Aviation WeekFri 22nd Oct

ISS Progress Redock To Initiate Nauka Propellant Leak Checks

Defense NewsFri 22nd Oct

KAI unveils electric basic trainer

SEOUL — Korea Aerospace Industries, or KAI, showcased this week a concept model of an electrically powered basic trainer aircraft during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2021 at an airbase in Seongnam, just south of Seoul.

Breaking DefenseFri 22nd Oct

Israel To Request America’s New GBU-72 Bunker Buster Bomb

Already, Israeli planners have shared operational lessons from their use of the GBU-28 bomb with the US Air Force in order to help develop operational profiles for the GBU-72. In turn, Israeli military officials hope Washington will ok the eventual sale of the GBU-72 once it enters full use in for the US Air Force.

Overt DefenseFri 22nd Oct

First of Six Evolved Cape Class Patrol Boats Launched by Austal

Austal has launched the first of six new Evolved Cape Class patrol boats for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The RAN ordered the new boats in 2020 to help ease the RAN’s transition from the existing Armidale Class Patrol Boats to the future Arafura class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). 

Defense NewsFri 22nd Oct

Russia fears complicate NATO’s new China focus

BRUSSELS ― One of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s top jobs at the NATO ministerial conference this week was to keep steering the 30-member alliance’s focus to China, which he’s called the U.S. military’s “pacing threat,” but some Eastern European allies say the U.S.-China rivalry must not overshadow concerns about Russia.

Overt DefenseFri 22nd Oct

US Base In Southern Syria Attacked By Drones, Artillery Fire

United States Central Command has confirmed that the al-Tanf garrison was subject to a “deliberate and coordinated attack” on Wednesday.

Overt DefenseFri 22nd Oct

US Navy Announces Three Successful Hypersonic Flight Tests

The US Navy announced on October 21 that it and the US Army had successfully conducted a series of test flights of prototype hypersonic weapon components. In a statement, the Navy said that the test results would “inform” the development of the Navy’s Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) and the Army’s Long Range Hypersonic Weapon programs.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

U.S. Army Testing Iron Dome on Guam

The U.S. Army has deployed Israel’s Iron Dome missile-defense system to Guam through November to gauge how well the battery can be integrated with the Pacific island’s existing defenses.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

One of Four Boosters Fails in Rapid-Fire Hypersonic Tests

Just days after news broke that a Chinese hypersonic test vehicle had reached orbit, the U.S. Navy and Army launched several test rockets as part of their own effort to develop maneuverable high-speed missiles. One failed.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

Learning To Manage the China Threat

When U.S. President Bill Clinton backed China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, he suggested that the move would spark profound changes ‘from the inside out’. By joining the WTO, China would not simply be agreeing to import more American products; it would be ‘agreeing to import one of democracy’s most cherished values, economic freedom’. And ‘the more China liberalizes its economy,’ Clinton predicted, ‘the more fully it will liberate the potential of its people.’

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

It's Not About Submarines. It's about Software

The Australia-United Kingdom-United States, or AUKUS, security partnership is about much more than submarines. It is a down payment on an even more momentous commitment by the United States and its allies to develop advanced technologies and scale up capabilities such as artificial intelligence and other critical areas in which the United States and allies now face strategic competitors such as China. 

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

Colin Powell, RIP

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

The Weakness in the U.S.' Understanding of Taiwan

OPINION – Taiwan today, appears to be the newest test for a potential American military intervention.

Breaking DefenseFri 22nd Oct

EXCLUSIVE: Imagery Industry Seeking Direct DoD Sales In Wake Of Tiny NRO Bid

Many in industry had their hopes raised in the waning years of the Trump administration, and more recently by strong congressional pressure on the agency to take commercial providers seriously. More were cheered earlier this month at the annual GEOINT Symposium, when Deputy Director of National Intelligence Stacey Dixon reiterated the robust support of the Intelligence Community, as well as the Biden White House, for this capability.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

Afghanistan and the Future of U.S. Foreign Policy

September 11, 2021 marked 20 years since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2011 (911) and shortly before this solemn commemoration, on August 30, the United States (US) withdrew the last of its military forces from Hamid Karzai International Airport (HKIA).[1]  Prior to the withdrawal, US forces had been on the ground in Afghanistan since October 7, 2001. In these two decades, the US spent over $2 trillion USD[2] and invested over 2,300[3] in human capital to offer Afghanistan a chance for prosperity. Unfortunately, the way the US withdrew from Afghanistan appeared as curious as it did haphazard. On a global stage, the US orchestrated a series of diplomatic, tactical, and strategic missteps that were all preventable. Although cringeworthy and tragic, these recent missteps offer opportunity for reflection and lessons to learn from; as did the way the US approached the war in Afghanistan.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

The Weaponry of the Future Marine Corps Rifle Squad

The Marine Corps is rolling into the future, stripping armor assets, and streamlining their approach to warfare. The Marine Rifle Squad, in particular, has seen a unique update that’s changed its basic composition from 13 Marines to 15 Marines. Besides adding two Marines to the squad, their arsenal has also been updated with lighter, more lethal weapon options. In part 2 of our analysis of the Future of the Marine Corps Rifle Squad, we are taking a peek at their new arsenal.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

Hypersonic Weapons - Identifying a Way Forward

Hypersonic weapons cover great distances quickly, dramatically shrinking the shooter-to-target timeline. Their maneuverability and speed make them highly survivable against traditional missile defenses.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

Six Critical Actions Biden Can Take to Strengthen National Security

The time has come to put aside partisan politics and unite our country as we did during the Second World War.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

HASC Wants Military Pay Raise for Enlisted Troops

The top two lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee want to “significantly” increase service members’ pay and benefits as part of next year's defense spending bill.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

The Department of Defense's Multidomain Operations Challenge

In response to the shift towards Indo-Pacific regional concerns, the US Army and the Department of Defense began developing multidomain operations as a broad warfighting concept in 2016. Relying on a “third offset” that acknowledges the Army will “operate on congested, and potentially contaminated battlefields while under persistent surveillance, and will encounter advanced capabilities such as cyber, counter-space, electronic warfare, robotics, and artificial intelligence,” the goal is to develop information advantage that allows American forces to operate with greater speed and efficiency.

Real Clear DefenseFri 22nd Oct

Is the Navy Totally at Sea?

The U.S. Navy is adrift in unfriendly seas. Befuddled by tough choices, dogged by inadequate training and crippled by poor judgment, our sea service is ill-prepared to meet its greatest challenges since World War II.

Aviation WeekFri 22nd Oct

U.S. Navy Seeks Surrogate Trainers, Matching Air Force Concept

The War ZoneFri 22nd Oct

Navy Follows Air Force In Wanting Another Jet Trainer Variant For Aggressor And Support Roles

Major changes to advanced jet training are currently in vogue within the U.S. Department of Defense and the latest requirement has now been drafted by the Navy, which is seeking a “Tactical Surrogate Aircraft.” It is described as a two-seat “fighter type” jet that the service will be able to use as a companion trainer, and as an adversary. The latest Sources Sought Notice has many parallels with the Navy’s plans to introduce a new Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS), which you can read more about here, as well as with the Air Force’s recent Advanced Tactical Trainer proposal, both of which could be considered revolutionary, for better or worse.

The War ZoneThu 21st Oct

U.S. Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon Test Fails (Updated)

Details are still limited, but the Pentagon has confirmed that a U.S. military test today of a long-range hypersonic weapon from Alaska has failed. There are reports that the system being tested was the missile design that will be used in the U.S. Army's Dark Eagle and the U.S. Navy's Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike weapon systems. But it is uncertain that is the case considering where this test took place, and an entirely separate booster stack or even different hypersonic payload may have been used. This all follows an earlier official statement about three successful tests yesterday related to the development of that common Army-Navy weapon.

Defense NewsThu 21st Oct

Booster rocket failure scuttles hypersonic test

A hypersonic technology test the Defense Department hoped to carry out in Alaska Thursday went awry when a booster rocket failed in a launch attempt.

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

HASC Chair: 2023 Budget To Include Nuclear Negotiation Push

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

Russian Space Tourism Effort To Pause In 2022

Defense NewsThu 21st Oct

NATO to boost air and missile defense investments to counter Russia

BRUSSELS ― NATO’s forthcoming plans to deter Russia includes “significant improvements to our air and missile defenses” as well as fifth-generation jets, alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

Reports Outline National Security Threats From Climate Change

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

First Test Of Army/Navy Hypersonic Glider-Booster Combo Failed

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

White Paper Calls For UK To Enable Electric Intercity Flight By 2025

The War ZoneThu 21st Oct

Armada Of 10 Chinese And Russian Warships Is Sailing Around Japan

A group of 10 Chinese and Russian naval vessels is conducting a joint patrol along a route that increasingly suggests it might take them all the way around Japan's Home Islands. Even if none of these ships ultimately sail a full loop around the Japanese archipelago, this operation is still a significant display of the ability of these two navies to work together. This all follows a number of major maritime exercises in the Pacific involving the U.S. Navy and its allies and partners — including Japan — this year, as well as multiple instances in which Chinese and Russian naval forces have separately operated unusually close to American territory.

Breaking DefenseThu 21st Oct

Getting Rid of ‘Excess’: New Army Sites Prepare Units To Receive Modernized Equipment

To make the influx of new technologies possible, the service will rely on new Modernization Displacement and Repair Sites (MDRS) to churn out decades-old equipment from units to clear space for new capabilities.

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

NATO To Improve Air, Missile Defenses, Stoltenberg Says

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

Sounding Rockets Test Advanced Hypersonic Tech For U.S. Navy, Army

Breaking DefenseThu 21st Oct

Intel Assessment: ‘High’ Chance Of International Conflict Over Water By 2040

“[A]s temperatures rise and more extreme effects manifest, there is a growing risk of conflict over water and migration, particularly after 2030, and an increasing chance that countries will unilaterally test and deploy large-scale geoengineering — creating a new area of geopolitical disputes,” reads a National Intelligence Estimate on climate change, published today by the Director of National Intelligence.

Defense NewsThu 21st Oct

‘Uncharted waters:’ With no Hyten successor in sight, DoD prepares to delegate vice chair jobs

WASHINGTON — With one month before the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. John Hyten, retires, the Biden administration has yet to name a successor.

The War ZoneThu 21st Oct

Life On The High Seas Aboard A Tin Can Destroyer During The Cold War

In my previous article, I described two intense days frantically hunting a Soviet submarine in the Strait of Gibraltar back in 1967. I was a low-ranking sailor serving aboard the USS Steinaker — the World War II-era Gearing class destroyer I sailed on for two years. Now I’d like to describe some of our other high-seas adventures, and what life was like living aboard a destroyer in those days.

Defense NewsThu 21st Oct

Are adversaries using US critical infrastructure as a training range?

There is a risk that we overanalyze attacks on critical infrastructure and try to find a strategic intent where there is none.

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

Nanoracks, Lockheed, Voyager Team For ‘Starlab’ LEO Habitat

Aviation ListThu 21st Oct

NATO’s Annual Nuclear Strike Exercise Underway In Southern Europe

NATO’s yearly “deterrence” exercise, codenamed “Steadfast Noon”, kicked off on Oct. 18, 2021. Dozens of aircraft from across the alliance are currently deployed to Italy and will carry out joint training during the 1-week drills.

Breaking DefenseThu 21st Oct

Army CIO: ‘Going Digital Is A Mindset; It’s A Culture Change’

“We have to change how we operate internally,” Raj Iyer said during the JADC2’s Data Dilemma virtual event hosted by C4ISRNET webcast. “The changing pace of technology means we have to adapt some of our bureaucratic practices to be more agile. This takes time, but we can’t just give up on it.”

Defense NewsThu 21st Oct

Army CIO’s top priority is budgeting for new digital transformation strategy

WASHINGTON — Following the release of the U.S. Army’s digital transformation strategy, the service’s chief information officer said one of his top priorities is to outline the budgeting process for the next two years to execute the new plan.

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

Ariane 5 To Launch French MoD’s New Communications Satellite

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

SES Kick-Starts Multi-Orbit Plan With SES-17 Launch

Breaking DefenseThu 21st Oct

Hypersonic Space Test Fuels Sino-American Arms Race

FOBS technology is not new, although China’s alleged use of a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) as the pointy end of the stick would be a twist. The Soviets deployed a FOBS — which combines a low-flying missile and nuclear warhead that reaches Low Earth Orbit, but does not remain in space for a full turn about the Earth — from 1969 to 1983. China began an effort in the early 1970s, but suffered test failures with its launcher, and gave up.

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

H3 Raises Funds for Hydrogen-Fueled Cargo Drones

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

DOD Reveals Requirements For Space-Based, GEO Sensors

Overt DefenseThu 21st Oct

Angola Plans To Buy UAVs and Armored Vehicles From Turkey

On Monday, October 18, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan traveled to Luanda, Angola’s capital, for a series of meetings. Tete Antonio, Angola’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Alp Ay, the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Luanda, greeted President Erdoğan at Luanda’s Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport.

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

Launch Succeeds, But S. Korean Nuri Rocket Fails To Orbit Satellite

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

Norway To Be Fully Reliant On F-35 In 2022

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

It’s A Two-Helo Race For S. Korea’s Heavy-Lift Program

Overt DefenseThu 21st Oct

Former German Soldiers Arrested For Attempting To Form Mercenary Company

German authorities have arrested a pair of former Bundeswehr soldiers for allegedly attempting to form a mercenary company to fight in Yemen’s civil war.

Breaking DefenseThu 21st Oct

What Is The King Stallion, The Marine Corps’ Heavy-Lift Helo?

The mission itself was straightforward: Retrieve a downed MH-60S helicopter that suffered a hard landing in the White Mountain Range, a few hundred miles north of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Defense NewsThu 21st Oct

Eastern Shipbuilding opens new C5I integration facility for offshore patrol cutter

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Northrop Grumman and their industry partners formally opened a test and integration center this week for the C5I systems at the heart of the U.S. Coast Guard’s new offshore patrol cutter program.

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

S. Korean Primes Vie For Missile Defense System; N. Korea Fires SLBM

Overt DefenseThu 21st Oct

The First Aksungur UAV Is Delivered To The Turkish Navy

The Turkish Naval Forces Command received the first delivery of TAI’s domestic and national Aksungur UAV, according to Defense Industry President İsmail Demir. İsmail Demir pre-empted the announcement with a tweet, saying, “We will have new good news shortly, stay tuned.”

Defense NewsThu 21st Oct

GhostEye: Nothing Goes Unseen

Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business, unveils its new name for a family of advanced air and missile defense radars: a series of radars with enhanced sensor performance and reliability—improving defense capability against the proliferation and evolution of the advanced threats of today and tomorrow.

Overt DefenseThu 21st Oct

Eielson Air Force Base To Host USAF’s First Micro Nuclear Reactor

The United States Air Force has selected Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska to pilot the Air Force’s first nuclear micro-reactor.

Defense NewsThu 21st Oct

The U.S. is wholly unequipped to resupply forces in a great-power conflict

The current American consumer goods crisis presages the effects of a militarized Sino-American confrontation.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

A Deeper Understanding of Cyberspace in Peace and War

REVIEW — Cyberspace in Peace and War by Martin C. Libicki, delivers a comprehensive review and analysis of the threats in cyberspace as well as thought provoking and insightful discussion of cybersecurity strategy.  Presented in textbook format, Libicki’s primer is a highly valuable resource, especially for national security professionals and academics.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Navy's Surface Fleet Needs Distribution, Not 'Death Stars'

U.S. Navy leaders are caught in the classic innovator’s dilemma. To counter the threat posed by China and its world’s largest fleet, U.S. admirals could continue incrementally improving the reach and survivability of their large, multi-mission ships; or they could evolve the force to embrace concepts that prioritize new metrics such as diversity of kill chains or the distribution of forces. Choosing change may be unpopular with allies, Congress or Navy supporters, but unless it embraces disruption, the U.S. Navy could end up like Kodak or Xerox—still standing, but irrelevant to its competitors.  

Overt DefenseThu 21st Oct

Indian Mirage 2000 Crashes, Pilot Ejects Safely

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Mirage 2000 fighter crashed due to a technical malfunction during a training sortie on the morning of October 21. The aircraft crashed near Bhind, about 60km from IAF’s Gwalior Air Force Station (AFS) in Central India. The IAF stated that the pilot ejected safely. The Bhind Superintendent of Police said that the pilot was injured. Gwalior AFS is home to both Mirage 2000 squadrons of the IAF, No. 1 and No. 7 Squadrons. Footage of the wreckage has since circulated on social media.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Zinni on Wargaming ... Value and Danger

Simply a superb interview with General Anthony Zinni, USA (Ret) by Mie Augier and Major Sean F. X. Barrett, USMC over at CIMSEC. 

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

U.S. Air Force Closing In on Boeing's E-7A Wedgetail

The upcoming sole source contract to Boeing for more data on the Wedgetail suggests that the service may seek to eschew a competition.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Coast Guard Cutter Healy's Journey Through the Arctic

They call it “ice liberty,” a tradition during the Coast Guard’s maritime missions in Arctic waters. At a thick ice floe, the crew gets to disembark for a brief moment of freedom from the vessel confines. Some play touch football, or bring hockey gear for the occasion. Others just take a stroll.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

China's Test of An Orbital Hypersonic Missile Is A Big Deal

Earlier this week, the Financial Times reported that China had combined two advanced missile technologies in a test of a new nuclear capability. The test featured a so-called “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” (FOBS), which is launched into space and can orbit the globe before releasing a missile at its target. The FOBS was reportedly armed with a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle, which can fly at low altitudes and maneuver to its target once released from space.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Former Reagan Skipper Returns to Japan

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The carrier strike group organized around the USS Ronald Reagan welcomed a familiar face as its newest commander on Thursday.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Partner Capacity Building Needs a Serious Re-Examination

Breaking DefenseThu 21st Oct

The US Air Force Just Inched Closer To Buying Boeing’s E-7A Wedgetail

According to an Oct. 19 notice posted on SAM.gov, the service will “award a sole source Time and Materials (T&M) contract to The Boeing Company to perform studies, analyses, and activities required to ascertain the current E-7A baseline configuration and determine what additional work the government might need to accomplish meeting USAF configuration standards and mandates.”

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Algorithmic Warfare: New Navy Task Force Focused on AI, Robotics

The Navy is planning to put new robotic and artificial intelligence-enabled technologies through their paces in one of its toughest areas of operations.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Sikorsky Exploring Ways to Link Next-Gen Helicopters to F-35

Lockheed Martin is exploring ways to connect Sikorsky’s next-generation helicopters with combat jets, including the F-35 fighter.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Soldiers Face Off Against 'Enemy' Unmanned Ground Vehicles

he U.S. Army says mock enemy troops, also known as the Opposing Force, or OPFOR, have employed unmanned ground vehicles in an exercise for the first time. The OPFOR used them to help deny access to possible helicopter landing zones and set up blocking positions along roads, among other tasks. This highlights the reality that American forces will only be increasingly likely as time goes on to encounter unmanned systems on the ground, as well as in the air, during future conflicts, especially high-end fights against potential near-peer adversaries, such as China or Russia.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Blue Origin Eyes Participation in Military 'Rocket Cargo' Program

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Blue Origin could become the second U.S. rocket company to sign a cooperative agreement with the U.S. military to examine how space vehicles might be used to transport cargo around the world.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Biden's Bungled Border Security Is a National Security Crisis

The crisis he has sparked will do lasting damage

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Fiona Hill Worried Biden Isn't Doing Enough to Save Democracy

President Donald Trump was a symptom, not the source, of the United States’ democratic decline, one of his top officials argues in the latest book to come from inside his crazy presidency. In an interview, she also told me that President Biden is so far failing to do what is necessary to fight for democracy both at home and abroad.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

Iran Won't Stop Until It Has a Nuclear Weapon

It is a common hope within Washington’s foreign-policy establishment that no matter how close Iran gets to the atomic threshold, it won’t detonate a bomb. The intelligence community claims Tehran isn’t currently taking steps to build a nuclear weapon. Many want to believe that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s fatwa against the production and use of nuclear weapons will keep Iran a threshold state. These hopes are delusional.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

U.S. Base in Syria Hit With Suspected Drone Attack

The remote Tanf outpost has been quiet for years, but Iran's pinprick provocations may once again be targeting the base, which plays a key role in Washington’s effort to obstruct Tehran's influence.

Real Clear DefenseThu 21st Oct

How an F-22 Pilot Scared Iranian Fighters Away

In 2013, an Iranian fighter pilot was closing with an American drone in international airspace when he was shocked to find a stealthy American F-22 Raptor flying right alongside him. According to reports, the F-22 pilot radioed to the encroaching Iranian jet and offered a bit of friendly advice before he and his wingman promptly bugged out. Even a two-to-one advantage over the Raptor simply wasn’t enough to make it a fight they wanted to have.

The War ZoneThu 21st Oct

This Alaskan Air Base Will Host An Experimental Mini Nuclear Reactor

The U.S. Air Force recently announced that it has picked Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska as the base to host a new small nuclear reactor as part of a pilot program. The U.S. military, as a whole, together with the Department of Energy has been increasingly looking into micro-reactor designs as possible ways to meet ever-growing electricity demands, including for units on the battlefield, as well as to help cut costs and improve general operational efficiency by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

The War ZoneThu 21st Oct

Unwanted Global Hawk Drones Are Being Transformed To Support Hypersonic Missile Tests

Northrop Grumman is going to repurpose four ex-U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk drones as Range Hawk surveillance platforms to monitor hypersonic missile tests. The change of role for the drones is part of the Air Force’s efforts to divest itself of the oldest Global Hawks and reflects the rapidly growing importance of the many hypersonic weapons now in development in the United States, across the services.

Aviation WeekThu 21st Oct

Wichita Machinists Union Resists COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

NATO Meeting To Focus On Emerging Tech, Pressuring Russia

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

U.S. Air Force ‘Weak,’ Conservative Think Tank Says

The War ZoneWed 20th Oct

The War Zone Email Newsletter Has Finally Arrived

After five and a half years, I am finally so excited to announce the launch of our newsletter! 

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

B-1Bs Deployed To Indo-Pacific, Europe Simultaneously

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

House Panel Explores Space Nuclear Propulsion

Breaking DefenseWed 20th Oct

China ‘Not An Olympian Power’: Presumptive China Ambassador ‘Confident’ In US

Nicholas Burns, one of America’s most respected career diplomats, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today that while Beijing claims the East is rising and the West is in decline, he’s “confident we can prove them wrong.”

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

DHL To Demo Drones For Port Deliveries

Defense NewsWed 20th Oct

Fund the F-35 program, lawmakers tell the White House

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of lawmakers is urging the White House to fully fund the F-35 Lightning II program in the coming years.

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

First Aksungur MALE UAV Delivered To Turkish Navy

Defense NewsWed 20th Oct

US Air Force teams with UK on machine learning demo

WASHINGTON — The Air Force Research Laboratory successfully demonstrated new joint machine learning algorithms with the United Kingdom, showcasing the countries’ ability to collaborate on deploying artificial intelligence in support of war fighters.

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

Norwegian Team Rolls Out Electric Racer

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

Osaka Becomes Target For UAM Services By 2025

Breaking DefenseWed 20th Oct

US Must Build Space ‘Superhighway’ Before China Stakes Claims: Senior Space Force Officer

The United States therefore must rapidly act to take the “first mover advantage” for itself to block Chinese ambitions, he told Breaking Defense in the margins of the National Defense Transportation Association (NDTA) meeting today.

Breaking DefenseWed 20th Oct

VCNO: Loss of Bonhomme Richard Was ‘Clearly Preventable’

Lescher’s comments came hours after the service published its command investigation into the crew members’ response to the fire, as well as a separate review of major fires the service has fought in recent history.

The War ZoneWed 20th Oct

B-1 Bombers Deploy To Diego Garcia For The First Time In Over 15 Years

B-1B Lancer strategic bombers from the U.S. Air Force are back at the remote island outpost of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, for the first time since 2006. The ‘Bones’ were sent halfway around the world to the remote airfield for a Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission, part of a relatively new strategy of unpredictable bomber deployments the service has implemented. They arrive at a time when tensions in the wider Asia-Pacific region are at a high, including as a result of significant Chinese activity in the Taiwan Strait.

The War ZoneWed 20th Oct

'Enemy' Unmanned Ground Vehicles Are Now Facing-Off Against Army Soldiers In Training

The U.S. Army says mock enemy troops, also known as the Opposing Force, or OPFOR, have employed unmanned ground vehicles in an exercise for the first time. The OPFOR used them to help deny access to possible helicopter landing zones and set up blocking positions along roads, among other tasks. This highlights the reality that American forces will only be increasingly likely as time goes on to encounter unmanned systems on the ground, as well as in the air, during future conflicts, especially high-end fights against potential near-peer adversaries, such as China or Russia. 

Defense NewsWed 20th Oct

10 things we learned from AUSA

The sheer scope of Army news coming out of the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting last week may have left soldiers wondering what’s most important to them.

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

Life-Raft-Carrying RPAS Deployed On European Surveillance Mission

Defense NewsWed 20th Oct

Israel and South Korea to boost collaboration on loitering munitions

SEOUL – Major aerospace companies from Israel and South Korea have agreed to expand their partnership on deadly drone technology.

Breaking DefenseWed 20th Oct

Not Going Solo: Air Force, Kessel Run Sign New Agreement For Speedier Code

The user agreement, which was signed Sept. 30 but announced today, is the first of agreement of its kind and formalizes the relationship between Kessel Run and ACC — particularly the software lab’s ongoing work modernizing the service’s air operations centers.

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

Scotland Targets £4 Billion Space Economy By 2030

Breaking DefenseWed 20th Oct

Towards Zero-Trust: Forescout To Help DISA Scale Comply-to-Connect

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) chose Forescout’s platform to be a component of the broader Comply-to-Connect (C2C) program, an expansion of work the company began with the department a year ago. The DoD envisions C2C as providing a suite of cyber capabilities to manage all assets across the Pentagon’s networks — a project important enough to be specifically named, rather than generically referenced, in the Biden administration’s fiscal year 2022 proposed budget.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

How the KGB Used Kids to Plant a Bug in the U.S. Embassy

A few weeks before the end of World War II, a delegation of youngsters from the Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization presented Ambassador W. Averell Harriman, the U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, with a carved wooden plaque of the Great Seal of the United States.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

B-1 Bombers Deploy to Diego Garcia for First Time in 15 Years

B-1B bombers and about 200 airmen deployed recently to the island of Diego Garcia in the center of the Indian Ocean, the first time Lancers have operated there in over 15 years, the Air Force said Tuesday.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

CIA's 'Legendary' Iran Chief Forced to Retire

The CIA’s Iran chief, described by his colleagues as “legendary,” is being forced to retire as the center he oversees is folded back into the agency’s larger Middle East division, according to former CIA officials.

Defense NewsWed 20th Oct

Top official says cyber operations are ‘not just about the systems’

WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense is at an “inflection point” when it comes to cyberspace and cyber operations and must consider the role of the people behind cybersecurity systems, according to a top official.

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

Solar Array Issue Delays Deployment Of Lucy Instrument Pointing Platform

Overt DefenseWed 20th Oct

Philippine Navy Completes Surface-To-Air Missile Training

On October 20, Philippine state media reported that the Philippine Navy (PN) had completed training with the Mistral 3 surface-to-air missile system (SAM). This involved operational and intermediate maintenance on the missile system, and was conducted by PN and MBDA personnel respectively.

Defense NewsWed 20th Oct

Chinese hypersonic missile test unlikely to trigger arms race, experts say

WASHINGTON —The August test of a Chinese space-based hypersonic missile is unlikely to trigger an arms race, but could influence the White House and Defense Department’s effort to shape new missile defense and nuclear posture strategies, experts say.

Defense NewsWed 20th Oct

China shows off drones recycled from Soviet-era fighter jets

MELBOURNE, Australia – China has for the first time showed off retired 1950s era fighter jets that have been converted to unmanned drones, with satellite photos of two of its east coast bases near Taiwan showing a large number of the jets on site.

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

KAI Dives Into KF-21 Low Observability Studies

Overt DefenseWed 20th Oct

FPDA Marks Golden Jubilee With Flypast And Naval Vessel Display

Member nations of the Five Powers Defence Arrangements celebrated the 50th anniversary of the agreement with an aircraft flypast and naval vessel display off Singapore’s south coast on Monday afternoon. Naval vessels of Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand paraded off Singapore’s Marina Barrage, while Singaporean, Malaysian and Australian aircraft flew overhead. The Royal Navy’s HMS Diamond was originally intended to join the parade, but was unable to participate due to technical issues prior to the event.

Overt DefenseWed 20th Oct

New Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Report Assesses North Korean Capabilities

On October 15, the United States Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published a new report in its “Military Power” series taking a look at North Korea (DPRK), its military strategy, organization and capabilities. The latest addition to the series, which is a spiritual successor the Cold War era unclassified “Soviet Military Power” series, follows earlier reports on Russia, China and Iran.

Aviation ListWed 20th Oct

The Air Strike That Led To The Capture (And Subsequent Killing) Of Muammar Gaddafi 10 Years Ago Today

Although NATO’s Operation Unified Protector, as the multinational air campaign in Libya was officially named, ended on Oct. 31, 2011, the Air War in northern Africa came to a virtual end a couple of weeks earlier, on Oct. 20, when the killing of Muammar Gaddafi marked the completion of the air campaign that had started on Mar. 19, 2011.

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

Singapore Validates CH-47F Integrated Operations

Overt DefenseWed 20th Oct

A Taliban Delegation Visits Turkey To Meet With Turkish Officials

Taliban officials arrived in Ankara on Thursday, October 14 at the invitation of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, seeking international support, just after meeting with US and EU representatives in Doha, Qatar’s capital.

Aviation WeekWed 20th Oct

China Tests 500-Metric-Ton-Thrust Solid-Rocket Booster

Breaking DefenseWed 20th Oct

The B-21 Raider: Infused With Stealthy Lessons Learned For Maintenance And Support

With five test aircraft in production in Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California, facility, the B-21 is poised to usher in an unprecedented era of stealth and lethality for the Air Force’s bomber fleet. However, when it comes to developing a new stealth bomber, it’s not out of bounds to wonder about the maintainability of the advanced materials and coatings used for the Raider—given the well-documented challenges associated with first-generation stealth aircraft like the B-2 stealth bomber or the F-117 stealthy attack plane.

Overt DefenseWed 20th Oct

Russia To Suspend Mission To NATO Following Spying Accusations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that Russia would suspend its permanent mission to NATO, in response to the expulsion of eight mission members earlier this month on accusations of being “undeclared Russian intelligence officers”.

Defense NewsWed 20th Oct

The Army is getting great power competition all wrong

Last week, Gen. Charles Flynn, commander of the U.S. Army Pacific, said he wants to “signal” strength to China by putting “boots on the ground” in Asia, “the most consequential region, at the most consequential time against the most consequential adversary.”

Breaking DefenseWed 20th Oct

Army Could Test New Ramjet Weapon From Boeing Next Summer

The Ramjet 155 — which Boeing is co-developing with BAE Systems and Norwegian munitions company Nammo — is progressing through development and will be ready for its first launch from an L39 cannon next year, said Dan Palmeter, Boeing’s capture team lead for the project.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

New Short-Range SLBM Tested By North Korea

North Korea says it has tested a new submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM, which it claims has significant maneuvering capabilities. The existence of the weapon in question, which is significantly smaller than previous North Korean SLBM designs, looks to be one that was only publicly disclosed at an exhibition in Pyongyang last week. That weapon had already drawn considerable interest after that event, with there being some debate over whether it was an old, but previously unseen design or a new one that might be about to be tested.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

The Limits of Logic

t’s an easy morning outside Washington, DC. But we’re making things hard on an Army student.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

Science Fiction and the Strategist 3.0

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

Taiwan's Special Operations Forces

Aviation ListWed 20th Oct

Russian Su-30s Intercept U.S. B-1 Lancers Conducting Counter Maritime Mission Over The Black Sea

On Oct. 19, 2021, two B-1B Lancer bombers belonging to the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, currently deployed to RAF Fairford, UK, as part of Bomber Task Force Europe, executed a counter maritime mission in the Black Sea region.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

Shaping a Way Ahead for the Australian Submarine Capability

During my visit to Europe earlier this Fall, the surprise announcement of the Morrison Administration’s decision to shift from their French alliance to deliver a long-range diesel submarine to acquiring nuclear submarine capability through an alliance with the United States and Britain was made. I talked with both French and Australian analysts and provided my initial assessment in a series of articles which highlighted the decision and the dynamics of change associated with that decision.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

Risks of Punishing India for Buying Russian Weapons

When it comes to foreign relations, Washington sometimes seems to be its own worst enemy.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

U.S. Space Systems Need Protection Against Cyber Attacks

WASHINGTON — Satellites in space provide essential services in support of national security and the civilian economy. The U.S. government, however, does not technically consider space systems “critical infrastructure,” which is slowing down efforts to protect networks from cyber attacks, experts said Oct. 19.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

Big Tech Fails to Stand With America Against China

U.S. corporations have been essential to defeating America’s enemies.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

Russia's Nuclear Battlecruisers

With the possible exception of the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, no ships in the Russian navy are as important or held in higher regard than Kirov-class, or Russia’s nuclear battlecruisers.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

Long Chain of Failures in USS Bonhomme Richard Disaster

A cascade of failures – from a junior enlisted sailor not recognizing a fire at the end of their duty watch to fundamental problems with how the U.S. Navy trains sailors to fight fires in shipyards – are responsible for the five-day blaze that cost the service an amphibious warship, according to an investigation into the July 2020 USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) fire reviewed by USNI News.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

Pentagon Personnel Costs at Historic High

Since 9/11, personnel-related expenditures have ballooned for the Defense Department. While reining in such costs could free up money for modernization, doing so would come with political and manpower risks that may give policymakers pause, analysts say.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

Iran Commander Rejoices at U.S. 'Defeats'

The IRGC commander was enumerating U.S. failures in the region only hours after reports that Israel was allocating a special budget for a military strike on Iran.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

What About China's Hypersonic Missile?

The Financial Times originally reported on October 16 that China had tested a hypersonic nuclear missile in late August that was launched in low earth orbit, circled the earth and then failed to hit its target, although it came close.  According to the FT, the weapon was on board a Long March rocket.

UK Defence JournalWed 20th Oct

British Army share base with Scottish ambulances to help deal with COP26

It is understood that the Army Reserve Centre facility will serve as a temporary hub for the Scottish Ambulance Service in order to help them deploy personnel and equipment around Greater Glasgow during the COP26 UN Climate Change Summit which is expected to cause significant travel disruption in the centre of the city.

Defense NewsWed 20th Oct

A Central American missile crisis?

Late Saturday evening, Oct. 16, China’s successful August test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile was publicly reported for the first time by the “Financial Times,” a ”capability that caught US intelligence by surprise,” according to “Financial Times” sources.

Real Clear DefenseWed 20th Oct

The Afghanistan Papers

The War ZoneWed 20th Oct

New Short-Range Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Tested By North Korea (Updated)

North Korea says it has tested a new submarine-launched ballistic missile, or SLBM, which it claims has significant maneuvering capabilities. The existence of the weapon in question, which is significantly smaller than previous North Korean SLBM designs, looks to be one that was only publicly disclosed at an exhibition in Pyongyang last week. That weapon had already drawn considerable interest after that event, with there being some debate over whether it was an old, but previously unseen design or a new one that might be about to be tested.

The War ZoneTue 19th Oct

The Navy Practiced Battle Damage Repairs On The Burnt-Out USS Bonhomme Richard

The U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship, the former USS Bonhomme Richard, which was removed from service following a devastating fire last year, performed one final duty when it hosted a battle damage repair exercise before being scrapped. The salvage exercise took place using the hulk of the warship as it was under tow in the Gulf of Mexico and should ensure that crews are better able to deal with these kinds of situations, should they occur in the future, in peacetime, or during a conflict.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Rocket Lab Eyes Nov. 11 For Next Flight

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Boeing Working Through Starliner Valve Issue

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

5G Could Enhance GNSS Signals For Urban Air Mobility

Defense NewsTue 19th Oct

Turkish producer to supply aerostat systems to Iraq

ANKARA—Otonom Teknoloji, a privately owned Turkish defense technology company, has said it signed a deal with the Iraqi government for supplying aerostat and airship systems.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Meggitt Expects Parker Merger To Proceed Despite UK Intervention

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

UK Makes $247M SAF Investment To Meet 2050 Net-Zero Targets

Defense NewsTue 19th Oct

Space Force teams with venture capital company on SpaceWERX

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force has signed a research agreement with venture capital firm Embedded Ventures to explore whether it can use venture capital practices to accelerate innovation with SpaceWERX, the service’s new effort to attract industry startups.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Astronaut Flight Training Hangar Named For Apollo’s John Young

Breaking DefenseTue 19th Oct

Colonial Pipeline Hack Shows Peril Of Ignoring Military Cyber Vulnerabilities: Kendall

In May, Russian-based hackers breached Colonial Pipeline’s networks, causing a gas shortage, skyrocketing fuel prices and ultimately costing the company $5 million in ransom money — and all those hackers needed was one password, said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who spoke at the National Defense Transportation Association conference Monday.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

DOD Developing Common Standards, Interfaces For DEWS

Defense NewsTue 19th Oct

L3Harris: First flight of future Compass Call paves way for 2022 delivery

WASHINGTON — The airplane that will one day be the Air Force’s next electronic warfare aircraft, the EC-37B Compass Call, has made its first flight and the contractor handling the program says it is on track to be delivered to the service for testing next year.

Breaking DefenseTue 19th Oct

Army Acquisition Nominee Warns ‘Aggressive Timelines’ Could Cause Challenges For Prototype Efforts

Doug Bush, President Joe Biden’s nominee to be the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics, and technology, told the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing Tuesday that the “central challenge” he expected to face as the service’s top acquisition official is “successful execution” of guiding prototype efforts into production and fielding.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Engineers Envision Hydrogen Regional Aircraft Of Future

Aviation ListTue 19th Oct

Everything You Need To Know About ‘Blue Flag 2021, The Largest And Most Advanced Air Exercise Ever Held in Israel

Ovda (or Uvda) Air Base, north of Eilat, Israel, is once again the main operating base of “Blue Flag” an international training exercise organized by the Israeli Air Force and attended by air forces from around the world “to strengthen cooperation between the nations.”

Breaking DefenseTue 19th Oct

Distributed Maritime Operations: A Resilient Force Structure Enabled By JADC2

The past few years have seen multiple encounters between U.S. and Chinese warships in contested areas of the South China Sea. A recent incident occurred this past May, when China accused the U.S. Navy of illegally violating its territorial sovereignty in what the United States considers international waters.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

USAF Takes First Step Toward Possible E-7A Buy

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Kendall Calls For More Hardened Fuel Systems, Weapons Storage

Breaking DefenseTue 19th Oct

Senate Committee Warns Navy Against ‘Unneeded Risk’ In Second Frigate Shipyard

The additional barrier is the latest hiccup resulting from the Navy’s eagerness to push the ship forward and lawmakers’ concerns that the program could suffer the same mistakes as its predecessor.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

KAI Proposes Electric And  Turboprop Black Kite Variants

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Cobra Gunship’s Firewatch Mission Ends

Breaking DefenseTue 19th Oct

After China’s ‘Hypersonic’ Test, US Alarm And Many Unanswered Questions

It also has prompted larger questions about the state of strategic nuclear stability, but that complex issue warrants a story on its own.

The War ZoneTue 19th Oct

Surface To Air Missiles Now Needed To Protect Critical U.S. Infrastructure During A Crisis

A senior officer at the U.S.-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, says that the command is actively engaged in discussions about how to optimize air-defense capabilities, including ground-based surface-to-air missiles, to protect domestic critical infrastructure in a crisis. He said that the growing ability of potential adversaries to launch long-range conventional strikes, especially using advanced air, sea, and submarine-launched cruise missiles, has prompted new concerns about threats to the homeland, which is "not a sanctuary any longer." This is just the latest example of U.S. officials sounding similar alarms bells in recent years, but is a less common public acknowledgment about the limitations of existing defenses within the continental United States.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

XPeng Affiliate Secures Funding For Electric Fly/Drive Vehicle

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

BAE/Sierra Nevada Competes Against Northrop For GHOST

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

GKN Aerospace Opens UK Technology Center

The War ZoneTue 19th Oct

AH-1 Cobra Helicopter Gunships Turned Firefighters Have Flown Their Last Mission

An iconic aircraft has been stood down from its duty in support of aerial firefighting operations, with the retirement of the adapted AH-1 Cobra helicopter gunships operated for almost two decades by the U.S. Forest Service. The red-and-white painted AH-1s had been used as firewatch aircraft, using a variety of sensors to monitor the progress of wildfires and report their progress to firefighters on the ground, as well as to help coordinate operations.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Flights Demonstrate Capability To Reach 100% SAF

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Safran Begins Arriel 2E Helicopter Engine Assembly In Texas

Overt DefenseTue 19th Oct

Report: Taiwan Seeks Accelerated Delivery Of New-Build F-16Vs

Taiwan’s government is seeking to accelerate the delivery schedule of 66 new-build F-16Vs it has on order, with officials requesting the United States deliver the first batch of aircraft in 2022, a year ahead of the original schedule. Additionally, Taipei has requested that more aircraft be delivered in the first batch of aircraft handed over.

Overt DefenseTue 19th Oct

Editorial: South Korea’s Noncommitment in the Sino-American Rivalry

As Sino-American competition intensifies, South Korea has proven to not be as willing as some of America’s other regional allies to confront China. Unlike most developed democracies in the region, the Republic of Korea (ROK) has not criticized China’s Honk Kong crackdown, the PRC’s actions in Xinjiang or its activities around Taiwan (despite the president being a human rights lawyer by trade). Similarly, the Moon Jae-in administration has refrained from placing any restrictions on Chinese involvement in 5G infrastructure development.

Defense NewsTue 19th Oct

COVID vaccine mandate endangers military readiness, top Republican lawmaker claims

The top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee is calling for the military to immediately drop its mandate that service members be vaccinated against COVID-19, calling it a “politically motivated” decision by the administration.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

South Korea, Boeing At Impasse Over E-X Costs As Program Grows

Defense NewsTue 19th Oct

Ukraine defense minister: Don’t compare us to Afghanistan

KYIV, Ukraine ― Ukraine’s defense minister fired back Tuesday at Russian predictions that the U.S., in light of its rushed exit from Afghanistan, will eventually abandon Ukraine.

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

NASA Selects COSI Telescope To Study Galactic Chemical Origins

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Israeli Startup Targets Consumer eVTOL

Overt DefenseTue 19th Oct

Japan’s Ruling Party Pledges Doubled Defense Budget Ahead Of Elections

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has added to its election platform a pledge to increase the nation’s defense spending to at least 2% of Japan’s gross national budget ahead of elections scheduled for October 31. The pledge, which would boost defense spending to around $100 billion, was publicized shortly before the dissolution of parliament on October 19.

Overt DefenseTue 19th Oct

French & Canadian Aircraft Arrive in Japan for DPRK Sanctions Enforcement

French and Canadian Maritime Patrol Aircraft have landed in Japan this week, where they will conduct operations to enforce U.N Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea. Both aircraft will conduct operations well into November. 

Defense NewsTue 19th Oct

Q&A: Defense Business Board chair Deborah Lee James, on helping Pentagon see ‘forest for the trees’

WASHINGTON — Flat defense budgets may be looming. The military’s focus is shifting away from the Middle East to China and Russia. And bills on everything from modernization to AI to the nuclear enterprise are coming due.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Army Envisions Global 3D Terrain Map

Brig. Gen. William Glaser, head of the Army's Synthetic Training Environment effort, said his team is

Breaking DefenseTue 19th Oct

Rapid Pulse Laser Weapons Could Be The Pentagon’s Future Edge

Most of the Pentagon’s current research in directed energy weapons concerns continuous-wave lasers, which use a relatively low-power, high-energy beam to burn out optical sensors or gradually cause other material damage. But defense leaders are increasingly interested in ultrashort pulse lasers (USPLs), unimaginably high-powered beams fired for a tiny fraction of a second to vaporize a small portion of a target’s surface or disrupt its electronics.

Overt DefenseTue 19th Oct

Second Taigei-class Attack Submarine JS Hakugei Launched

Kawasaki Heavy Industries launched the Hakugei attack submarine on October 14 at its Kobe Works’ No.1 Building Berth. The Taigei-class attack submarine entered the water for the first time at 12:50PM, after Vice-Minister of Defense Kazuhida Shimada ceremonially cut the rope tying the submarine to its berth. Other officials present at the ceremony included Chief of Staff of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Admiral Hiroshi Yamamura, Secretary of Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency Atsuo Suzuki.

Aviation ListTue 19th Oct

Let’s Focus On The Italian Air Force Air Displays At The Rivolto Airshow

During the past few weeks, we reported about the international airshow held at Rivolto Air Base on September 18 and 19, 2021 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Frecce Tricolori, the display team of the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force). After the highlights and the aerobatic teams, this week we complete our report with a focus on the demonstrations which involved the Italian assets.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Marine Corps' Future Multimission Reconnaissance Craft (MMRC)?

WASHINGTON — The mashup of an Australian small boat designed for safety and an American sensors and communications suite that helped Marines secure the Kabul airport during the August evacuation may help fill a capability gap as the U.S. Marine Corps eyes distributed operations in the Pacific.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Colin Powell

WASHINGTON—Colin Powell, who helped steer U.S. national security policy in the post-Vietnam era as the country’s first black Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, White House national security adviser and secretary of state, has died at age 84.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Air Force to Launch Munitions from C-17s

The Air Force is planning a live-fire demonstration before the end of the year that could transform C-17 and C-130 airlifters into strike aircraft.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Erdogan Says U.S., Not Turkey, Proposed F-16 Sale

Turkey's president said the plan to sell dozens of F-16s to Ankara was Washington’s idea.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

U.S. Space Command's Basing Decision to Continue Into 2022

WASHINGTON — The Government Accountability Office and the Defense Department’s inspector general are still months away from completing their investigations of the decision to relocate U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. 

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Is a War With Iran Over Nuclear Weapons Inevitable?

The operative reality of Iran’s relations with the P5+1 nations stopped being the JCPOA a number of years ago. That’s true in two ways, the most obvious being that the deal was only ever limited to slowing a nuclear weapons breakout. It didn’t address so many other facets of interaction or Iran’s other malevolent behavior. And, nearly as obvious, because the deal was effectively canceled in mid-2018. Since then, it has simply not been that big a factor in Iran’s relations, even if the deal consumed much of the talking time of diplomats. For evidence of this, consider China’s illicit purchases of oil from Iran, providing the regime much needed cash; Russia’s cooperation with Iran in Syria; and Germany’s rejection of the ‘maximum pressure’ approach and heralding of a “fundamentally different Iran policy” than the United States.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Assessing Airborne Status in U.S. Army SOF

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

The Folly of Limiting U.S. Missile Defenses for Nuclear Arms Control

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Fortifying for War: XI's Economic Ambitions

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Why the U.S. Military Puts Red Dots on Its Sidearms

As a slow lumbering beast, the military is often rarely fast to acquire and accept new technology. One such example is the adoption of red dot sights on handguns. The world of competition shooting, elite police forces, and everyday joes are full of red dot-equipped handguns. I have good news for you: and it doesn’t seem like the military protests the idea too much.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

How Does China's Defense Spending Really Stack Up?

The Chinese military’s rapid expansion and modernization efforts in recent years are certainly expensive, but somehow, China claims to devote less than a third of America’s defense budget to their own military endeavors.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Will Europe Ever Really Confront China?

The Biden administration has made no secret of its desire to enlist America’s extensive array of allies in the “strategic competition” against China. This approach makes good sense in Asia: Most Asian countries have ample reason to worry about a Chinese drive for regional hegemony, and the United States cannot counter such an attempt without extensive cooperation from Japan, Australia, South Korea, India, and others. Managing these relationships effectively will require attentive U.S. diplomacy, but in the Asian context the common interest in balancing China is obvious.

Real Clear DefenseTue 19th Oct

Sen. Chuck Hagel Recalls Harrowing 2008 Trip to Afghanistan

LINCOLN — Former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel remembers a February 2008 trek to Afghanistan as a side trip, arranged as part of a visit by him and fellow Sens. Joe Biden and John Kerry to officially monitor the presidential election in neighboring Pakistan.

UK Defence JournalTue 19th Oct

Royal Navy offshore patrol vessels visit San Diego to start Pacific deployment

The pair arrived in San Diego on October 11th. They have been operating as Task Group 326.03, and will begin a new 5 year deployment to the Indo-Pacific region.

UK Defence JournalTue 19th Oct

UK carrier strike group frigate visits Bangladesh

As a representation of the ‘Indo-Pacific tilt’ in the UK’s foreign policy, the Carrier Strike Group made its maiden deployment in May 2021 and has conducted operations and engagements in the Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific.

UK Defence JournalTue 19th Oct

Ajax gets ‘dedicated’ senior responsible person to oversee project

You can read more about the role of a ‘Senior Responsible Owner’ here but ultimately, the senior responsible owner is accountable for a programme or project meeting its objectives, delivering the projected outcomes and realising the required benefits.

UK Defence JournalTue 19th Oct

The Military and the Media

“Disgraceful!” they shouted in unison to no-one in particular. “Is nothing sacrosanct any more?”

Defense NewsTue 19th Oct

South Korea says North Korea fired projectile to sea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s military says North Korea has fired an unidentified projectile to its eastern waters as it continued a recent streak of weapons tests apparently aimed at pressuring Washington and Seoul over a stalled nuclear diplomacy.

The War ZoneTue 19th Oct

Special Ops Train To Defend Strategic Aleutian Islands Radar Outpost During All-Out War

What would arguably be among target number one on American soil during an all-out conflict with a peer state such as China or Russia, Shemya Island sits in the Aleutian Island chain as America's closest stronghold to Russia's eastern flank. It is home to the powerful and now upgraded AN/FPS-108 Cobra Dane early warning and tracking radar used to spot incoming ballistic missile strikes. This, along with a number of other ancillary capabilities it provides, including a 10,000-foot runway and associated airfield infrastructure with plenty of ramp space and an emergency arresting gear system, makes Shemya an extremely important locale that is worth protecting. Training for just such a mission is exactly what is going on right now as part of NORAD's Noble Defender wargames in Alaska. 

Aviation WeekTue 19th Oct

Senate Appropriators Want $725.8B In Defense Spending

Aviation WeekMon 18th Oct

UP.Partners Targets Future Mobility With New Fund

Breaking DefenseMon 18th Oct

Senate Committee Aims To Boost Pentagon’s Budget By $24B With Eyes On China

The bill’s big plus ups come with $2.5 billion of additional investments with an eye toward America’s rival in Asia, such as funding specific to Marine Corps Force Design 2030 efforts, accelerating INDO-PACOM missile tracking capabilities, funding for the Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii and Guam Defense System as well as $100 million to establish the Rapid Defense Experimentation Reserve to “accelerate real-world demonstrations of innovative technologies,” according to a summary published by the committee.

Defense NewsMon 18th Oct

Australian small boat with US comms package in testing for Marine Corps urgent need

WASHINGTON — The mashup of an Australian small boat designed for safety and an American sensors and communications suite that helped Marines secure the Kabul airport during the August evacuation may help fill a capability gap as the U.S. Marine Corps eyes distributed operations in the Pacific.

Defense NewsMon 18th Oct

The US must separate nuclear deterrence from biological weapons

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call in terms of the security, economic and public health devastation infectious diseases can cause.

Breaking DefenseMon 18th Oct

Army Says Next-Gen AR Goggles Delayed Over Field Of View Issues

A problem was discovered in the wider “field of view” provided by the goggles, which “pushed the boundaries of waveguide technology capabilities,” according to a new joint statement from Gen. John Murray, leader of Army Futures Command, and Karen Saunders, filling the role of the assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology.

Aviation WeekMon 18th Oct

The Weekly Debrief: USAF’s Advanced Trainer Proposal Faces Funding Questions

Defense NewsMon 18th Oct

Senate appropriators back 5 percent boost in defense spending for FY22

Senate appropriators on Monday unveiled plans for about $24 billion in extra military spending this fiscal year above the president’s budget request, the latest blow for progressive lawmakers who hoped to significantly curb defense spending.

The War ZoneMon 18th Oct

Turkey In Talks To Buy More F-16s As It Struggles To Revamp Fighter Fleet (Updated)

The United States has offered to sell Turkey another batch of F-16 fighter jets after the country was sensationally ejected from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019 after purchasing Russian-made S-400 air defense systems. According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the latest offer has been made to compensate for Turkey’s abortive $1.4-billion investment in the Joint Strike Fighter program, in which it was a significant provider of components, as well as planning to buy more than 100 examples for its own air force.

Aviation WeekMon 18th Oct

NASA Studying Issue With Lucy Solar Array

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

Stronger Deterrence Will Avoid War Over Taiwan

Xi Jinping is positioning the People’s Liberation Army to bring Taiwan under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. The Taiwanese assess perhaps a three-year time frame before an attack, while US Indo-Pacific Command in Honolulu considers a military assault in six years to be possible.

Defense NewsMon 18th Oct

Airbus US Space and Defense names new CEO

WASHINGTON ― Airbus’s American subsidiary is replacing its chief executive, Christopher Emerson, with Robert Geckle, its former head of operations and corporate functions, the company said Wednesday.

Defense NewsMon 18th Oct

Israel’s Smart Shooter to pitch ‘one shot, one hit’ tech at European defense shows

JERUSALEM — Smart Shooter is headed to France and Spain to pitch its fire control systems to governments interested in counter-drone technology and bolstering their homeland security forces. The Israeli company is known for its SMASH family of solutions, and has already arrived in Paris with its Smash 2000 Plus and Smash Hopper light remote-controlled weapon station.

The War ZoneMon 18th Oct

China’s Claim That Its Fractional Orbital Bombardment System Was A Spaceplane Test Doesn’t Add Up (Updated)

The Chinese government has denied a recent report that the country tested a strategic weapon system that involves launching a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle into orbit before it re-enters the atmosphere to make its final flight toward its target. The country's foreign ministry claimed that the test in question was of a reusable spaceplane, not a weapon. However, that official statement referred to a spaceplane launch in July, while the original report from the Financial Times newspaper said that the orbital bombardment system was tested in August, as you can read more about here.

Breaking DefenseMon 18th Oct

Russia Suspends Military NATO Office After Espionage Accusations

In announcing the move, the Russian foreign ministry alleged NATO’s “policy towards Russia is becoming increasingly more aggressive,” and called the expulsion of its officers, as well as the downsizing of the liaison mission “unfriendly gestures.”

Overt DefenseMon 18th Oct

Malabar 2021 Concludes; US, India Reaffirm Military Cooperation

The second phase of the Quad naval exercise Malabar 2021 was conducted from October 12 – 15, 2021. This phase was conducted off the coast of Vishakhapatanam, India in the Bay of Bengal. Meanwhile US Navy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) visited India from October 11-15.

Aviation WeekMon 18th Oct

Ankara Wants To Use Payments For F-35s To Fund F-16 Buys

Defense NewsMon 18th Oct

Northrop Grumman has developed a next-generation signals intelligence architecture

WASHINGTON — Northrop Grumman executives say the company is now offering a next-generation signals intelligence architecture that has won at least one contract.

Overt DefenseMon 18th Oct

Saab Hosts Grand Opening Of Indiana T-7A Assembly Facility

Saab held the grand opening of its new facility in West Lafayette, Indiana on October 13. Guests at the grand opening included the Chairman of Saab’s Board of Directors, Marcus Wallenberg; Saab CEO Micael Johansson; President of Purdue University Mitchell Daniels as well as Governor of Indiana, Eric Holcomb. While the facility had begun operating earlier this year on time and on budget according to Saab, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in its grand opening being delayed.

Aviation WeekMon 18th Oct

Hensoldt Developing AESA Jamming Pod

Overt DefenseMon 18th Oct

Russia And Serbia Conduct Joint “BARS-2021” And “Slavic Shield” Exercises

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense’s press office on Wednesday, October 13, Russian and Serbian military pilots have begun joint tactical exercises in Serbia called BARS-2021 (Brotherhood of Aviators of Russia and Serbia).

Overt DefenseMon 18th Oct

Precision Strike Missile Exceeds “Maximum Threshold” In Record-Setting Flight

Lockheed Martin announced on October 14 that the Precision Strike Missile it is developing for the United States Army broke its flight distance record, during a flight test held at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, on October 13.

Overt DefenseMon 18th Oct

French Intelligence Vessel Transits The Taiwan Strait

Last week Taiwan’s state media confirmed the passage of the 3,600 ton Marine Nationale Auxiliary, General Intelligence vessel Dupuy-de-Lôme through the Taiwan Strait. The French announcement of the strait transit follows French Defense Minister Florence Parly statement that “France would use its navy to demonstrate an adherence to international law and freedom of navigation”. Parly did not give a specific date or time as to when Dupuy conducted the strait passage. Parly’s announcement was a response to a question asked by a senator on the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Services Committee. The senator, Oliver Cadic, asked if any action had been taken to enforce France’s support for the cross strait status quo. Cadic has recently returned from a five day trip to Taiwan, where he and other French senators met with Taiwanese lawmakers who emphasized the need for France to help ensure the stability of the Taiwan Strait.With cross strait tensions reaching new thresholds, clear diplomatic support quickly followed up by a visible demonstration of resolve is both welcoming and reassuring for Taiwan.

Aviation ListMon 18th Oct

Check Out This Insane Footage Of An SR-71 Blackbird Flying In Formation With A Hornet Filmed From An F-16’s FLIR

Have you ever seen a FLIR video of an SR-71? Well, there’s a really interesting clip showing a Blackbird in formation with an F/A-18 included in a 48-min video that was posted 4 years ago on YouTube but is doing the rounds on social media these days.

Defense NewsMon 18th Oct

US, Georgia sign military training pact amid Russian threat on the Black Sea

TBLISI, Georgia ― U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Georgian counterpart on Monday signed an agreement to extend U.S.-led military training for the embattled Black Sea ally as part of the secretary’s trip through the region to reaffirm support for eastern allies on the front lines of Russian aggression.

Breaking DefenseMon 18th Oct

Army Envisions Global 3D Terrain Map As Future PNT Aid For Operations

The idea would be for Army vehicles to be uploaded with theater-relevant 3D maps generated by OWT prior to deployment, Army training experts told reporters on the margins of the annual Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference last week. Those maps then could be used in battle as alternate PNT sources when an adversary has managed to jam GPS satellite signals or when there simply isn’t enough bandwidth available to connect.

Defense NewsMon 18th Oct

Always on target

Resilient, versatile, and reliable: For over half a century now, the self-powered illumination technology trigalight provides pinpoint accuracy in challenging visibility conditions. The invention of the technology led to the foundation of Swiss microtechnology specialist mb-microtec ag in 1969. Today, the family-owned company is the world’s leading manufacturer of gaseous tritium light sources (GTLS) for the security industry and tactical field. SHOT Show 2022 in Las Vegas is the next opportunity for you to discover trigalight firsthand (at booth #41041).

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

KC-46 Gets New Refueling Approvals

WASHINGTON — The KC-46 Pegasus is now able to refuel the Air Force’s fourth-generation fighter jets during missions for U.S. Transportation Command, expanding the service’s air refueling capacity and the capability of its newest tanker.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

America's Doughnut Shaped Indo-Pacific Strategy

As Washington’s pivot to Asia begins to take shape, showing up in person and walking the talk will be deal-breakers.  

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

New U.S. Stealth Fighter: Do We Really Need A 'Manhattan Project'?

A U.S. Air Force general wants the service to jump through all hurdles and commit the nation’s resources and full attention to developing a sixth-generation fighter plane. Details have yet to emerge about the program as the Air Force is keeping things secret. But a next-generation prototype reportedly flew at least a year ago. The reasoning behind the new airplane is that China and Russia are expected to roll out a sixth-generation fighter in the future.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

NATO Has a Problem: Belarus Is Being Reabsorbed Into Russia

On October 7, Polish border troops reported being fired upon by their counterparts from Belarus. Though no one was hurt and the Belarusian soldiers were most likely firing blank ammunition, the incident is illustrative of the tension that has been building in that area since Moscow effectively assumed control over the government in Minsk to prop up Belarus’ authoritarian president, Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

What Can the United Nations Do About Counterterrorism?

In the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United Nations Security Council moved swiftly and laid the keystone of an international framework of counterterrorism efforts. Twenty years later, it’s past time to rethink all of them.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

Understanding China's Military Spending

Where China’s military build-up is concerned, adding some context to make up for the lack of transparency in its annual budget provides us with a better—albeit still limited—appreciation of the People’s Liberation Army budgetary allocations.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

Echoes of the '50s: Is This a Cold War With China?

Incursions into Taiwan’s air zone, a space launch and what looked like a prisoner swap raise a question that is about more than just semantics. It could signal a dangerous new mind-set.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

"Godsend" and the Zeal of a Convert

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

The Incredible Firepower of the U.S. Army's Night Stalkers

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is the U.S. military’s premier rotary-wing special operations unit. Created in the 1980s after the failed attempt to rescue the American hostages from Iran, the “Night Stalkers,” as the unit is nicknamed, has seen action in every major and minor conflict ever since.

Defense NewsMon 18th Oct

A Commander’s Call to Action: Committing to Innovation and Realizing the Naval Force of Tomorrow

By Ron Lloyd, Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) 35th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy

Breaking DefenseMon 18th Oct

AUKUS Must Be A Test Case For Better US Arms Exports To Australia

Allies of the United States and much of the defense industry have complained for at least 20 years about the complexity, slow speed and generally deleterious effects of the America arms export system. We are your friends, allies and partners say. You trust us enough to fight alongside us but you make it very hard to share technology. The last American ambassador to Australia argues below that AUKUS provides a rare chance — and an important one — to demonstrate just how much the US really values its Aussie allies.

UK Defence JournalMon 18th Oct

British carrier group takes part exercise with American carrier

The exercise is the ‘Maritime Partnership Exercise’ and it is a multilateral maritime exercise between the Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Navy, and U.S. maritime forces, focused on naval cooperation, interoperability and regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and “is an example of the enduring partnership between Australian, Japanese, U.K. and U.S. maritime forces, who routinely operate together in the Indo-Pacific, fostering a cooperative approach toward regional security and stability”, say the U.S. Navy.

UK Defence JournalMon 18th Oct

HMS Diamond in port due to ‘technical issues’

The issue is not related to the propulsion and power systems.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

Chris Inglis and the Gathering Cyber Storm

Chris Inglis’ new White House office has a startup feel to it. There are desks, a few chairs, a coffee maker and a poster hanging on the wall.  But as the head of the newly established Office of the National Cyber Director, Inglis has to make due with what he has while still advising President Joe Biden on the smartest ways for the US to prevent and respond to cyberattacks.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

Watching the Watchmen

The Michigan kidnapping case is a major test for the Biden administration’s commitment to fighting domestic terrorism — and a crucible for the fierce ideological divisions pulling the country apart.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

British Defence Strategy Is Undergoing a Naval Tilt

IN A COUNTRY of grand titles, no official holds a loftier one than Britain’s first sea lord, the head of the Royal Navy, whose office predates that of the prime minister. Now Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the incumbent, has been handed dominion over not just the oceans, but also land, air and space. On October 7th the government announced that he would become the next chief of defence staff, the country’s most senior military officer, to replace General Sir Nick Carter on November 30th.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

Should Amphibious Vehicles Have Aircraft Maintenance Protocols?

SAN DIEGO — A recent Marine Corps investigation into the 2020 sinking of an assault amphibious vehicle off the coast of San Diego found, among several contributing factors, that poor maintenance oversight in part led to the deaths of nine U.S. service members.

Real Clear DefenseMon 18th Oct

China Tests FOBS Using Hypersonic Glide Vehicle

A report from Financial Times' Demetri Sevastopulo and Kathrin Hille states that China has tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle that goes into space and traverses the globe in an orbital-like fashion before making its run through the atmosphere toward its target. There would be huge implications if such a system were to be operationalized, and according to this story, which says it talked to five officials confirming the test, the U.S. government was caught totally off-guard by it.

Defense NewsSun 17th Oct

Turkey: US proposed to sell it F-16 fighters

ANKARA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Oct. 17 the United States has proposed the sale of a batch of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey to compensate Turkey’s $1.4 billion investment in the U.S.-led multinational F-35 program.

UK Defence JournalSun 17th Oct

Troops may be relocated from Scotland to England earlier than planned

According to The Sunday Times, three of Scotland’s seven garrisons now face early closure in cuts to be announced by the end of the year.

Overt DefenseSun 17th Oct

Weekend Briefing (11-15 October)

As another news-packed week passes, we have plenty of work to do, covering a range of interesting subjects. This week Lebanon suffered brutal clashes in Beirut, Iran tested its new AD-08 ‘Majid’ Short-Range Air Defense System, the US Army’s next generation IVAS system has been delayed, an Australian MH-60R from HMAS Brisbane was forced to ditches in the Philippine Sea and the situation on the Polish – Belarusian border saw a dangerous escalation and . You can find the full list of our articles rounding up the week’s most important defense news down below.

Aviation WeekSun 17th Oct

Russian Film Crew Ends ISS Venture with Safe Landing

The War ZoneSat 16th Oct

China Tested A Fractional Orbital Bombardment System That Uses A Hypersonic Glide Vehicle: Report

A report from Financial Times' Demetri Sevastopulo and Kathrin Hille states that China has tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle that goes into space and traverses the globe in an orbital-like fashion before making its run through the atmosphere toward its target. There would be huge implications if such a system were to be operationalized, and according to the Financial Times, which says it talked to five officials confirming the test, the U.S. was caught totally off-guard by it.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

Navy Prepares for Discharges for Sailors Refusing COVID Vaccine

The Navy said Thursday it is ready to dole out discharges -- either honorable or general -- to sailors who do not take one of the COVID-19 vaccines by a mandatory Nov. 28 deadline.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

The Iran deal is dead. Where is Biden's Plan B?

A flurry of diplomatic activity in Washington this week revealed that the Iran nuclear deal is likely dead for good, despite the Biden administration’s best efforts to revive it. But if the Biden team has a follow-up plan to prevent Iran from going nuclear, it’s a well-kept secret. And time is not on America’s side.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

F-35 Engine Rivals Prepare For Another Clash

MIDDLETOWN, Conn.: As the Pentagon looks to increase the power of the F-35 joint strike fighter’s engine while cutting costs, Pratt & Whitney and General Electric could be less than a year away from finding themselves in a rematch over the future of the stealth fighter’s propulsion system.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

Japan's Coming Defense Buildup

Japan’s new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dissolved the lower house of Parliament Thursday, setting elections for Oct. 31. The contest will focus on the pandemic and economy, but the most notable proposal from Mr. Kishida’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) may be its pledge to double defense spending.

UK Defence JournalSat 16th Oct

Typhoons conduct operations from austere Middle Eastern base

The RAF say here that during early October, the 903 Expeditionary Air Wing Typhoon Squadron based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus forward deployed to a forward location in the Middle East from where it conducted an operational mission in support of Operation SHADER, the British bombing effort against Islamic State.

Aviation WeekSat 16th Oct

NASA Probe Begins 12-Year Tour To Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

Spectrum Superiority at the Tactical Edge

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

Euthanizing Democracy: The Assisted Death of Liberalism

Authoritarian states have weaponised the vulnerabilities of technology and unchecked power of social media to exploit the very tenet of democracy that they despise – free expression – to undermine democracy itself.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

GEN Mark Milley Must Go

The recent investigations and hearings surrounding the activities of Gen. Mark Milley, including his testimony before the Senate and House Armed Service Committees, make it clear that Gen. Milley must resign or be removed from his office as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

British Challenger 3: The Best Tank in All of Europe?

The British are spending over a billion dollars to upgrade their existing Challenger 2 main battle tank. The updated Challenger 3 will have a better turret and gun, an improved fire-control system, a new day/night and all-weather sight, front and rear thermal cameras, and new modular armor for the turret.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

The U.K.'s Ranger Regiment: An Opportunity

With the UK’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy signalling an increased  focus on building the capacity of foreign security forces, through the generation of a new Ranger Regiment, the UK has an opportunity to take stock of lessons from recent campaigns. According to the Integrated Review, the persistent engagement strategy will see “[t]he UK … deploy more of our armed forces overseas more often and for longer periods of time, to train, exercise and operate alongside allies and partners across all our priority regions.” These forces (Rangers) will “build the capacity of others to deter and defend against state threats; support, mentor and, where necessary, assist nations in countering non-state challenges; and strengthen our network of relationships.” However, the experience of the UK and its allies has shown that while security partnerships can achieve the burden-sharing these governments so often crave, they can also come with significant risks for civilian populations and prospects for peace and stability.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

How an F-15E Scored Its Only Air-to-Air Kill… With a Bomb

America’s F-15 Eagle has long since secured a position in the pantheon of the world’s greatest fighters. With an incredible air combat record of 104 wins and zero losses, the fourth generation powerhouse we call the F-15 remains America’s fastest air superiority fighter, beating out even the venerable F-22 Raptor. But the F-15E Strike Eagle, the F-15’s multi-role sibling, was never really intended to serve as a dedicated air-to-air platform. Instead, the F-15E’s goal was to leverage the speed and payload capabilities of an F-15 Eagle for ground attack missions — making it one of the most capable multi-role attack fighters of its generation.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

When Will China Surpass the U.S. in Military Air Superiority?

For decades, the United States military has benefited from having air superiority over its enemies in all its conflicts around the world. The Pentagon's multibillion-dollar investment in advanced warplanes, weapons systems, satellites and aircraft carriers has made air power a central part of America's global projection of military might.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

The Future of America's Drone Campaign

American soldiers may now be out of Afghanistan, but the U.S. military and intelligence services are not. As President Joe Biden has made clear, the United States will continue conducting drone strikes in Afghanistan to weed out enemies. “We will maintain the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan and other countries,” Biden declared at the end of August, explaining his decision to withdraw forces. “We have what’s called over-the-horizon capabilities”—including drones—“which means we can strike terrorists and targets without American boots on the ground.”

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

Nation Must Come Together to Tackle Havana Syndrome

In late August, members of Vice President Kamala Harris’ advanced entourage during a trip to Vietnam reported “anomalous health incidents” that were assessed to be similar to what has been referred to as “Havana syndrome.”

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

Japan Launches Second Taigei-Class Submarine, 'Hakugei'

MELBOURNE, Australia – Japan has launched the second of a new class of diesel-electric submarines exactly one year to the day that the lead boat of the lithium-ion powered series took to the water.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

The Wagner Group Has Its Eyes on Mali

Russian private military companies (PMCs) are on the march. In 2012, Russian PMCs were present in only two countries. Today, that number has risen to twenty-seven. Russia’s most infamous “corporate soldiers,” the Wagner Group, are now seeking to enter a new market, Mali, at a time when the country’s fragile democracy is backsliding and counterterrorism challenges are worsening. Wagner’s potential deployment to Mali stands to further erode democracy by entrenching an illiberal government and exacerbating longstanding counterterrorism challenges in the Sahel.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

Maxar Protesting SDA's Request for 126 SmallSats

On the same day industry proposals were due for a batch of 126 small satellites for the Space Development Agency, one of the contenders filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

A Tomb Not Fit for a President

When Andrew Jackson refused to be buried in a Roman sarcophagus, he showed the down-to-earth essence of democracy.

Real Clear DefenseSat 16th Oct

U.S. Army's 4ID Soldiers Test Next-Generation APNT Solution

The new solution enables soldiers to manage position integrity in GPS-contested environments.

The War ZoneSat 16th Oct

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.

Aviation ListFri 15th Oct

Italian Air Force, Army and Armed Corps Helicopters Take Part In SAR Exercise ‘Grifone 2021’

Organized and managed by the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) through the RCC (Rescue Coordination Center) of the COA (Comando Operazioni Aerospaziali – Aerospace Operations Command) “Grifone 2021” exercise was held in Sardinia island, Italy, between Sept. 20 – 24, 2021.

Aviation WeekFri 15th Oct

Spirit, NIAR Partner On National Defense Prototype Center

The War ZoneFri 15th Oct

Feel The Speed In These Incredible Photos From The Air Force's Rocket Sled Track

The U.S. Air Force recently released a set of fascinating pictures showing various tests that have been conducted using the High Speed Test Track at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico over the past seven decades or so. This test track had gained additional relevance in recent years amid a resurgence of interest across the U.S. military in hypersonic weapons and other air vehicles, and the Air Force is now looking at ways to modernize the system to ensure it can continue to support those efforts.

Defense NewsFri 15th Oct

Air Force research lab signs agreement with ‘gas-stations-in-space’ company

WASHINGTON — The Air Force Research Laboratory signed a research agreement with a company pioneering orbital refueling stations for spacecraft, signaling the military’s interest in using the technology to keep satellites on orbit longer.

Aviation WeekFri 15th Oct

U.S. Air Force Wants New Missile Warning System For HH-60W

Aviation ListFri 15th Oct

Kuwait’s First Two Eurofighter Typhoons Break Cover, Perform First Flight

On Oct. 15, 2021, the first two Eurofighter Typhoon jets destined to Kuwait made their first flight at Leonardo’s Caselle plant near Turin, northwestern Italy.

Breaking DefenseFri 15th Oct

SOAR Is The Tool That Frees Up Critical Thinking

The following are some of the highlights of that webcast related to network automation and SOAR (security orchestration, automation and response) software tools.

The War ZoneFri 15th Oct

Air Force Wants Hundreds More Jet Trainers Despite Already Buying T-7 Red Hawks

The U.S. Air Force is looking to add at least 100, and possibly hundreds, more Advanced Tactical Trainers on top of the 351 T-7A Red Hawks that it’s already ordered under the T-X program. The additional aircraft might also be Red Hawks, but the service has said it will look at any potential contenders that fit its requirement.

Defense NewsFri 15th Oct

KC-46 gets new refueling approvals for TRANSCOM missions

WASHINGTON — The KC-46 Pegasus is now able to refuel the Air Force’s fourth-generation fighter jets during missions for U.S. Transportation Command, expanding the service’s air refueling capacity and the capability of its newest tanker.

Defense NewsFri 15th Oct

5 important AUSA storylines you may have missed

The Association of the U.S. Army’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. is over, but with so much news impacting the military and defense communities coming out of the show, you might not have seen some of the big headlines that emerged from AUSA.

Aviation WeekFri 15th Oct

USAF Clears KC-46 To Operationally Refuel F-15s, F-16s

Breaking DefenseFri 15th Oct

How ‘The Expanse’ Is A Cautionary Tale For Real World Space Commercialization: Excerpt

“For services provided on Mars, or in transit to Mars via Starship, or other colonization spacecraft, the parties recognize Mars as a free planet and that no Earth-based government has authority or sovereignty over Martian activities. Accordingly, disputes will be settled through self-governing principles, established in good faith, at the time of Martian settlement.”

Overt DefenseFri 15th Oct

Modernized Towed Gun Systems Are Delivered To The Turkish Armed Forces

The Turkish Armed Forces continue to receive Aselsan’s Fire Control Equipment and Modernized Towed Gun systems as part of the 35mm Air Defense System Modernization and Airburst Ammunition Project. The deliveries are part of a larger effort to reinforce Turkey’s Layered Air Defense System’s Low Altitude / Short Range Air Defense Systems, which are the lowest level of the Air Defense Network.

Aviation WeekFri 15th Oct

Axiom’s Commercial Space Station Initiative Advances

Defense NewsFri 15th Oct

Turkish-Qatari venture BMC facing liquidity challenges

ANKARA – Leading armored vehicles maker BMC, a Turkish-Qatari venture, is going through liquidity snags after a recent change in ownership, Defense News has learned.

Overt DefenseFri 15th Oct

Army Delays IVAS Headset Operational Testing To May 2022

The US Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier announced on 14 October that it would be delaying operational testing of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System to May 2022, instead of starting this fall. Initial fielding of the Microsoft-made mixed reality headset has been delayed as well, with a new target date in September 2022.

Breaking DefenseFri 15th Oct

First Live Hypersonic Missile Rounds To Be Delivered to Army Unit Next Year

“We’ll start delivering the first of their operational rounds to that unit in FY23, so about a year from now,” Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, director of hypersonics, directed energy, space and rapid acquisition, who also oversees the Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, told reporters at the annual AUSA conference earlier this week.

UK Defence JournalFri 15th Oct

British warship visits Dublin

The minehunter sailed overnight from Scotland to Dublin.

UK Defence JournalFri 15th Oct

Royal Navy drone boat launches missile

In a news release, the Royal Navy say that innovation experts NavyX deployed to Portugal with uncrewed technology for the annual experimentation exercise.