve the momentum in the negotiations for a South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC).

Real Clear DefenseWed 4th Aug

Military Comm Payloads Could Ride on Future GPS Satellites

WASHINGTON — The next generation of Global Positioning System satellites could host additional payloads to provide communications services, the U.S. Space Force said in a request for information.

Aviation WeekWed 4th Aug

Is There A Future At Sea For Regional Aviation?

The War ZoneWed 4th Aug

Retired Marine C-9B Jet Transport Is Getting Second Life As An Air Force Sensor Testbed

The U.S. Air Force has given a former U.S. Marine Corps C-9B Skytrain II transport plane a second lease on life. The service says it has taken ownership of the militarized McDonnell Douglas DC-9 airliner to use a sensor testbed.

The War ZoneTue 3rd Aug

Watch This C-17 Engage Its Thrust Reversers In Mid-Air To Make An Extremely Rapid Descent

The ever-impressive C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft has recently been the focus of The War Zone’s attention when it comes to getting off the ground, in the form of an eye-catching short-field tactical departure. Now, thanks to the U.K. Royal Air Force (RAF), we’ve got the chance to see another of the big airlifter’s unique attributes — the ability to deploy the thrust reversers on its engines in-flight to provide a quick descent from its cruising altitude perch.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

F/A-18E/F Budget Add-On Sparks U.S. Navy Backlash

Overt DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Explosion Near the Home of Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi in Kabul, Afghanistan

A large explosion was reported near Defense Minister Bismillah Mohammadi’s home in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital. Shooting was also heard in the area after the explosion. Heavy fire from automatic weapons was heard in central Kabul two hours after the first explosion, followed by a second large explosion and several smaller ones.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

ISS Conference Foresees Another Decade Of Research Activity

The War ZoneTue 3rd Aug

Critical Fix Will Take Years To Reach All Navy Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ships

The U.S. Navy is rebuilding the Littoral Combat Ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS-21) after a retrofit of a critical component in the ship’s propulsion system. The same issue that was repaired on the Minneapolis-Saint Paul affects the propulsion systems on all twelve of the other Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) that have been launched to date. The problem-prone ships are now facing a lengthy and costly design fix process in addition to some being decommissioned far earlier than projected. To make matters worse, the Navy announced this week that it will likely take years to make the planned fixes on the rest of the Freedom-class LCSs.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations are necessary, these top enlisted leaders say

NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland ― The top enlisted leaders in both the Navy and Marine Corps said mandatory coronavirus vaccinations are necessary for the force going forward.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Egypt receives fourth German S-44 submarine at Alexandria base

BEIRUT — Egypt received the fourth German-made S-44 submarine at its Alexandria naval base on Monday, the Egyptian Navy announced. The model 209/1400 mod 4 sub was shipped from the German port city of Kiel.

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Production Delays For Boeing’s MH-139A: Air Force

Boeing and the Air Force made erroneous assumptions about what certifications would be required for the helicopter, Col. William Rogers, the service’s program executive for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and special operations forces, told reporters this afternoon.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Military and civilian leaders must work to secure dual-use technologies, top Navy officer says

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government must improve its ability to protect systems vital for military and civilian operations, such as GPS, the Navy’s top information warfare officer said Tuesday.

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

SPACECOM Head Touts Space, High Seas Parallels

“In general, there are just too many similarities in maritime and space operating environments to ignore the mutual benefits of our growing synergy,” he said during the Navy League’s Sea Air Space symposium.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

No. 2 US diplomat says Iraq war authorization ‘should be repealed’

WASHINGTON ― U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said Tuesday that the Biden administration supports repeal of the war authorization Congress provided in 2002 to invade Iraq, teeing up action in the Senate on Wednesday.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Here’s why the Marine Corps is considering returning to promotion photos

NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland ― The Navy and Marine Corps may soon require that official photos be submitted for promotion boards, after photo removal led to decreased diversity, senior leaders for both services said Tuesday.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

AWIN Military Aircraft Parts & Contract Data: RFQs For July 25 - July 31

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Military and civilian leaders must work to secure dual-use technologies, top Navy officer says

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government must improve its ability to protect systems vital for military and civilian operations, such as GPS, the Navy’s top information warfare officer said Tuesday.

The War ZoneTue 3rd Aug

Lasers Destined For Fighter Jets Are Now Being Tested In The Air Force’s Wind Tunnels

Ahead of putting experimental directed energy weapons onto its fighter jets, the U.S. Air Force is testing how these systems will operate at high speed and high altitude, by trialing them in wind tunnels. Equipping fighters with directed energy, or DE, weapons, which use high-energy lasers or microwaves to engage threats, is a long-standing Air Force ambition, but one that has suffered from some well-documented delays. The latest wind tunnel work may help address some of the problems encountered so far.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

USAF Pushes Back Final MH-139 Certification

Overt DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Iranian Involvement Suspected In Hijacking Of Asphalt Princess Tanker

Lloyd’s List reported on Tuesday that the Asphalt Princess had been hijacked by “unauthorized persons”. According to the shipping journal, the individuals that boarded the asphalt tanker in the Gulf of Oman demanded the tanker sail for Iran.

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

To Counter China, The Navy Should Retake the High Ground

Aircraft are increasingly important to counter threats posed by the People’s Liberation Army, which include proliferated sensors and thousands of precision weapons able to reach more than 1,000 miles from China’s coast, its long-range bombers, or illegally-created maritime features. Diluting and complicating Chinese attacks will demand that US naval forces distribute across the Western Pacific and concentrate their fires against enemy ships and facilities from a distance. Aircraft are essential to achieve this theater-wide reach as well as provide targeting and communications in what are likely to be degraded electromagnetic environments.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Year-long continuing resolution would cost the Navy $14B in spending power

WASHINGTON – The federal government may well find itself operating under a continuing resolution this fall, but the U.S. Navy would see $14 billion in the wrong accounts – meaning it couldn’t buy the ships and weapons it needs in fiscal 2022, wouldn’t have enough money operate the fleet and may have to cut back on people due to the misalignment of funds, the Navy’s top budget officer said.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

AARGM-ER Clears Live Fire Test Milestone

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

The B-21 Raider: A Bomber That Is Both Low Observable And Easier to Maintain

Breaking Defense: Northrop Grumman has extensive experience in designing and maintaining low observable aircraft. What lessons learned is Northrop Grumman bringing to the B-21 to support sustainment?

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

CNP: Removing photos from promotion boards has hurt diversity

Removing photos from promotion and selection boards has had adverse effects on diversity, according to Vice Adm. John Nowell Jr., the chief of naval personnel.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

Swiss Low Helicopter Flight Network To Expand

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

Vietnam T-6 Program May Double In Size

The War ZoneTue 3rd Aug

Mysterious "Potential Hijack" Of Commercial Ship Ongoing In The Gulf Of Oman (Updated)

Details are still emerging, but British authorities have issued a warning regarding a potential hijacking of a ship in the Gulf of Oman approximately 61 nautical miles east of the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Online flight tracking software also shows an Omani Air Force C-295 maritime patrol plane circling the area. All of this comes just days after the Liberian-flagged tanker Mercer Street, operated by an Israeli company, struck by at least one explosive-laden drone off the coast of Oman, an attack that killed one British and one Romanian national and that multiple countries have now blamed on Iran.

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Top Navy Aviator Says CNO’s Industry Warning Based On Future Threats

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday raised eyebrows when he the opening panel of the Sea Air Space exposition on Monday to tell industry to to focus more on delivering ships out of maintenance availabilities and less on lobbying Congress for “aircraft we don’t need.”

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

Germany Readies Meteor For Eurofighter Operations

Overt DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Future Attack Submarine USS Hyman G. Rickover Christened

The United States Navy christened the future USS Hyman G. Rickover on 31 July, with a ceremony at General Dynamics Electric Boat’s shipyard in Groton, Connecticut. The invitation-only ceremony was the first Navy christening ceremony open to members of the public since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and was livestreamed by General Dynamics Electric Boat as well.

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Pentagon Shooting: Officer, Suspect Reportedly Killed In Tuesday Violence

WASHINGTON: The Pentagon was placed on lockdown for more than an hour Tuesday morning, following reports of gunfire at a bus terminal near the building. Shortly after noon, the building was reopened with limited restrictions.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

Starliner Technical Issue Delays OFT-2 Launch

Overt DefenseTue 3rd Aug

New RAND Studies Tackle Foreign Disinformation in the United States

Between 19 and 29 July, RAND published three reports focusing on foreign disinformation campaigns. Two of these were focused on social media with one report focusing on Chinese social media disinformation campaigns and another on combatting foreign social media disinformation. The third focused on Russian and Chinese attempts to spread Covid-19-related disinformation. The first two of these reports were funded with US Air Force money while the third drew its funding from more general sources.

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

APKWS Upgrade Extends Range By 30 Percent: BAE

The new kit design allows the rocket to strike a target at a steeper angle of attack than previous guidance systems, according to the company. The upgraded design also comes with options to improve use when training. Production on the new kits is slated to begin in third quarter of this year.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

EHang eVTOLs In Chinese High-Rise Fire Drill

Overt DefenseTue 3rd Aug

US Critical Supply Chain Task Force Releases Findings

On 22 July, the US House of Representatives’ Defense Critical Supply China Task Force published a 23-page report detailing its findings and recommendations. Unveiled in March, the task force came as part of a larger intergovernmental effort to address the shortcomings in US supply chain security made obvious by the Covid-19 pandemic which extend well beyond just health infrastructure.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

NASA To Assess Using Lunar Regolith To Build Moon Structures

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

AFWerx Challenge Showcases High-Speed VTOL Concepts

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Delayed Navy Torpedo Competition Set For Later This Year

David Portner, senior program manager for undersea weapons at Northrop Grumman, told Breaking Defense in an interview last week that he expects a request for prototype proposals on the Compact Rapid Attack Weapon to be published in late August or early September.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Milley Compares Urgency of Modernization to Interwar Period

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Comparing today’s innovations to the sea change in military technology between World War I and World War II, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the Defense Department must modernize in a number of areas or risk suffering extremely high casualties in the next great power conflagration.Long-range fires, 5G communications technology, hypersonic weapons, microelectronics, space, cyber, artificial intelligence, shipbuilding and nuclear systems are some of the capabilities that the Pentagon will need to advance and leverage as it faces a potential conflict against advanced adversaries like China, Gen. Mark Milley said Aug. 2 at the Navy League’s annual Sea-Air-Space conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Tactical Fitness

If you want to succeed in the tactical professions, you must understand the natural weaknesses that you will bring to your journey. Your focus must be to overcome these weaknesses so they are not exposed in your initial testing, basic training, selection or throughout your career.

Overt DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Motor Ignition Failure During Second ARRW Booster Flight Test

The US Air Force says that its second booster flight test of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon “did not meet all flight objectives”, after the hypersonic missile’s booster rocket motor failed to ignite during the 28 July flight test over the Point Mugu Sea Range.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Trio of exercises had soldiers and airmen island-hopping in the Pacific this summer

Over the weekend, U.S. soldiers and airmen in the Pacific saw the conclusion of what their commanders termed an “agile combat deployment” of at least 4,000 troops across the islands of Oceania.

Aviation ListTue 3rd Aug

Israeli Paratroopers Perform Multiple Jumps Over Slovenia To Commemorate WWII Hero Hannah Szenes

An Israeli delegation landed in Cerklje ob Krki AB, Slovenia, on Sunday, Jul. 18, 2021, aboard two C-130J Hercules aircraft (661 and 668) as part of the operation that commemorated Hannah Szenes.

Overt DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Eight Egyptian Soldiers Killed During Operations In North Sinai

The Egypt Armed Forces announced on Sunday that it has killed 89 insurgents in operations in North Sinai, where an ISIS-affiliated organization has operated for nearly a decade. Eight Egyptian army personnel were also killed during counter-terrorism operations, according to the statement. “As part of the continued efforts to fight terrorist elements nationwide, the Armed Forces succeeded in conducting successive strikes against terrorist forces during the previous period,” official military spokesperson of the Armed Forces Gharib Abdel Hafez stated.

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Distributed Maritime Operations: Making Ships, Subs, And Platforms Nodes On A Network

Breaking Defense: How has DMO evolved since the Marine Corps developed the concept a few years ago?

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Military Urges Defense Industry to Focus on Tech Needed by Navy

WASHINGTON — Top military commanders on Monday urged defense industry leaders to concentrate on the new weapons and ships that the Navy needs to compete with rival nations such as China and Russia.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

First F-35C Fighters, CMV-22B Deploy with Carl Vinson CSG

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) departed San Diego Bay Monday afternoon with nearly 6,000 sailors and a crowded flight deck to begin a scheduled deployment to the Indo-Pacific region, marking a key milestone for 21st-century naval aviation.

Breaking DefenseTue 3rd Aug

China’s Nuclear Forces Swell: A Tri-Polar World?

The array of both nuclear and conventional missiles in the Chinese inventory has steadily expanded. In addition to two dozen or so DF-31 ICBMs, the Chinese have been adding the DF-41, a mobile system that is expected to field China’s first MIRVs (multiple independent reentry vehicles). This will substantially increase the number of warheads Beijing has aimed at American targets, while also making it harder for the US to target them.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

DHL Launches All-Electric Alice Cargo Version

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Taliban, Afghan Forces Battle for Control of Helmand's Capital

After days of heavy fighting with Afghan security forces, the Taliban has entered Laskhar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. The city is in danger of falling to the Taliban.

Aviation WeekTue 3rd Aug

Startup AAC Launches Hybrid Propulsion Drone

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

What Does Iraq Want from America?

It’s easy to read too much into the agreement that U.S. President Joe Biden and Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi recently forged to end the U.S. combat mission there. As much as some observers might wish otherwise, this doesn’t signal a larger strategy shift. It looks to be more an act of political expediency.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Former SEAL & CIA Officer on U.S. Operations in Afghanistan

On July 2nd, 2021, the Pentagon’s top spokesman announced that command of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan would be transferred to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) from NATO’s Resolute Support Mission, which previously commanded U.S. forces in the country, and which was most recently led by former U.S. Army former Delta Force officer, General Scott Miller. CENTCOM commander General Frank McKenzie, a career U.S. Marine officer, will now command the U.S. forces remaining in the country.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Bell's VTOL Concept Features Fold-Away Rotors

Bell has revealed part of its vision for a future High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing, or HSVTOL, aircraft, a type of platform that U.S. Special Operations Command has recently been taking a particular interest in. The company’s initial HSVTOL concepts aim to combine the “hover capability of a helicopter with the speed, range and survivability features of a fighter aircraft,” according to the company. These designs could potentially lead to a replacement for the Air Force’s CV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, as well as other types.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Lawmakers Protect C-130 Fleet

House lawmakers are looking to bar the Air Force from ditching any of its nearly 300 C-130 Hercules airlift planes as part of fiscal 2022 defense policy bill released July 27.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Lloyd Austin's Philippine Progress

Too often U.S. diplomatic meetings with allies end with vague promises and high-minded boilerplate. So credit to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for concluding his visit to the Philippines Friday with a concrete strategic success: Manila announced it would officially restore the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that makes it easier for American troops to operate on the archipelago.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Maritime Solutions to Continental Conundrums

Continental powers covet conquests; Maritime powers compound wealth.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Scharnhorst: The Formative Years, 1755-1801

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Pentagon Needs Reorg Before Navy Can Develop Maritime Strategy

WASHINGTON — An influential congresswoman has said the Navy needs a proper maritime strategy that defines its role in the world, but that a reorganization at the Pentagon must be the first step. More specifically, said Rep. Elaine Luria, if China is America’s top threat, then the Navy needs to identify how it can prevent war against the country or win in a fight if one arises.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Blinken Vows 'Collective Response' for Iranian Ship Attack

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States is confident that Iran carried out the attack on the Israeli-linked oil tanker.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

NF-16D VISTA Redesignated an 'X' Plane to Test Skyborg

There’s a new X-plane in the Air Force’s fleet.

Real Clear DefenseTue 3rd Aug

Pentagon Contractors Still Get Accelerated Funds Tied to COVID

The Pentagon will continue issuing accelerated payments to defense contractors indefinitely to buffer the impact of Covid-19 on their defense workforce and on program delays after expediting $5.3 billion through June.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Navy will incur some cost in replacing Freedom-variant LCS combining gears

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy will bear some portion of the cost to replace faulty combining gears on the Freedom-variant littoral combat ships – the exact amount is being negotiated with Freedom LCS builder Lockheed Martin – in an unexpected bill that contributed to the Navy asking to decommission two hulls that commissioned less than five years ago.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Electronic attack system to provide Navy more capabilities, flexible options

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s ship-based electronic countermeasure system will provide an unlimited supply of ammunition against incoming threats, allowing the service to be more dynamic, and will open up new concepts for other capabilities, the system’s contractor said.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Inspector: DoD may struggle to recruit needed cyber workers because it failed to track open jobs

WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense has not properly tracked its open civilian cyber jobs and risks missing goals to recruit more skilled cyber employees without a clear picture of workforce needs, a watchdog report released Aug. 2 said.

The War ZoneTue 3rd Aug

Bell Unveils VTOL Aircraft Concepts That All Feature Fold-Away Rotors For Jet-Speed Flight

Bell has revealed part of its vision for a future High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing, or HSVTOL, aircraft, a type of platform that U.S. Special Operations Command has recently been taking a particular interest in. The company’s initial HSVTOL concepts aim to combine the “hover capability of a helicopter with the speed, range and survivability features of a fighter aircraft,” according to the company. These designs could potentially lead to a replacement for the Air Force’s CV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, as well as other types.

Defense NewsTue 3rd Aug

Navy nears production decision on fleet’s electronic warfare system

WASHINGTON — The Navy is nearing a decision to OK production for a fleet electronic protection system, according to the system’s manufacturer.

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

Arctic will become ‘contested’ without US presence and partnerships, 2nd Fleet CO warns

OXON HILL, Md. — Enhancing presence and cultivating partnerships in the Arctic are vital to ensuring the region does not become a contested space, according to 2nd Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Andrew “Woody” Lewis.

The War ZoneMon 2nd Aug

First Live-Fire Test Of The Navy's New Long-Range Anti-Radiation Missile Was A Success

The U.S. Navy recently announced its first live-fire test of the new AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range, or AARGM-ER. A Naval Air Systems Command press release states that the missile was launched from an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and met all of the objectives set for this test. The new AARGM-ER is intended to give the service’s carrier air wings the ability to more safely operate in areas containing integrated defense networks, but its capabilities could make it a formidable all-around air-to-surface weapon featuring advanced guidance technologies. 

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

German warship ‘Bayern’ heads to the Indo-Pacific

WASHINGTON – The German navy’s frigate “Bayern” set sail on Monday for the Indo-Pacific region, fully loaded with Berlin’s aspirations to play a small role in the geopolitical standoff between China and the West.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Ultrasonic Welding Could Speed Air Taxi Production

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Lithium-Sulfur Battery Pioneer Finds Buyer

Breaking DefenseMon 2nd Aug

The Navy Wants Industry To Manage Its Autonomy Integration Efforts

The Rapid Autonomy Integration Lab (RAIL) is an effort out of the service’s unmanned maritime systems program office. The program will be the “cornerstone” for how the service develops and integrates autonomous capabilities in the future, Capt. Pete Small, Unmanned Maritime Systems program manager, told attendees at the Sea Air Space exposition on Monday.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

UK Government Monitoring Parker-Hannifin/Meggitt Merger Bid

The War ZoneMon 2nd Aug

Electronic Warfare System On Air Force F-16 Gets Capability Update In Flight

The U.S. Air Force says it recently demonstrated the ability to send software updates for the electronic warfare system onboard an F-16C Viper fighter jet while that aircraft was in flight. The service also says that this test was an important first step toward developing a more expansive capability, which could feed into a broader concept known as Cognitive Electronic Warfare, or Cognitive EW, which you can read more about in detail here. Cognitive EW is centered on using advances in artificial intelligence, or AI, as well as machine learning, to much more rapidly develop and deploy improved electronic warfare capabilities, including new countermeasures, in response to emerging threats, possibly in real-time.

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

House panel demands another investigation into F-35 pilot breathing system problems

WASHINGTON — A subpanel of the House Armed Services Committee wants the Pentagon to take a second look at the F-35′s pilot breathing systems, which may be contributing to physiological episodes where pilots reported oxygen deprivation.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Toray Prepreg Launch Targets eVTOL Ramp-up

The War ZoneMon 2nd Aug

U.S. Threatens “Appropriate Response” After Blaming Iran For Drone Attack On Tanker

Officials from the United States have called for a proportional, coordinated response to the attack on the Israeli-operated product tanker M/T Mercer Street in the Gulf of Oman last Thursday, which killed two crewmen, and which has now been formally blamed on Iran by several nations. The countries of the two victims — Romania and the United Kingdom — have issued statements putting the responsibility on Tehran and have also spoken of responding accordingly. Israel, too, has formally accused Iran of being behind the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett claiming there was “evidence” of this, without providing any more details. Iran, for its part, has denied any connections to the incident.

Aviation ListMon 2nd Aug

United Kingdom Signs Contract To Formally Start Tempest’s Concept And Assessment Phase

The British Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems a contract worth £250 million to formally begin the Concept and Assessment Phase of the Tempest 6th generation aircraft program, part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). This contract is just the initial part of a bigger £2 billion investment that the United Kingdom Government has planned over the next four years in the recent Defence Command Paper.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Lockheed Martin Assumes Control Of MQ-25 Ground Station

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

China’s Deep Blue Completes First VTLV Rocket ‘Hop'

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

Pentagon needs reorg before Navy can develop maritime strategy, says Rep. Luria

WASHINGTON — An influential congresswoman has said the Navy needs a proper maritime strategy that defines its role in the world, but that a reorganization at the Pentagon must be the first step. More specifically, said Rep. Elaine Luria, if China is America’s top threat, then the Navy needs to identify how it can prevent war against the country or win in a fight if one arises.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

UK Space Command Goes Live

Breaking DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Navy Launches ‘No Notice’ Fire Safety Assessments At All Shipyards

“We recently hired two civilians and appointed a Navy O-5 commander to support our Fire Safety Assessment Program (FSAP) team, bringing the team up to six personnel,”  Navy spokeswoman Cmdr. Nicole Schwegman said in response to questions from Breaking Defense.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Turkmenistan Emerges As Undisclosed M-346FA Customer

Breaking DefenseMon 2nd Aug

SNC Deploys Cutting-Edge Security Tech For Maritime Regions

Additionally, the rise in illegal fishing and toxic waste dumping at sea continue to exact a devastating economic and environmental toll on the world’s maritime nations.

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

Inspector: DoD may struggle to recruit needed cyber workers because it failed to track open jobs

WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense has not properly tracked its open civilian cyber jobs and risks missing goals to recruit more skilled cyber employees without a clear picture of workforce needs, a watchdog report released Aug. 2 said.

Overt DefenseMon 2nd Aug

UK Seeking New ‘Army Special Operations Brigade Rifle’

The United Kingdom’s Special Operations Brigade is seeking a new personal weapon. Currently, elements across the UK’s special forces are equipped with a mixture of L119A1/A2 carbines and L85A2 rifles. The new rifle will likely equip some existing units but will predominantly be issued to the new four battalion-strong Special Operations Brigade which is being raised.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

The Weekly Debrief: Latest Failure Adds Pressure On USAF Hypersonic Plan

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Italian F-35 Lands On Cavour Carrier

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

German air force declares Meteor missile ready for Eurofighter fleet

STUTTGART, Germany — The German air force recently completed flight tests for its newest air-to-air missile, the Meteor, and have deemed the weapon ready for use aboard the nation’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

U.S. OKs Israeli CH-53K King Stallion Buy

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Pennsylvania National Guard Takes First UH-60Vs

Overt DefenseMon 2nd Aug

First Ever Italian Navy F-35B Landing Aboard ITS Cavour

The Italian Navy announced on 30 July that one of its F-35Bs had landed aboard the ITS Cavour aircraft carrier on the same day. The landing is the first time an F-35B owned by the Italian Navy has landed on the Italian Navy’s flagship.

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

American firm to take over Britain’s Meggitt in $8.8 billion deal

LONDON — British defense and aerospace company Meggitt has agreed to a £6.3 billion (U.S. $8.8 billion) takeover by Parker Hannifin. It’s the second time in recent weeks a major British defense company has been targeted by an American rival in a merger bid.

Breaking DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Raytheon, Navy Finish SPY-6 Testing At Wallops

The testing, which occurred earlier this year, was focused on demonstrating new functionalities for both variants and will allow testing to advance to multi-functional operations and combat management system integration.

Overt DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Demystifying The DF-100: A Deeper Look At China’s Mysterious Cruise Missile

China’s missile arsenal has expanded greatly over the years. Much attention has been given to these cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles; as seen with the coverage on the CJ-10, DF-26, and DF-ZF. However, this has the unfortunate consequence of directing attention away from other missiles that would also play an important role in China’s area denial and strike strategy. Here we will explore one of these relatively unexplored missiles, the DF-100.

Breaking DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Northrop Exploring How SEWIP Can Feed Into Project Overmatch

SEWIP, formally called the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, is the Navy’s jammer program to protect its vessels from anti-ship missiles without having to expend millions of dollars of its own ammunition to defeat those missiles. The program is comprised of several blocks with each successive version containing incremental upgrades. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are under contract to produce and deliver Blocks II and III respectively.

Breaking DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Chirag Parikh Tapped For National Space Council ExecSec

While led by the vice president, the council, the executive secretary is the de-facto policy expert behind the curtain. (Harris has little background at all in space policy issues.) The post was held by Scott Pace during the Trump administration, who came from George Washington University where he led the Space Policy Institute, and to where he has now returned — but had previously served at NASA, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, at the Commerce Department’s Office of Space Commerce.

Overt DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Afghanistan’s Special Forces Start Training In Turkey As Part Of NATO’s Mission

In Turkey, NATO’s Afghan special forces units have begun their first training program outside of Afghanistan. A detachment of Afghan special forces flew to Ankara for training, according reports from DW Turkey. NATO intends to train Afghan troops on a regular basis outside of Afghanistan. A NATO official in Brussels confirmed to the German Press Agency (DPA) that the training program has started, but declined to elaborate on the location or specifics for security concerns.

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

Geomatics is vital to US national security; our advantage is at risk

When you switch on a light, pay for an item with a credit card, or use your phone’s navigation app to avoid traffic or find your favorite restaurant, you benefit from the work of experts in geomatics— the science of determining the “where” and “when” — either in, on or above the ever-changing Earth’s surface.

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

Defense top line ‘will probably go up’: Key Dems see GOP boost as path to a deal

WASHINGTON ― Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed says the defense top-line “will probably go up” to win Republican support on the path to a budget deal for fiscal 2022 ― and some other key Democrats on defense matters grudgingly say the same.

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

Electronic attack system to provide Navy more capabilities, flexible options

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy’s ship-based electronic countermeasure system will provide an unlimited supply of ammunition against incoming threats, allowing the service to be more dynamic, and will open up new concepts for other capabilities, the system’s contractor said.

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

Navy nears production decision on fleet’s electronic warfare system

WASHINGTON — The Navy is nearing a decision to OK production for a fleet electronic protection system, according to the system’s manufacturer.

Defense NewsMon 2nd Aug

IAI and Hensoldt team up for German ballistic missile defense radar

JERUSALEM — Germany’s Hensoldt has won a contract to supply new radars to the country’s military, according to a July 26 statement from the sensor specialist, with Israel Aerospace Industries also contributing toward the ultimate goal of modernizing Germany’s ballistic missile defense capabilities.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Hypersonic Missile Booster Rocket Fails To Ignite in Test

July 30 (UPI) -- In a test of a hypersonic booster rocket, a test rocket was successfully released from a B-52H bomber but failed to ignite, the U.S. Air Force said this week.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

China's Grand Strategy to Displace American Order

Most recent commentary on China's behaviors and interests is primarily a reflection on American fears and interests. Rush Doshi's fascinating and alarming new book, "The Long Game: China's Grand Strategy to Displace American Order" corrects that analytical shortcoming.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Japan's Evolving Policy on Taiwan and the U.S.–Japan Alliance

Statements by Japanese officials regarding the vital role of Taiwan for Japan’s security suggest a long-term evolution in Japanese defence policy, which could reinforce the position of the U.S.-led alliance in the region.

Aviation ListMon 2nd Aug

French Air Force Completes Upgraded Mirage 2000D Test Campaign In Djibouti

The Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (French Air and Space Force) recently completed a test campaign in Djibouti for the Mirage 2000D in the new RMV (Rénovation Mi-Vie/Mid-Life Upgrade) standard. Two aircraft upgraded to the new standard were deployed from July 1 through 20 at the Base Aérienne (Air Base) 188 Djibouti with the Escadron de Chasse et d’Expérimentation (Fighter and Experimental Squadron) 1/30 “Côte d’Argent”.

Overt DefenseMon 2nd Aug

United States Coast Guard Commissions Three Cutters in Guam

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) commissioned three Fast Response Cutters in Guam late last week, fulfilling a commitment first made in 2019 to deploy vessels to the region. The three Sentinel class cutters, Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139), Oliver Henry (WPC 1140) and Frederick Hatch (WPC 1143) were commissioned at their new homeport, Coast Guard Forces Micronesia Sector Guam.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Volansi Marks Maritime Drone Delivery Milestone

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Sea Duty: Still Wanna Do It?

With fewer Coast Guardsmen choosing to go to sea, the cutter fleet is facing rough waters. Without intervention, it could be difficult to man, maintain, and operate the future fleet.

Breaking DefenseMon 2nd Aug

The Unmanned Advantage At Sea: Revolutionizing Maritime Domain Awareness

The challenges – and potential threats – are huge. America and its friends are confronting the need to integrate and operate against sophisticated and well-prepared adversaries over vast expanses of sea, air and space. Human-crewed platforms can’t do it alone.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Emerging Technology Horizons

The National Defense Industrial Association has established the Emerging Technologies Institute to help our nation’s leaders understand the importance of investing in key technologies that will enable us to prevail on any future battlefield.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

An Army Reconsidered

In June 1941, Allied forces launched one of the least known operations of the Second World War, invading Lebanon and Syria from Palestine to defeat Vichy French forces whom they suspected of aiding Germany in gaining a foothold in the Levant. With no hope for reinforcement or resupply, the French waged a stubborn defense, holding the capital city of Beirut for over a month before the weight of Allied reinforcements, naval, and air superiority finally forced French commanders to seek terms. Although Vichy France’s “Army of the Levant” was ultimately defeated Allied casualties and dashed expectations for a much faster victory stand in marked contrast to the rapid demise of the French Army at the hands of the Germans a year earlier.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Beijing Threatens HMS Queen Elizabeth in South China Sea

China says it has launched multiple military drills as the United Kingdom’s aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth enters the South China Sea. It calls the ship’s visit “colonial”. It warns that if it “intrudes” on Chinese-claimed islands and reefs, it will be “expelled”.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

KAI Secures Follow-Up T-50 Order From Thailand

Breaking DefenseMon 2nd Aug

What If The Bigger Shipbuilding Budget Just Doesn’t Come?

That experience led her to a realization during her first term in Congress, when the House Armed Services Committee began its annual hearings to discuss the Pentagon’s budget request.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Theatrics Risk Obscuring the Foundering Freedom Class LCS Fleet

Days before the kickoff of America’s biggest naval trade show, the Navy League’s Sea Air Space Convention, the first Independence Class Littoral Combat Ship was decommissioned, momentarily obscuring massive problems with the Navy’s rival fleet of Freedom Class Littoral Combat Ships.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

U.S. Blames Iran for Drone Attack on Tanker

The U.S. joins the U.K. and Israel in accusing Iran of mounting the fatal strike in the Arabian Sea

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

How Should the Pentagon Spend $777 Billion?

We’ve all done a little daydreaming about what we might splurge on after hitting the Powerball jackpot. Just imagine if you were in the Pentagon right now, knowing what the Senate wants to bestow in its National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2022: a topline of $777.9 billion.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Shia Militia Commitment to Strike U.S. Targets in Iraq

Iraqi security sources stated that on 29 July at least two rockets targeted the Green Zone, in Iraq's capital Baghdad, in which the United States embassy is located, with one rocket landing in a car park inside the Green Zone and the second hitting an empty area. Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, an unnamed Iraqi security official stated that the rockets were launched from a predominantly Shia neighbourhood in eastern Baghdad and initial investigations had indicated that the rockets were targeting the US embassy but fell short of its target.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

'At-Scale' Test of New Army, Air Force Operating Concepts

Joint U.S. Army and Air Force exercises centered on Guam are intended to keep adversaries guessing about how America’s armed forces would defend and attack during a conflict, a top Pacific Air Forces official said Sunday.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Taliban Victory in Afghanistan Could Inspire Terrorists

There are increasing reports of foreign jihadist fighters in Afghanistan.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Congress Wants To Cut Guam Defenses

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

Space Force Eyes Solar-Powered Vehicles

WASHINGTON — A startup under contract to the U.S. Space Force is investigating the use of solar-powered vehicles for operations in deep space beyond Earth orbit.

Real Clear DefenseMon 2nd Aug

China 'Wants to Hide Nuclear Subs & Missiles' in Deep Waters

China has been building up its defences in the South China Sea to ward off any attack on the disputed waters which they claim to own. Associate Fellow of the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, Bill Hayton, has claimed China wants to "hide" nuclear submarines in the middle of the disputed waters as a defence strategy. Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: "I think China has several objections in the South China Sea.

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Russian Yak-40 Demonstrates Superconducting Electric Propulsion

Aviation WeekMon 2nd Aug

Arianespace One Step Closer To JWST Launch

The War ZoneSun 1st Aug

Rare Sight Of Two Supercarriers Docked In San Diego With Their Decks Packed With Aircraft (Updated)

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) are both currently docked at Naval Air Station North Island, which sits right across the bay from downtown San Diego. While it is not rare to see two, or even three, supercarriers in port at North Island, what is rare is seeing two of these massive warships sitting side-by-side with their entire air wings embarked. The terrestrial photos come to us courtesy of our friends @Warshipcam and @CJR1321.

Aviation WeekSun 1st Aug

Iran Used One-Way UAVs In Attack On Vessel, Blinken Says

Aviation ListSat 31st Jul

Italian F-35B Lands For The First Time On Italy’s ITS Cavour Aircraft Carrier

An Italian F-35B Lightning II, belonging to the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) landed on the Italian Navy’s ITS Cavour aircraft carrier for the first time on July 30, 2021 during navigation in the Gulf of Taranto. The aircraft is the BL-4 built at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO), in northwestern Italy, and recently delivered with the serial MM7454 and codes “4-03”, which flew for the first time in June. As the other two F-35Bs delivered to the Navy, it features the wolf’s head insignia on the tail, the wolf’s paw prints on the rudder, the Italian Navy roundel and the “MARINA” text.

The War ZoneSat 31st Jul

Highly Modified Air Force Test Pilot School F-16 Is Now An X-Plane

The U.S. Air Force has redesignated its NF-16D Variable-stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft, or VISTA, as the X-62A. This new X-plane nomenclature, something typically applied to purely experimental aircraft and other aerospace vehicles, is meant to better reflect this aircraft's current role as a multi-purpose test platform as the service prepares to make new modifications to it so that it can support the Skyborg program. Skyborg is focused on developing a suite of artificial intelligence-driven technologies and associated systems that will together form a "computer brain" able to fly "loyal wingman" type drones and potentially migrate to other designs, including fully autonomous unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs.

Overt DefenseSat 31st Jul

Weekend Briefing (26 – 30 July)

Welcome to another Weekend Briefing, where we round-up the week’s most important defense news and some of the stories that may have flown under the radar. This week at Overt Defense our international team has worked hard to bring you stories on everything from news of vehicle, aircraft and ship procurements to Russia’s testing of the new S-500 air defense missile to Armenia-Azerbaijan border clashes, to rabbits defeating the French Army. These stories and more are rounded up below:

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Honeywell's Bid To Add More Oomph to Chinook Engines

The iconic Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopter has served the US Army and many other armed services for 60 years, each powered by two Honeywell T55 turboshaft engines. Honeywell is funding improvements to the latest iteration, the T55-714C, itself, to deliver greater power and fuel efficiency and lift heavier payloads while being more reliable and easier to maintain.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

China's Hypersonic Missiles: Methods and Motives

Introduction

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

B-52 Brandishes Its Modern Arsenal

The U.S. Air Force’s B-52H Stratofortress bomber has recently posed for photos behind an impressive display of its still-expanding weapons and stores options. Although it first took to the air almost 70 years ago, the adaptable “BUFF” still keeps pace with developments in precision-guided ordnance and it also carries some important weapons that are unique to it in the Air Force inventory.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Biden Administration Approves $3.4B Helicopter Sale to Israel

The State Department has approved selling Israel up to 18 CH-53K heavy-lift cargo helicopters in a deal estimated to be worth $3.4 billion, according to a notice released Friday.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Philippines' Duterte Retains Pact Allowing U.S. Joint Exercises

The president has formally retracted his earlier letter announcing the termination of the Philippines-U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

German Navy To Deploy Frigate to Indo-Pacific

With the deployment of a frigate in Indo-Pacific region, the German Navy wants to send a signal for free sea routes and the observance of international law in the region.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Lawmaker Calls for New U.S. Maritime Strategy

To counter threats from China, a top U.S. lawmaker Friday called on the U.S. Navy to develop a new maritime strategy that would rebalance how it deploys and strategically scattered persistent deterrent force in an arc throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Biden Tells Pentagon To Add COVID to List of Required Vaccinations

The Pentagon must determine “how and when” the vaccine will be mandated for all service members, too, President Joe Biden announced Thursday. 

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

U.S. Strengthening Space Domain Awareness

As outer space becomes more congested due to the proliferation of satellites and orbital debris, the Space Force is investing in powerful radars and sensors for better situational awareness.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Africa and Europe Rally to Contain Islamic Insurgency in Mozambique

In recent days, military advance teams from South Africa and Botswana began to deploy to northern Mozambique to support governments forces in their fight against a growing Islamist insurgency. They will join Rwandan combat troops and military training contingents from Europe and the United States. But there is little cause for optimism. There is a significant risk that current regional support for Mozambique will not achieve its objectives and that a larger international military coalition will be required to quell the fighting.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Chinese Defense University Conceals Partnerships With U.S. Schools

Five American colleges have teamed with school sanctioned for ties to Chinese military

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Pair of Royal Navy Warships Will Begin Patrolling Indo-Pacific

The Royal Navy will permanently station two offshore patrol vessels in the Indo-Pacific region later this summer, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Re-Shaping the USMC as a Crisis Management Force

The Marines are re-focusing their efforts from the Middle East land wars to shaping their way ahead to build a purpose-built force to facilitate sea denial and assured access in support of fleet and joint operations against potential adversaries.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Force Design 2030: U.S. Marines and the Indo-Pacific

The new vision for the U.S. Marine Corps will impact cooperation with allies as well.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Space Force's Options for Missile Warning Systems

The U.S. military and its allies are faced with the challenges of shifting focus toward great power competition while still maintaining the ability to counter threats on the fringes. Where does irregular warfare fit in this new strategic landscape?

The War ZoneSat 31st Jul

Bunker Talk: Let's Chat About All The Stories We Did And Didn't Cover This Week

Welcome to Bunker Talk. This is a weekend open discussion post for the best commenting crew on the net, in which we can chat about all the stuff that went on this week that we didn't cover. We can also talk about the stuff we did or whatever else grabs your interest. In other words, it's literally an off-topic thread.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

Sea Power Panel Backs Block Buy of Amphibious Ships

WASHINGTON ― A House panel on Wednesday advanced a proposal to authorize the Navy to make a block buy of amphibious ships for one more year, meant to save taxpayer dollars, proponents say.

Real Clear DefenseSat 31st Jul

To Transform Tech, DoD Must Stop Being An 'Innovation Tourist'

The current approach

The War ZoneFri 30th Jul

Barksdale B-52 Brandishes Its Modern Arsenal In New Loadout Photos

The U.S. Air Force’s B-52H Stratofortress bomber has recently posed for photos behind an impressive display of its still-expanding weapons and stores options. Although it first took to the air almost 70 years ago, the adaptable “BUFF” still keeps pace with developments in precision-guided ordnance and it also carries some important weapons that are unique to it in the Air Force inventory.

The War ZoneFri 30th Jul

Challenge Coin For The Secretive Unit That Still Flies The F-117 Nighthawk Emerges

Challenge coins have emerged for sale online that appear related to a secretive cadre of F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack jets still operating from the Tonopah Test Range Airport. Despite the Air Force officially retiring these aircraft more than a decade ago, a number of them have continued to fly, ostensibly for research and development purposes. In recent years, they have been increasingly spotted acting as "red air" aggressors during a variety of exercises, as well.

Breaking DefenseFri 30th Jul

Exposing The Data Makes JADC2 Possible

What these technologies all have in common as part of JADC2 and the DoD’s greater Joint Warfighting Concept is that each generates data—be it data, voice, or video—requiring management and real-time sharing across services and warfighting domains.

Defense NewsFri 30th Jul

Israel cleared for $3.4B CH-53K buy, 300 Javelins for Thailand

WASHINGTON ― The U.S. State Department cleared a sale of 18 CH-53K heavy-lift helicopters to Israel potentially worth $3.4 billion and the sale of 300 Javelin FGM-148 missiles to Thailand potentially worth $83.5 million, the agency announced Friday.

Defense NewsFri 30th Jul

Here’s how Shield AI wants to boost V-Bat’s capability on a contested battlefield

WASHINGTON — While Shield AI might have started out with a quadcopter capable of flying indoors in GPS-denied environments, it plans to take its ever-evolving artificial intelligence and autonomy technology to the next level by buying a drone company that has caught the attention of the military.

Breaking DefenseFri 30th Jul

State Department Clears Israeli King Stallions, Javelins for Thailand

The vast majority of that dollar value comes from the potential sale of up to 18 CH-53K Heavy Lift Helicopters to Israel, which could cost $3.4 billion. The potential sale of 300 Javelin FGM-148 Missiles to Thailand accounts for another estimated $83.5 million.

Aviation WeekFri 30th Jul

Roscosmos Blames Software For Nauka Thruster Anomaly

Breaking DefenseFri 30th Jul

NSA Releases Security Guidance For DoD, Contractors On Public Networks

NSA’s guidance, Securing Wireless Devices in Public Settings, highlights some of the many security threats associated with using public networks, noting, “The risk is not merely theoretical; these malicious techniques are publicly known and in use.”

Aviation WeekFri 30th Jul

USAF Redesignates NF-16 VISTA As X-plane For Skyborg Test Role

The War ZoneFri 30th Jul

The Pentagon Is Experimenting With Using Artificial Intelligence To "See Days In Advance"

U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) recently conducted a series of tests known as the Global Information Dominance Experiments, or GIDE, which combined global sensor networks, artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and cloud computing resources in an attempt to "achieve information dominance" and "decision-making superiority." According to NORTHCOM leadership, the AI and machine learning tools tested in the experiments could someday offer the Pentagon a robust “ability to see days in advance," meaning it could predict the future with some reliability based on evaluating patterns, anomalies, and trends in massive data sets. While the concept sounds like something out of Minority Report, the commander of NORTHCOM says this capability is already enabled by tools readily available to the Pentagon. 

Overt DefenseFri 30th Jul

Kenya Buys 118 HIZIR 4×4 Armored Combat Vehicles From Turkey

Katmerciler, a Turkish armored vehicle manufacturer, will export 118 vehicles to Kenya worth $91.4 million. The package agreement’s overall value is 91 million 415 thousand 182 dollars, which includes 118 vehicles, Hızır and its variants, as well as spare parts and maintenance. The vehicles will be delivered beginning in 2022 and concluding in 2023.

Aviation WeekFri 30th Jul

GAO Denies Blue Origin, Dynetics Lunar Lander Protests

Overt DefenseFri 30th Jul

Bonhomme Richard Crew Member Accused Of Starting 2020 Fire

The US Navy announced late on Thursday that it has charged a sailor for allegedly starting the July 2020 fire that ultimately caused the USS Bonhomme Richard to be scrapped, a year after the fire was extinguished. The sailor in question was a crew member of the amphibious assault ship at the time of the fire.

The War ZoneFri 30th Jul

Fatal Attack On Tanker Off Oman Blamed On Suicide Drone: Report

Two individuals on board Israeli-operated oil tanker have been killed in what may have been a drone attack on the ship in the Gulf of Oman. Details of what happened aboard the M/T Mercer Street are still emerging, but, if this was indeed an attack, the deaths of a British and a Romanian national onboard the vessel would represent a significant escalation over previous incidents involving commercial shipping in the region in recent months. Many of these attacks are at least widely suspected to be the work of Iran or its regional proxies, and appear to be part of a shadow war on commercial and military ships between Israel and Iran.

Aviation WeekFri 30th Jul

ESA, Avio Sign Contract For Vega E Launcher Development

Overt DefenseFri 30th Jul

The Future of the Leopard 2

The Leopard 2, one of the most prominent Main Battle Tanks (or MBTs) of the Cold War was introduced back in the early 1980s. Since then it has become a workhorse for the Bundeswehr and numerous other armies around the World. With the Cold War over, the production lines at Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) shrank as budget cuts within various militaries led to limited orders for new tanks. However, after years of development and the introduction of the newest 2A7+ and 2A7A1 variants, KMW and the Bundeswehr now face the extension of the Leopard 2’s service life before its successor is introduced in the 2040s. The Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) is coming, but the combat-readiness date set for 2040 leaves some European armies in a somewhat difficult position.

Breaking DefenseFri 30th Jul

EXCLUSIVE: NRO Space ‘Civil Reserve’ Includes Shutter Control Option

The twist is that the spy sat agency is seeking the right to permanently commandeer imagery taken during the time when that “fleet” is called up — a contractual form of what is known as “shutter control,” something that long has been the subject of fierce policy debate.

Overt DefenseFri 30th Jul

Export of Unmanned Mine Clearing Equipment MEMATT From Turkey To Burkina Faso

Turkey provided new MEMATT mine clearing vehicles to Burkina Faso. The news of the export was announced on the Ministry of National Defense’s official social media accounts. According to the Ministry of National Defense’s statement on the matter, “After Azerbaijan, our subsidiary ASFAT’s Mechanical Mine Clearing Equipment (MEMATT) is now being exported to Burkina Faso. As a result, ASFAT has achieved its first military industrial export to the region. The people of Burkina Faso have our best wishes.”

Aviation ListFri 30th Jul

NATO Fighters Intercepted Two Rare Russian Il-22PP ‘Mute’ EW Aircraft Over The Baltics For The Very First Time

Some pretty interesting close encounters between NATO fighters supporting BAP (Baltic Air Policing) mission and Russian aircraft flying in international airspace close to the airspace of the Baltic States took place on Jul. 29, 2021: overall, two Il-22PP “Mute” Electronic Warfare Aircraft, one Su-24 Fencer and an Il-76 Candid transport were tracked, intercepted and identified in the same area as they were on their way to Russia from Kaliningrad Oblast.

Overt DefenseFri 30th Jul

Philippines To Keep Visiting Forces Agreement With United States

The Defense Secretary of the Philippines, Delfin Lorenzana, announced on Friday morning that President Rodrigo Duterte had decided to “recall or retract” the notice of termination for the Philippines-United States Visiting Forces Agreement sent in February 2021. According to Lorenzana, the decision was made following a meeting between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Duterte Thursday night.

Aviation ListFri 30th Jul

First UH-60V Black Hawk Helicopters Delivered To The U.S. National Guard

The Pennsylvania National Guard’s Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) became the first unit to field the UH-60V Black Hawks, with six helicopters delivered to Fort Indiantown Gap’s Muir Army Airfield (Pennsylvania) on July 27, 2021. The UH-60V is an upgraded variant of the legacy UH-60A/L with a digital glass cockpit and integrated avionics suite, supplied by Northrop Grumman, which includes a certified GPS RNAV database and advanced flight planning and mission capability.

Overt DefenseFri 30th Jul

British Servicewomen Disproportionately Experience “Unacceptable Behaviour”: Report

A report by the United Kingdom Parliament’s Defence Sub-Committee on Women in the Armed Forces reveals that 64 percent of women veterans of the UK military and 58 percent of currently serving women surveyed by the Committee have experienced some form of bullying, harassment or discrimination during their careers. The first-of-its-kind report heard from both veterans and active duty personnel, following permission from Defence Secretary Ben Wallace for the latter group to provide evidence.

Defense NewsFri 30th Jul

Military-funded research looks for the secret to GPS-free navigation in a bird’s eye

Military-funded scientists have isolated a protein present in the eye of a migratory bird that may explain how our feathered friends travel vast distances without a map — and how future soldiers might use that ability to fight without GPS.

Defense NewsFri 30th Jul

Biden to pick aerospace industry official Alex Wagner as Air Force personnel boss

President Joe Biden on Thursday plans to announce Aerospace Industries Association executive Alex Wagner, as his nominee to be assistant Air Force secretary for manpower and reserve affairs, a White House source tells Air Force Times.

Defense NewsFri 30th Jul

Overmatch by other means: integrating Irregular Warfare into Joint Force Wargaming

“Conventional overmatch encourages adversaries to pursue indirect approaches.”

Defense NewsFri 30th Jul

US military warns China is building more nuclear missile silos

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The U.S. military is warning about what analysts have described as a major expansion of China’s nuclear missile silo fields at a time of heightened tension between Beijing and Washington.

Defense NewsFri 30th Jul

Britain inks $347 million contract with Team Tempest for future fighter jet

WASHINGTON — The British Defence Ministry has signed a £250 million (U.S. $199 million) deal with Team Tempest, a group of companies working on the country’s future combat jet, to provide digital and physical infrastructure to develop the aircraft.

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

U.S., Allies Can Create Pacific Naval Force in Days

KUALA LUMPUR – The latest the Talisman Sabre exercise proved that the U.S. and its Pacific allies could form a unified and capable naval force in a matter of days, the commander of the U.S. Navy’s Japan-based expeditionary strike group said this week.

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

Biden's Strategic Trade Nominee

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

U.S. Coast Guard Commissions 3 Fast Response Cutters in Guam

SANTA RITA, Guam — The Coast Guard’s three newest Fast Response Cutters were commissioned July 29 during a ceremony presided over by Adm. Karl Schultz, the Coast Guard’s commandant, the Coast Guard 14th District said in a release. 

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

U.S., Israel Must Stay Tough on Iran

Senior Israeli officials will be in Washington next week to prepare for newly elected Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett's first meeting with U.S. president Joe Biden. Bennett knows the importance of public comity between himself and the American president. But make no mistake; Israeli officials are deeply troubled by Biden's apparent readiness to bring Iran back into the fatally flawed 2015 nuclear deal at any price. It will be in both countries' best interest if Bennett tells Biden privately—but directly—what the latter's administration is doing wrong.

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

Not Your Grandfather's Counterinsurgency

Twenty years of costly counterinsurgency (COIN) efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan have left many national security experts—and the American public—ready to move on. However, while the United States may be over COIN, COIN is not done with the United States. Over the past seventy-five years, the US military has been involved in COIN efforts around the world, often engaged in multiple fights at once. Given the prominent role insurgency played in the past and the fact that civil wars and nonstate violence remain consistent features of the international system, we should expect COIN will continue to play an important role in US national security.

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

Before the Navy SEALs Came the Underwater Demolition Teams

Since Operation Neptune’s Spear, the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011, the American public and the world at large is quite familiar with the U.S. Navy’s SEAL teams. An avalanche of books, television shows, podcasts, and even films—some starring active-duty Navy SEALs and sanctioned by the Navy—have propelled the SEAL community to the very top of the public consciousness.

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

AI Gives 'Days of Advanced' Warning in Net-Warfare Experiment

Using artificial intelligence for rapid data collection and integration of shrunk the commander's decision cycle from days to minutes in some instances in a recent information experiment by U.S. Northern Command, the head of NORTHCOM said Wednesday.

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

Syria on the WHO Executive Board?

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

Pentagon to Begin Talks on Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination

The Pentagon said Thursday it will begin internal talks on making the coronavirus vaccine mandatory for military personnel, after President Biden called on defense leaders to examine "how and when" to mandate the vaccine for U.S. troops.

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

Navy Charges Sailor for Setting USS Bonhomme Richard Ablaze

A crewmember of the Navy’s fire-decimated USS Bonhomme Richard has been charged with starting the blaze under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the service said Thursday.

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

The U.S. Army Must Stick With Its Modernization Strategy

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

Japan Signals More Robust Security Posture

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

Fully Fund the Guam Defense System

The Biden administration talks tough when it comes to competing with China and taking the necessary steps to reinforce America’s defense posture in the Indo-Pacific. However, it is not clear whether the administration is prepared to match resources with words. Following an anemic defense budget proposal, the Biden Pentagon is now ignoring — or, at least, slow-rolling — analysis that makes clear that the Guam Defense System represents an essential and urgent priority for American forces in the region.

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

Dozens of NATO Warship Positions Near Russia Being Faked

More than a hundred warships from as many as 14 nations may have had their locations faked on a global tracking system used to monitor maritime activity and help prevent collisions. The spoofing seems to be happening, but who’s behind it and why?

Real Clear DefenseFri 30th Jul

'Advantages and Opportunities' in Nuclear-Powered Space Missions

WASHINGTON — Space vehicles powered by small nuclear reactors — a technology that NASA believes could help get humans to Mars faster — also could be used for military missions in deep space, the vice chief of the U.S. Space Force said July 28.

Aviation WeekFri 30th Jul

Aerospace Sector At Risk From Rising Cybercrime, Experts Warn

Aviation WeekFri 30th Jul

Signals Intelligence MQ-4C Version Enters Flight Test

Defense NewsFri 30th Jul

British Air Force aims to be world’s first service with certified zero-carbon aircraft

LONDON — Britain’s Royal Air Force has set a goal of becoming the first military service in the world to register and certify a zero-carbon aircraft.

The War ZoneFri 30th Jul

Second Attempt To Test The Air Force's First Hypersonic Weapon Fails

A second attempt to carry out a flight test of a prototype of the U.S. Air Force's AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon hypersonic missile, or ARRW, has failed. The weapon separated safely from the B-52H bomber carrying it, but the rocket motor did not ignite. This follows the first unsuccessful attempted flight test in April, in which the missile did not even leave the wing of the B-52H it was attached to. 

The War ZoneFri 30th Jul

A-10 Warthogs Are About To Operate From A U.S. Highway For The First Time

For the first time in recent history, the U.S. Air Force is going to take its aircraft out onto highways in the United States for an exercise. Four A-10C Warthog attack aircraft and a pair of C-146A Wolfhound special operations transports are due to take part in the road-landing drill, which is a part of the wider Exercise Northern Strike. As well as being a unique event in the United States, the upcoming highway deployment reflects the ever-increasing importance of dispersed operations for the U.S. military, including as part of the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) initiative.

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

Failed Booster Ignition Spoils Second ARRW Flight Test

The War ZoneThu 29th Jul

Navy Formally Accuses Sailor Of Starting The Fire That Destroyed The USS Bonhomme Richard

The U.S. Navy will begin preliminary hearings to determine if it will bring arson charges against a sailor accused of starting the 2020 fire that damaged the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) so extensively it had to be scrapped. During the Article 32 preliminary hearing, an officer will review all of the available evidence before determining whether or not charges should be formally referred against the accused. The sailor has not yet been identified.

The War ZoneThu 29th Jul

New Swarming Capability Planned For The V-Bat Vertical Takeoff And Landing Drone

Artificial intelligence firm Shield AI will pair its powerful autonomy technology with the V-Bat drone, which takes off and lands vertically without the need for special infrastructure, potentially leading to a significant leap in the unmanned aircraft's capabilities, including its ability to operate as part of a swarm. The V-Bat has already been tested extensively by numerous branches of the military, and this latest news could signal that its role is set to grow as a versatile platform perfect for expeditionary missions.

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

Possible Hypersonic Test 'Balk' May Add To Poor USAF Record

Breaking DefenseThu 29th Jul

To Transform Tech, DoD Must Stop Being An ‘Innovation Tourist:’ Report

The report, Ending Innovation Tourism: Rethinking the U.S. Military’s Approach to Emerging Technology Adoption, is authored by Melissa Flagg and Jack Corrigan of Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology.

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

USAF Takes Over DARPA’s STITCHES Data Translator

Breaking DefenseThu 29th Jul

What Are The Best Ways To Shield Taiwan From A Hungry China?

Those were among the top issues hammered out Wednesday by a former special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and professor at the National War College, a former top international security official at the Pentagon and an Asia expert at the American Enterprise Institute.

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

UK Airspace Regulator Expands Purview Into Space

Breaking DefenseThu 29th Jul

Beyond ABMS: Air Force Pushes Experimental Tech For AI, IT, Data

“What the secretary and the two chiefs have asked for our team to do is to is to create what we haven’t had before, which is a truly integrated Air force and Space Force architecture,” said DAF Chief Architect Preston Dunlap. “Architecture is a techie word, … but basically what that means is: ‘do we have the right Lego blocks, whether that’s tech or non tech; and can we bring them together; and can we change the color of those blocks or the capabilities of those blocks very rapidly’?”

Defense NewsThu 29th Jul

Space Force launches small satellite to test new sensor possibilities

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force launched a new experimental satellite July 29 that will test the possibility of installing large, deployable weather sensors on small satellites.

The War ZoneThu 29th Jul

British And Chinese Aircraft Carriers Both Underway In The Tense South China Sea (Updated)

Satellite imagery has emerged that indicates that the U.K. Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is underway in the South China Sea while the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy flattop Shandong is also in these waters, though the two ships look to be sailing on opposite sides of the disputed body of water, at least for now. The appearance of the British flagship in the South China Sea had been anticipated, but it still carries a significant message as the United Kingdom and its allies look to further challenge China’s expansive territorial claims in this region.

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

Textron Deliveries, Revenues Increase Across Segments

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

Rocket Lab Electron Back In Service

The War ZoneThu 29th Jul

Lawmakers Are Skeptical About The Services' Focus On Next Generation Fighters Over Existing Designs

The House Armed Services Committee is concerned about potential shortfalls in available fighter jets across the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps in the coming years. Lawmakers on the committee have also expressed worries that potential gaps in fighter capacity across these services could be exacerbated by efforts to scale back purchases of in-production designs in favor of new advanced development programs, primarily the Air Force and Navy's parallel, but independent Next Generation Air Dominance efforts.

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

Inadvertent Thruster Firings By Nauka Module At ISS Probed

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

BAE Eurofighter, Hawk Programs Progress

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

Marine Corps F-35s Could Operate From Japanese Carriers

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

Should the U.S. Be Concerned About China's Nuclear Arsenal?

Last month, experts discovered more than 100 new intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM) silos under construction in China. This week, Matt Korda of the Federation of American Scientists uncovered a second site that could also house over 100 new silos. Together, the two discoveries suggest, in Korda’s words, “the largest expansion of China’s nuclear force ever.”  

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

China's Sputnik Moment?

In 2016, AlphaGo, a computer program developed by machine learning experts in London, beat the world’s top players of the classical Chinese board game Go. It was a revolutionary breakthrough in artificial intelligence: AlphaGo had demonstrated an unprecedented capacity for intuition and pattern recognition. That a Western program had been the first to achieve this AI feat prompted some commentators to declare that China had experienced a “Sputnik moment,” an event that would trigger widespread unease in the country about its perceived technological lag. Indeed, China has had a Sputnik moment in recent years—but it wasn’t prompted by AlphaGo’s victory. Rather, since 2018, tightening U.S. trade restrictions have threatened the viability of some of China’s biggest firms, fueling anxiety in Beijing and forcing Chinese companies to reinvent the U.S. technologies they can no longer access.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

Keeping Littoral Combat Ships Nimble Key to Pacific Deployments

KUALA LUMPUR — The Navy is making Littoral Combat Ship deployments in the Indo-Pacific region more flexible and unpredictable, allowing the service to respond to impromptu engagement opportunities and ensuring the LCS are not tied to any fixed location for too long, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday said during a media conference call on Wednesday in conjunction with his official visit to Singapore.

Overt DefenseThu 29th Jul

Syrian Rebels Retaliate Against Regime Assault On Daraa-al-Balad

Syrian rebels captured a number of checkpoints in rural areas of the southwestern Daraa Governorate on Thursday, in retaliation for a ground assault by regime forces on a neighborhood of Daraa city that has been besieged for a month.

Overt DefenseThu 29th Jul

UK Defense Secretary Tours Asia

As part of the UK’s efforts to strengthen its Pacific partnerships, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has visited Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Aside from discussing issues of bilateral concern, the secretary also announced that two British offshores patrol vessels will be permanently deployed to the Indo-Pacific region: the HMS Sprey and the HMS Tamar.

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

MIT Study Supports Electra’s Rationale For Regional eSTOL

Overt DefenseThu 29th Jul

Ukraine To Acquire Two MİLGEM ADA Class Corvettes From Turkey

On 14 December, 2020, a delegation led by President of the Defense Industry Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir paid a series of visits to Ukraine, where contracts were signed for the supply of MİLGEM corvettes, which will be manufactured jointly under the Turkey-Ukraine agreement. Although not certain, the number of corvettes to be built is not yet clear, according to an Ocean shipyard official, but four or five are expected to be built. The number of ADA Class Corvettes Turkey exported to Ukraine under the arrangement was also not disclosed.

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

Contract Nudges Tempest Program Into Next Phase

Aviation ListThu 29th Jul

The RAAF Redefines The Role Of The C-27J Spartan For Humanitarian Disaster Relief

The Australian Department of Defence announced that the role of the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) C-27J Spartan is being redefined to enhance the Department’s support for humanitarian disaster relief, crisis response and regional engagements, allowing the country to better respond to natural disasters in Australia and its near region, regional engagement across the Indo-Pacific and the Australian Defence Force’s military logistics and air mobility capability.

Breaking DefenseThu 29th Jul

Qatar’s Massive Increase In Military Power Comes With Political, Logistical Headaches

A plan appears to be underway, with the Qatari government intending to station some 36 of its warplanes and transporters in Turkey under a five-year-long “temporary deployment” agreement. But that move could create political headaches for both nations, with the French government having to weigh domestic politics and a desire to expand its defense industrial footprint in the region.

Overt DefenseThu 29th Jul

United Kingdom Royal Air Force Typhoon Fighter Jets Practice Tactical Refueling in Norway

United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets from the Lossiemouth Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) station in Moray, north-east Scotland completed a proof of concept exercise testing tactical refueling capabilities in Norway.

Aviation WeekThu 29th Jul

Joby Begins Process Towards eVTOL Airline Operations

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

Another U.S. Destroyer Steams Through Taiwan Strait

Another U.S. Navy destroyer steamed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday amid increasing attention on the contentious waterway.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

Americans and the Dragon

As Sino-American relations come under increased strain, scholars, civil authorities, servicemembers, and strategists have theorized about how the United States can bring various instruments of national power to bear against the People’s Republic of China. Some have speculated, channeling concerns of the National Defense Strategy Commission, that armed conflict with China might spell decisive defeat for US forces. Preoccupation with the pacing threat of the century has even infiltrated popular print culture. The novel 2034 is a New York Times bestseller and has captured scores of readers through its gripping, Tom Clancy–esque tale of great power war. Too many of these considerations, in imagining some unrealized future, fail to offer historical perspective; they neglect the fact that the United States has deployed forces to China before.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

NAVWAR Opens 'Secret-Level' Security Information Pipeline

July 28 (UPI) -- The Overmatch Software Armory, connecting platforms to the Pentagon's All-Domain Command and Control, is operational at a higher level, the U.S. Navy said on Wednesday.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

U.S. Air Force AwardsContracts for Puma 3 AE, Raven

The Puma 3 AE and Raven are to provide USAF Security Forces with situational awareness for protecting bases, Trace Stevenson, AeroVironment vice-president and product line general manager for small UAS, was quoted by the company as saying.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

Securing U.S. 5G Infrastructure

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

Lockheed, Rafael Team Up to Build Laser Air Defense Weapon

Israel's Defense Ministry aims to field a ground-based laser capable of shooting down rockets by 2024.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

U.S. F-35s on U.K. Carrier a Powerful Message

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

To Beat China in the Gray Zone, You Have to Be There

During Desert Shield and Desert Storm my skipper took delight in regaling ship riders with the wonders of battleships, ours in particular. This old sea-dog had a standard talking point to the effect that “we got to the Gulf fast—and we’re going to stay here!” We dissolute youth mocked the Old Man for his banal words at the time, but over the years I’ve come to realize there was sublime wisdom in them. If you want to control something you have to be there to control it. Showing up intermittently and going away will not cut it if your opponent is there, in force, all the time, to impose its will.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

Pentagon Told by Panel to Probe, Fix F-35 Pilot Breathing Issues

A House panel concerned about persistent problems with the on-board breathing system for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter pilots is directing the Pentagon to investigate and correct the issues.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

America Wanted Vertical Take-Off Fighters for a Nuclear WWIII

Nearly two decades before the Harrier jump jet would prove the efficacy of vertical take-off and landing platforms, the U.S. Navy considered taking another approach to fielding fighters without a runway.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

Afghanistan: Fog of War or Foggy Narratives?

While many may say any government effort will be too little, too late, the importance of rebutting Taliban propaganda must still be a priority for the Afghan government and seen as no less important than combat operations.

Real Clear DefenseThu 29th Jul

Behind Russia's 'Brute Force' Cyber War With America

Recently, the U.S. and British intelligence communities issued an advisory uncovering the “Brute Force” cyber techniques used by the Russian GRU intelligence agency against hundreds of Western government and private targets. These revelations come in the wake of months of successive cyberattacks against American and European targets, including the SolarWinds, which saw Russian and Chinese hackers gain access to U.S. government systems, and Colonial Pipeline, which interfered with the flow of fuel on America’s East Coast this past May.

Breaking DefenseThu 29th Jul

Book Excerpt: Pruning The Acquisition Kudzu

Take a drive through parts of my home state of Georgia, and you can’t help but notice the thick vines blanketing the roadside. Known as kudzu, this invasive species has earned nicknames like “the vine that ate the South” for its rapid growth and resistance to any kind of controls. Kudzu grows relentlessly, climbing up telephone poles and creeping across wires, swallowing abandoned buildings and smothering trees and other plants in its shade.