Overt DefenseMon 4th Jul

UK Deploys Military Experts To Bosnia and Herzegovina To Counter Russian Malign Influence

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Thursday that the United Kingdom would be deploying UK military specialists to bolster NATO’s mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Overt DefenseMon 4th Jul

India Conducts First Flight Of Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator

The maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator was carried out successfully by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on 1 July. The flight was conducted from the Aeronautical Test Range in the southern state of Karnataka. A Ministry of Defence (MoD) press release stated that the aircraft operated in a fully autonomous mode and had a perfect flight, including take-off, way point navigation and a smooth touchdown.

Overt DefenseMon 4th Jul

General Dynamics’ Light Tank Wins US Army Mobile Protected Firepower Program

The United States Army announced on Tuesday that it had selected General Dynamics Land Systems’ Mobile Protected Firepower entrant, placing an initial order for up to 96 of what will be the Army’s first light tank since the retirement of the M551 Sheridan in the early 2000s.

Aviation ListMon 4th Jul

U.S. Navy F-35C and U.S. Air Force F-35A Display at Same Airshow – Report And Interviews

If you’re lucky, you get to see one or two aviation firsts in your lifetime. At the Battle Creek Field of Flight Airshow on July 2-3, 2022, aviation enthusiasts got to see two. The Field of Flight Airshow at Battle Creek Executive Airport, Kellogg Field, in Battle Creek was the first time the U.S. Navy’s F-35C Demo Team flew at a Michigan airshow.

Overt DefenseMon 4th Jul

Greek Parliament to Set Aside Budget for MQ-9s

The Greek Minister of National Defense, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, will announce on today that he will be allocating 400 million euros for the purchase of three American MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their requisite ground control stations, I Kathimerini reports. This report comes in the wake of a Turkish Bayraktar TB-2 UAV flying over Greek territory in early June, as well as an increase in tensions between Greece and Turkey. In early June, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Greece against the militarization of the Aegean islands, saying that “We invite Greece to stop arming the islands that have non-military status and to act in accordance with international agreements”. 

Aviation WeekMon 4th Jul

NASA’s Capstone Begins Ballistic Lunar Transfer

Aviation ListSun 3rd Jul

Poland Procures AW149 Helicopters for Its Land Forces

Head of the Polish MoD, Mariusz Błaszczak, signed a procurement agreement on Jul. 1, 2022, at the PZL-Świdnik facility owned by Leonardo, covering the procurement of AW149 helicopters for the land forces.

Overt DefenseSat 2nd Jul

Weekend Briefing (27 June – 1 July)

Welcome to Overt Defense’s Weekend Briefing where we round up the week’s most exciting and important defense news. In this weekend’s issue, we cover many topics including the observation of Russia’s airpower in Ukraine, Cyprus’ H145M purchase, more TB2 fundraisers, Spain’s order for my Eurofighters, the beginning of the RIMPAC exercises and many more. You can check out the complete list of articles down below.

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

U.S. to Send Ukraine Advanced NASAMS Air Defense Weapons

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

How To Win Ukraine's Long War

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

South Korean Defense Agency Backs Buy of 20 More F-35As

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

Pentagon Awards $80M for Work on F-35 Engines, Weapons Integration

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

NATO Is Unified Now. Will 'War Fatigue' Set in Later?

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

What It Means To Send Two More DDGs to Spain

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

Russia Has Lost More Than 1500 Tanks in Ukraine

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

How Far Will Joe Biden Go To Help Ukraine?

President Joe Biden vowed on Thursday that the United States will continue to supply Ukraine with the financial and military aid it needs until the war with Russia is won – even if it means continued economic hardship.

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

Raytheon Technologies Is Proving the Value of the Merger

Real Clear DefenseSat 2nd Jul

Pentagon Giving Away Needed Capability

Aviation WeekSat 2nd Jul

USAF Poised To Issue BWB Tanker-Transport Solicitation

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

Latest U.S. Aid Package For Ukraine Includes Advanced Missiles

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

Sikorsky: U.S. Army’s FARA Delay Provides More Time To Reduce Risk

Defense NewsFri 1st Jul

US to send Ukraine advanced NASAMS air defense weapons in $820 million package

WASHINGTON ― The Pentagon on Friday announced $820 million in new Ukraine military aid that includes advanced mid- to long-range air defense systems and counter-artillery radars to respond to Russia’s heavy use of long-range strikes in the war.

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

Electra Eyes 30% Fuel Savings From Turbogenerator

Defense NewsFri 1st Jul

See India conduct first flight of autonomous technology demonstrator SWiFT

NEW DELHI — India on Friday successfully carried out the first flight of an autonomous technology demonstrator.

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

Lilium Picks Astronics For Power Distribution

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

Sesar Funds Digital European Sky Demonstrations

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

Otto Eyes Hydrogen-Powered Version Of Unconventional Celera

Defense NewsFri 1st Jul

South Korean defense agency backs buy of 20 more F-35A jets

SEOUL — A South Korean defense agency has backed the purchase of more F-35A fighter jets as part of the country’s F-X project, which comprises the government’s preemptive strike strategy Kill Chain, meant to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

China’s EHang Secures Additional Financing

Defense NewsFri 1st Jul

Competition to replace Bradley vehicles enters design, prototype phase

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has opened up the competition to design and build prototypes for its Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle replacement, releasing a request for proposals to industry July 1 on the government contracting website Sam.gov.

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

EASA Releases Proposed Regulation For AAM Vehicles

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

The "New Civil War" Narrative Isn't Helping

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Boris Johnson Blames War on Putin's Masculinity

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Meet the New Right-Wing 'Conflict Entrepreneurs'

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

What To Do with 40,000 Unvaccinated Soldiers?

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

VA Ends Benefits for Jan 6 Defendant Awaiting Trial

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Family Blames Biden Assassination Threat on PTSD

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Canada May Ban Christian Chaplains

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Why Soldiers Commit War Crimes

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Woke Service Members Question Loyalty to US

Breaking DefenseFri 1st Jul

‘A powerful signal:’ What it means to send two more DDGs to Spain

“Great news,” Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, tweeted. The panel’s Republicans and “I have been calling for the U.S. to boost our destroyer fleet in Rota for years. This enhanced presence will strengthen our posture and deterrence capabilities in Europe.”

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

The Boiling Frog: China's Rise and the West's Distraction

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Iran Accused of Making 'Maximalist Demands' in Nuclear Deal Talks

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

War Fatigue in the West

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Why Gamers Will Win the Next War

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Build a Fleet that Contests Every Inch

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

A-10s, AFSOC Aircraft Land on Michigan Highway to Practice ACE

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

China's Vast Maritime Claims Are Becoming Reality

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Sikorsky Leveraging Army Engine Delay to Improve FARA Prototype

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Coast Guard Selects Austal To Build Offshore Patrol Cutters

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Mattis Marries Physicist in Vegas Ceremony

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

China's Unsafe Air Intercepts

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Graphic Novel for Soldier Awarded Two Medals of Honor

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Frazzled Frenzy at FOB in 'Kilroy Was Here'

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Russia Kills 18 With Missiles Near Odesa

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

Poland Orders 32 AW149 Helicopters

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Pagans in Uniform

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

NASA Balloon Mission To Investigate Forces That Halt Star Formation

Breaking DefenseFri 1st Jul

DoD agency wants to put weapons monitors on the ground in Ukraine

“We do think that over time, we would like to be able to extend our insights with a greater presence on the ground going forward,” Jed Royal, deputy director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, told reporters during a roundtable.

Defense NewsFri 1st Jul

Congress wants more troops in Europe as war in Ukraine drags on

PARIS AND WASHINGTON — Congress is pushing for more U.S. soldiers in Europe in its fiscal 2023 draft defense policy bills as the Russian invasion of Ukraine grinds on into its fifth month.

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

Stratolaunch Accelerates Toward Talon Drop Test

Defense NewsFri 1st Jul

NATO touts country pairings as key to defending the eastern flank

WASHINGTON — NATO officials at the Madrid summit revived a Cold War-era concept of spelling out which alliance countries are responsible for securing specific, vulnerable European members situated closer to Russia.

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Where an Army Paycheck Is an Easy Target

Real Clear DefenseFri 1st Jul

Supreme Court Revives Military Veteran's Lawsuit

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

New Backing For Autonomous Crop-Spraying eVTOL

Aviation WeekFri 1st Jul

India's Ghatak Demonstrator Makes First Flight

Overt DefenseFri 1st Jul

Philippine Marines to Begin Training for BrahMos Missiles Amid Enhanced Cooperation With Partners

Personnel from the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) departed for India on 22 June to train for the service’s future BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles. The marines hail from the Shore Based Anti-Ship Missile Battalion, the unit within the Coastal Defense Regiment tasked with operating BrahMos. With BrahMos confirmed for the PMC at the beginning of the year, the process to prepare for its arrival and integration into the force has started. The service is to receive three missile batteries of either four or six launcher vehicles each. 

Breaking DefenseFri 1st Jul

CDAO governing council aims for transparency, voice for key stakeholders

And while the creation of yet another council inside the department would seem to run counter to any goals of streamlining bureaucracy, Margaret Palmieri, the deputy CDAO, says the goal here is to provide a forum for those involved in AI development to have honest discussions — and disagreements — about the way forward. 

Overt DefenseFri 1st Jul

Greece Formally Submits F-35 Purchase Letter Of Request

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Thursday that his country has formally submitted a letter of request for the purchase of 20 F-35s, with an option for an additional 20.

Defense NewsFri 1st Jul

US Navy, Air Force running ‘capstone test’ of new high-power microwave missile

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The U.S. Navy and Air Force research laboratories are wrapping up a five-year joint effort to advance high-power microwave technology this summer with two months of testing in California.

Overt DefenseFri 1st Jul

Chengdu Aircraft Rolls Out First Civilian Wing Loong II Drone

On 29 June, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group held a ceremony for rolling out the first Wing Loong II UAV designed for industrial and civilian purposes. As an evolution of the military reconnaissance/strike combat drone, a variant of the Wing Loong II already serves the Ministry of Emergency Management with disaster assessment with onboard sensors and restoring telecommunications.

Breaking DefenseFri 1st Jul

Experimental missile warning satellite will test tech for Space Force use in multiple orbits

But the effort also will provide lessons and technologies that could be reproduced by the service’s other missile warning/tracking programs with satellites in different orbits, Space Force and industry officials told reporters at a pre-launch briefing June 28.

Breaking DefenseFri 1st Jul

Aerojet CEO wins proxy war against exec chairman, preliminary results show

During a shareholder meeting held this morning, Aerojet CEO Eileen Drake’s eight-person slate of potential directors beat out a competing slate headed by the company’s executive chairman Warren Lichtenstein, whose Steel Partners holding firm owns 5% of Aerojet.

Breaking DefenseFri 1st Jul

GhostEye® MR: A new radar for medium‐range air defense

Right now, that’s especially true of the medium‐range mission space, which has seen a proliferation of adversarial cruise missiles, drones, fixed‐wing and rotary wing aircraft.

Overt DefenseFri 1st Jul

Russian Forces Abandon Snake Island In Ukrainian Victory

The Ukrainian and Russian militaries reported on Thursday that Russian forces previously stationed on Snake Island had been evacuated from the strategic Black Sea outpost.

Aviation ListFri 1st Jul

Greece Sends Official F-35 Lightning II Purchase Request To The United States

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on June 30, 2022 that a Letter of Request has been sent to the United States to officially request the purchase of 20 F-35 Lightning II 5th gen aircraft. The announcement arrived after the NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain, and marks the beginning of the multi-stage process that will lead to the delivery of the first aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force in 2027-2028.

Defense NewsFri 1st Jul

Coast Guard selects Austal to build Offshore Patrol Cutters over incumbent Eastern Shipbuilding

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard selected Austal USA to take over its Offshore Patrol Cutter program, opting not to stick with Eastern Shipbuilding Group, which is building the program’s first four ships.

Defense NewsFri 1st Jul

European demand for weapons grows as Russia fallout deepens

WASHINGTON ― The changed security environment in Europe will mean increased demand from its allies for integrated missile defenses, early warning systems, air-to-air missiles and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, a senior U.S. defense official said Thursday.

Breaking DefenseFri 1st Jul

Coast Guard picks Austal for $3.3 billion Offshore Patrol Cutter program

“The offshore patrol cutter is absolutely vital to Coast Guard mission excellence as we recapitalize our legacy medium endurance cutters, some of which are more than 50 years old,” Adm. Linda Fagan, commandant of the Coast Guard, said in a statement. “The OPCs are the ships our crews need to protect our national security, maritime safety and economic prosperity. I look forward to the new cutters joining our fleet.”

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

Australia Regional Backs Hydrogen-Fueled Beech 1900D

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

China’s Duofo Has eVTOL Plans For Italy’s Fama

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

OneWeb Demos 5G Links Between LEO, GEO Sats And Ground Terminal

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

Greece Submits F-35 Request Letter

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

Bush Carrier Strike Group Certified To Deploy

Defense NewsThu 30th Jun

Johnson vows defense budget hike by 2030, but critics want it sooner

LONDON — After days of infighting between senior members of the British government over the future level of defense spending Prime Minister Boris Johnson has used his closing remarks to the NATO summit in Madrid June 30 to suggest the budget may rise substantially by the end of the decade.

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

KAI To Build Subscale eVTOL Demonstrator

Breaking DefenseThu 30th Jun

NATO leaders establish new €1B innovation fund, accelerator

Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary general, said today during a signing ceremony at the close of the alliance’s Madrid Summit the first-of-its-kind fund will invest €1 billion in startups and deep-tech funds across 22 participating nations over the next 15 years.

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

OneWeb Signs Launch Contract With Relativity Space

Aviation ListThu 30th Jun

A-10Cs Refueled And Rearmed For The First Time On A U.S. Highway During Northern Agility Exercise

About a year after the first exercise of this kind, the U.S. Air Force performed a new exercise on a state highway on June 19, 2022. The event was part of the larger Northern Agility 22-1 exercise held by the Air National Guard, Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Force Reserves in Michigan to demonstrate the Agile Combat Employment doctrine and prepare aircrews for operations in austere environments.

Defense NewsThu 30th Jun

Booz Allen acquisition of defense firm EverWatch would harm NSA, US says

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against information technology consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton to block a planned acquisition, citing fears the purchase could harm the National Security Agency.

Defense NewsThu 30th Jun

Philippines awards contract to South Korean shipbuilder for six offshore patrol vessels

SEOUL — The Philippine Defence Department has awarded a contract to Hyundai Heavy Industries to build six 2400-ton offshore patrol vessels, the South Korean company announced June 27, as well as a deal for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of two frigates that the shipbuilder previously delivered.

Breaking DefenseThu 30th Jun

Northrop Grumman to build Space Force prototype for cyber protection of satellite networks

The prototype, called Space End Crypto Unit (ECU), is being developed in tandem electronics firm Aeronix, with planned delivery in 2024.

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

U.S. Hypersonic Missile Fails In First Test Of Production Booster

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

Singapore To Get First A3R MRTTs By Year’s End

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

China Completes Mapping Of Mars

Breaking DefenseThu 30th Jun

Randy George assigned as next Army vice chief, new leaders named in modernization offices

George will succeed Gen. Joseph Martin has vice chief and will receive his fourth star. The three-star currently serves as senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. He previously served as the commander of I Corps and led the 4th Infantry Division. While the Senate confirmed George’s nomination by voice vote with little fanfare on April 28, this week’s announcement makes the move official.

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

NASA Launches Search For Sustainable Airliner X-Plane Demo

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

Sweden Signs GlobalEye Order, Adds Options For Two More

Defense NewsThu 30th Jun

NATO forging cyber response force amid growing Russian, Chinese threats

WASHINGTON — NATO will establish a program to quickly respond to cyberattacks and other malign activity in the digital domain, while pledging to boost Ukraine’s cyber defenses amid relentless Russian attacks.

Overt DefenseThu 30th Jun

Pacific Region Gears Up For Possible Nuclear Test Amid Build-Up of Diplomatic and Military Tension

The Korean Peninsula and surrounding region have increasingly become a hotbed of tension and diplomatic posturing in wake of repeated missile tests by the DPRK led by Kim Jong-Un. In May and June, the North Koreans have continued to conduct military exercises with their myriad missile systems. These tests in turn have been met by both strong diplomatic and military responses by South Korea and the United States with both foreign ministries promising a strong response to concerns and predictions that the Kim regime will possibly conduct a new 7th nuclear weapons test. In conjunction with unilateral sanctions that were leveled at individuals that the United States claims were facilitating the development and export of North Korea’s weapon systems. These efforts were then stimulated by the veto of both China and Russia in the United Nations at the end of May.

Breaking DefenseThu 30th Jun

Seeking regional partners, UAE’s Edge Group wants to be ‘not just simply a vendor’: CEO

The United Arab Emirates’ Edge conglomerate, which was built on the ruins of the Emirates Defense Industries Company, is currently made up of 25 individual entities. Although it is still in the early stages of formation, Edge has made strides in the international arms sales market, so much so that the conglomerate’s managing director and CEO, Mansour Almulla, told Breaking Defense in an interview that they’re looking to expand not only to new markets outside the Middle East, but to new ways of partnering with regional entities.

Aviation WeekThu 30th Jun

Bye Cites Progress On Certification Plans For eFlyer Trainer

Overt DefenseThu 30th Jun

India & Bangladesh Lay Keels For Multiple Navy Ships

Shipyards in India and Bangladesh laid the keels for four and three ships each for their respective navies in the latter half of June. On June 17, the keel for a Survey Vessel Large (SVL) and two Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) were laid for the Indian Navy. Earlier on June 15, Khulna Shipyard at Bangladesh held the keel laying ceremony for three Landing Craft Tank (LCT) ships. On June 28, the keel for the seventh and final Project 17A frigate was laid at Mazagon Docks Limited.

Overt DefenseThu 30th Jun

“Remember Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol” – Polish Journalist Launches TB2 Fundraiser

Polish journalist Sławomir Sierakowski announced on Tuesday that he had launched a fundraiser for the purchase of a TB2 armed drone for Ukraine’s armed forces. The fundraiser aims to raise 22.5 million Polish zloty (~$5 million) for the purchase of the drone within 30 days.

Breaking DefenseThu 30th Jun

The last thing the Navy needs is another congressional panel

A recent Breaking Defense op-ed by retired Army Maj. Gen. John Ferrari makes the claim that the US Navy is a “hollow force” like that of the 1980’s US Army and needs direct oversight in the form of a new congressional commission. I respectfully agree to disagree with Maj. Gen. Ferrari. The Navy is not broken, and the acknowledged challenges it faces won’t be helped by yet another layer of bureaucracy. What the Navy needs is more support and more focused missions.

Overt DefenseThu 30th Jun

Latest Iteration of RIMPAC Exercise to Kickoff in the Hawaiian Islands.

The U.S. Navy and allied nations kicked off the latest iteration of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise on the 29 June. The five-week-long multinational exercise will take place in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California before coming to an end on the 4 August.

Breaking DefenseWed 29th Jun

An island, an amphib, a typhoon: Navy hosts climate-focused war game

That was roughly the question a group of academics, Capitol Hill staffers, think tankers and Defense Department personnel — ranging from enlisted to folks “with several stars on their shoulders” — sought to answer during a war game the Navy hosted today that focused on how the impacts of climate change might interfere with future operations.

Breaking DefenseWed 29th Jun

Gulf states willing to host Israeli sensors for air-defense network: Sources

Now it appears that there are ongoing discussions with a number of countries who are willing to place Israeli-made sensors on their territory to facilitate combating the threat of Iranian-made missiles and drones.

Breaking DefenseWed 29th Jun

New Space Force acquisition exec eschews more reorganization

“I’m not a big, you know, ‘reorganize for the sake of reorganizing’ somebody,” he told reporters at the Pentagon Tuesday. “I’m quite happy with what I’ve inherited.”

Aviation WeekWed 29th Jun

U.S. Astronaut To Fly On Soyuz To Space Station

Aviation WeekWed 29th Jun

House Appropriations Committee Backs NASA Budget Increase

Aviation WeekWed 29th Jun

Delft University Research Shows Flying V Scales Into Airliner Family

Breaking DefenseWed 29th Jun

US increasing troop presence in Europe, while new NATO strategy eyes China

It’s a flurry of action that would have seemed unlikely, if not impossible, just months ago. But Russia’s February invasion of Ukraine has spurred a renewal of the alliance — something leaders have used the early hours of the Madrid summit this week to underline.

Defense NewsWed 29th Jun

Slovakia picks CV90 in infantry fighting vehicle tender

WARSAW, Poland — Slovakia will sign a government-to-government deal to purchase 152 CV90 MkIV tracked infantry fighting vehicles fitted with 35mm cannons by BAE Hägglunds, the country’s ministry of defense has announced.

Defense NewsWed 29th Jun

General Dynamics unit wins contract to build new light tank for infantry

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army on Tuesday selected General Dynamics Land Systems to build a light tank meant to improve mobility, protection and direct-fire capabilities for Infantry Brigade Combat Teams.

Breaking DefenseWed 29th Jun

House appropriators advance commercial space tracking with funding bump

Appropriators signed off on the request, a major increase from the $16 million appropriated in FY22, in their June 28 markup of the HAC Commerce, Justice and Science subcommittee bill that funds the Department of Commerce and its subordinate National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as a number of other federal agencies.

Overt DefenseWed 29th Jun

Baykar Announces Donation Of Three TB2s Following Ukrainian Fundraiser Success

Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar announced on Monday that it would be donating three TB2 armed drones to Ukraine’s armed forces, after a fundraiser by Ukrainian comedian-turned-politician Serhiy Prytula successfully collected 20 million dollars for the purchase of the drones in under three days.

Defense NewsWed 29th Jun

Marine Corps unveils information guidance as US rivals spew propaganda

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Marine Corps is seeking to better position itself to combat threats posed by propaganda, inaccurate information and digital influence campaigns waged by world powers such as China and Russia.

Aviation WeekWed 29th Jun

U.S. Sending Two More F-35 Squadrons To Europe

Breaking DefenseWed 29th Jun

Startup Epsilon3 hopes to expand Pentagon reach with launch ‘software service’

“The majority of our customer base is commercial. But we do have one prime contract already with the Space Force Space Launch Delta 45 in Cape Canaveral. They’re paying for and using our software for launch operations,” Max Mednik, co-founder of the 18-month-old company, told Breaking Defense.

Overt DefenseWed 29th Jun

Turkey Starts Production Activities For The STM500 Small Attack Submarine

Turkey continues to expand the diversity of its domestic combat vehicles. In this context, production activities for Turkey’s first national submarine, the STM500, developed by STM Defense Technologies and Engineering under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries, began on Sunday, June 26. The development was announced by İsmail Demir, head of Turkey’s defense industry with the following statement on social media: “A historical step in our national submarine journey! We are starting the production activities of the STM500 submarine, which was designed by Turkish engineers with domestic resources.”

Defense NewsWed 29th Jun

US to boost military presence in Europe for Russia threat

MADRID (AP) — President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the U.S. will significantly increase its military presence in Europe for the long haul, including by establishing its first permanent presence in Poland, to bolster regional security after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Aviation WeekWed 29th Jun

White House Lifts Policy Ban On New Weapons Sales To Turkey

Aviation WeekWed 29th Jun

U.S. Army Links Ramjet PRSM To Future Mid-Range Capability

Overt DefenseWed 29th Jun

New WC-135 Constant Phoenix Takes Flight

The first of three converted KC-135Rs slated to replace the existing WC-135 fleet, WC-135R 64-14836, has begun flying test flights in full Constant Phoenix configuration in preparation for delivery to the US Air Force next month. WC-135C 62-3582 was retired on November 16 2020, bringing the active fleet of so-called “nuke sniffer” aircraft down to just one: 61-2667. The current WC-135W is to be retired soon after ‘836 is received.

Defense NewsWed 29th Jun

Space Force mulls new acquisition approach for next phase of medium, heavy launches

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force is poised to start drafting its acquisition strategy for next phase of medium and heavy launch services contracts amid a fresh push from the House Armed Services Committee to consider “new and innovative” procurement methods.

Breaking DefenseWed 29th Jun

The US isn’t investing nearly enough in critical tech to outpace China: Report

“In recent years, the U.S. Government has recognized the importance of emerging technology to both strategic competition with China and our future national prosperity, and multiple administrations and congresses have taken action accordingly,” Govini’s 2022 Federal Scorecard report states. “But despite these efforts, moving fast enough to beat China remains a pernicious challenge.”

Overt DefenseWed 29th Jun

Nexter Shows Prototype ASCALON 140mm Gun In Action

French defense contractor Nexter Systems has released test firing footage of its next generation ASCALON 140mm tank gun, with the prototype gun shown firing from a static test stand.

Aviation WeekWed 29th Jun

Canada Starts Finalizing Requirements For Mobile Air Defense

Breaking DefenseWed 29th Jun

New F-16s give Jordan’s air force a boost, but what comes next?

The LOA was signed June 17 with a Lockheed spokesperson telling Breaking Defense “We anticipate the production contract for this LOA will be complete in the next year,” with deliveries expected to start in 2027.

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

Lockheed, Northrop Reducing Risk On Bids For New Missile Interceptor

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

ULA Plans To Fly Last Atlas V In Late 2025

Breaking DefenseTue 28th Jun

General Dynamics wins $1.14 billion Mobile Protected Firepower contract

The Mobile Protected Firepower vehicle, which will be the Army’s first new designed vehicle in over 40 years, will provide the Army’s infantry brigades with a light tank for directing firepower against enemy positions and bunkers on the battlefield. GDLS beat out BAE Systems.

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

U.S. Army Awards TITAN Prototype Contracts To Palantir, Raytheon

Aviation ListTue 28th Jun

The Italian Air Force Has Deployed Its Two F-35Bs To Iceland For The First Time

For the third time in the last three years, Italy has deployed its F-35 Lightning II aircraft to Iceland, to support NATO’s Interim Air Policing mission “Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland’s Peacetime Preparedness Needs (ASIC-IPPN)”, more commonly known as Icelandic Air Policing.

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

New Acquisitions Chief Calls Space Force Role In Tac ISR 'Silly'

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

Virgin Orbit Targeting September For First UK Launch

Defense NewsTue 28th Jun

National Guardsmen may soon use personal electronics in deployments

WASHINGTON — National Guardsmen may soon be able to use their personal electronic devices for official functions during domestic deployments to help fill a resources gap and reduce mobilization time, according to the service’s chief information officer.

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

Turkey Drops Opposition To Finland, Sweden Joining NATO

Breaking DefenseTue 28th Jun

Lockheed prepping to demo ‘scaled EA’ capability at RIMPAC

The capability, which Lockheed and the Navy are calling “scaled EA,” or electronic attack, is being flown into Hawaii this week for installation onboard the ship, according to Joe Ottaviano, an executive at Lockheed overseeing its electronic warfare programs.

Breaking DefenseTue 28th Jun

Turkey lifts hold on Sweden, Finland joining NATO, following wide-ranging concessions

However, Turkey’s move does not mean Sweden and Finland are guaranteed NATO membership, or even Turkey’s support when it comes to a final vote. Instead, today’s announcement means that Turkey will not stand in the way of the two Nordic nations beginning the formal process to join the alliance.

Defense NewsTue 28th Jun

Turkey lifting objections to Sweden, Finland joining NATO

MADRID — Turkey agreed Tuesday to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, a breakthrough in an impasse clouding a leaders’ summit in Madrid amid Europe’s worst security crisis in decades triggered by the war in Ukraine.

Overt DefenseTue 28th Jun

Turkey Drops Opposition To Swedish and Finnish NATO Membership

Turkey dropped its previous opposition to Sweden and Finland’s applications to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Tuesday, signing a joint memorandum of understanding with the two Nordic countries to formalize the start of their accession to NATO on the first day of an alliance summit in Madrid.

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

AFRL Modifies THOR High Power Microwave System

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

USAF Wants Tanker Upgrades As It Looks To Stealth, Autonomy For KC-Z

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

S. Korea’s KF-21 Finishes Ground Tests, Moves Toward July First Flight

Breaking DefenseTue 28th Jun

Army moves ahead with Palantir and Raytheon for next phase of TITAN

The TITAN program is a tactical ground station that will process data from across space and land-based sensors using artificial intelligence and ship it off to the right shooter — such as one of the new Army long-range precision fires missiles.

Defense NewsTue 28th Jun

The NATO summit is chance to wean Europe off US military might

This week President Joe Biden will meet with other NATO leaders in Madrid for what Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg promises will be a “transformative” summit, coming four months into the war in Ukraine. NATO, for the first time since 2010, will adopt and release a new Strategic Concept — a document that will set the alliance’s strategic objectives and security tasks for the next decade. The cornerstone of NATO’s approach will be a massive military buildup, increasing its high-readiness forces from 40,000 to over 300,000 troops, to protect its eastern flank.

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

Four-Month Space Station Cargo Mission Ends

Aviation WeekTue 28th Jun

Capstone Launches To Assess Lunar Near-Rectilinear Halo Orbit

Defense NewsTue 28th Jun

US Army awards $72 million for new phase in next-gen ground system effort

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army announced Tuesday its effort for a next-generation, software-centric ground system is transitioning to another phase.

Breaking DefenseTue 28th Jun

Anti-personnel landmines still play a vital part in defending against an invader

The Biden administration’s recent announcement of its intention to adhere to the provisions of the Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel landmines has real consequences. Going forward, the United States will not use, stockpile, produce, or transfer those weapons any longer. Maintaining sufficient stocks for the unique situation of defending South Korea is the one exception; all other anti-personnel landmines will be destroyed.

Overt DefenseTue 28th Jun

Cyprus Purchases Six H145M Type Combat Helicopters From France

The Republic of Cyprus is still working to replace Soviet-era armaments with military equipment that is compatible with other member states of the European Union. In this regard, the Cypriot government announced on Friday, June 24, that it had signed a contract with the French firm Airbus Helicopters to purchase six combat helicopters of the H145M type. The company published a statement in which it indicated that the agreement contains an option to purchase an additional six helicopters, but it made no mention of the acquisition’s financial aspect. The Cyprus government will, however, pay out a total of 140 million euros for the helicopters, according to news reports in the Greek Cypriot press.

Overt DefenseTue 28th Jun

China Delivers Second Type 054A/P Frigate to Pakistan

At Shanghai Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard on the morning of 23 June, held the transfer and commission ceremony of Pakistan Navy’s second Type 054A/P frigate PNS Taimur, following the first of the class PNS Tughril commissioning this January. Commodore Rashid Mehmood Sheikh, head of the Pakistani Navy Mission at China, attended the ceremony as it’s chief guest.

Breaking DefenseTue 28th Jun

Army, Sikorsky ink 10th Black Hawk multiyear deal, worth at least $2.3 billion

The Army has an option of purchasing an additional 135 helicopters, potentially upping the contract value to $4.4 billion for a total of 255 helicopters, according to the announcement from Program Executive Office Aviation on Monday.

Defense NewsTue 28th Jun

Building a Data-Centric Mission Partner Environment

When the U.S. military withdrew warfighters from Afghanistan, one of the biggest challenges was to maintain data flow across the joint forces while dismantling a 20-year-old traditional infrastructure. To keep information moving, DOD rapidly replaced the legacy IT infrastructure with a cloud-native network.

Overt DefenseTue 28th Jun

India Successfully Tests VL-SRSAM Missile System From INS Rana

India has successfully tested its Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from an Indian naval ship. The test was conducted on 24 June, by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in the Bay of Bengal. VL-SRSAM is meant to neutralize various aerial threats, including sea-skimming targets, at close ranges .

Breaking DefenseTue 28th Jun

Eye on AUKUS & China, Australia cabinet extends terms for Defence Force chief, others

“We arrive at a time which is as strategically complex as any since the end of the Second World War in terms of our national security and the needs of our defence procurement,” Marles said in a release. “That is why today, the Albanese Government announces the terms of the Chief of the Defence Force, Angus Campbell AO DSC, and the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Admiral David Johnston AC RAN, will be extended by two years.”

Defense NewsTue 28th Jun

Navy slows F-35 orders amid rising readiness grades of its fighter fleet

WASHINGTON — The Navy will order fewer F-35C jets in fiscal year 2023 than manufacturer Lockheed Martin could produce under a pandemic catch-up plan, with officials hoping to use the lull to spend money on other priorities.

Aviation WeekMon 27th Jun

U.S. Army Awards Sikorsky $2.28B Contract For Black Hawks

Defense NewsMon 27th Jun

Lockheed’s Sikorsky wins $2.3 billion Army Black Hawk multi-year contract

WASHINGTON — Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky unit won its 10th five-year contract worth $2.3 billion for 120 H-60 Mike-model Black Hawk utility helicopters with options for an additional 135 aircraft for both the Army and other customers through Foreign Military Sales, the Pentagon said.

Defense NewsMon 27th Jun

Industry teams move to accelerate work on MDA’s next-generation missile interceptor

WASHINGTON — Both teams competing to develop the Missile Defense Agency’s Next-Generation Interceptor are planting deeper roots in Huntsville, Alabama, as part of an effort to try to speed NGI’s fielding as intercontinental ballistic missile threats from North Korea and Iran grow.

Aviation WeekMon 27th Jun

AFRL, U.S. Navy Conducting ‘HiJENKS’ Capstone Test