Overt DefenseWed 12th May

IDF Mobilizes As Israel Fades Into War With Gaza

The last 48 hours in Israel have been critical. The situation began following an Arab protest that turned violent on the Temple Mount at the end of the last week. The situation has since escalated and unbalanced fragile status quo. The violence developed in the run up to Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, the anniversary of the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City during the Six Days War of 1967. A crackdown on Arab demonstrators was met with threats from Hamas and other radical organizations.

Aviation WeekWed 12th May

GE’s T901 Engine On Critical Path For U.S. Army Modernization

Aviation WeekWed 12th May

Space Force Seeks Launch Technology Prototype Proposals

Aviation WeekWed 12th May

Rocket Lab Readies For Upgraded Reusable Electron Tests

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

Navy Completes Captive Carry Test Of AARGM-ER Missile

The U.S. Navy completed an Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) captive carry flight on an F/A-18 Super Hornet April 22 at Patuxent River in support of the first li

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

Eglin Testers Load Five JASSMs to an F-15E

The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, loaded five AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles on an F-15E, more than doubling the Strike Eagle’s JASSM load.

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

Reed Prioritizing China Deterrence Fund, Comms & Unmanned Ships

WASHINGTON ― Securing Pacific Deterrence Initiative funding to deter China militarily will “remain a priority” of Senate Armed Sources Committee Chair Jack Reed for the upcoming defense policy bill, the panel’s chairman said Tuesday.

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

JROC Takes More Control Over Service Weapon Buys

WASHINGTON: The Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC), led by Joint Chiefs Vice-Chairman Gen. John Hyten, is asserting new powers to direct how the services fulfill Combatant Commanders’ needs to ensure the future Joint Warfighting Concept (JWC) is not undercut by competing service imperatives and parochial rivalries.

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

Marines Will Test the Army's New Night Vision Goggles

Infantry Marines will get the chance to test the Army's new night vision goggles, which are being compared to something straight out of a video game.

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

A Surprising Lesson From the Stoics

The military has long found inspiration in ancient Stoicism. George Washington, encamped at Valley Forge, allegedly staged a play about the Stoic quasi-sage Cato. Defense Secretary James Mattis told cadets at VMI that he always “kept a tattered copy” of Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations in his rucksack in combat. What appeals to many in the military is the Stoic idea that you can build grit and discipline by pushing hard against the limits of self-mastery and self-control: “The pain isn’t due to the thing itself,” says Marcus, “but to your estimate of it.” 

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

Pentagon Orders Small Israeli Drones for SOCOM

JERUSALEM — The Pentagon has awarded Israeli company Xtend a contract to deliver dozens of small unmanned aerial systems for use indoors and in urban environments by special forces in the Navy, Marine Corps and Army.

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

A U.S. Military View of Australia's Strategic Geography

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

Reconsidering the Education for Seapower Strategy

Just six months after the release of the heralded Education for Seapower Strategy, the United States Navy (USN) was labelled the laggard of the American military services when it comes to professional military education (PME). The indication by USNI News that Education for Seapower was ‘under review’ and may face cuts warrants an examination of the many benefits that the strategy proffered, particularly in view of Mike Clark’s recent call for reform in UK PME and Andy Young’s prudent promotion of a learning culture in the British military.

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

Dare Mighty Things

19 April 2021 saw a world first. A helicopter took flight for 40 seconds. A short hover before turning and landing. It’s an incredible technical achievement. But this flight is unlike any flight you’re probably familiar with. This one took place over 290 million kilometres away, in an atmosphere less than 1% the density of Earth’s.

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

No Pressure… But Don't Mess This Up

Real Clear DefenseWed 12th May

U.S. Boosts Philippines Fight Against IEDs

Aid to help country rid itself of explosives planted by insurgents deepens defense ties with America.

Aviation WeekWed 12th May

Israeli Fighters, Iron Dome Respond To Gaza Rocket Barrage

Defense NewsTue 11th May

BMC in talks to sell Turkish shares to local steelmaker

ANKARA — BMC, a joint Turkish-Qatari venture that manufactures armored vehicles and tanks, is in the late stage of negotiations to sell a majority stake of Turkish shares to a Turkish steel producer, sources told Defense News.

Breaking DefenseTue 11th May

CISA Lacks Key Data On Colonial Pipeline Hack

“We received some information fairly quickly in concert with the FBI,” Wales told the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, but that was days ago.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

Reed prioritizing China deterrence fund, comms and unmanned ships

WASHINGTON ― Securing Pacific Deterrence Initiative funding to deter China militarily will “remain a priority” of Senate Armed Sources Committee Chair Jack Reed for the upcoming defense policy bill, the panel’s chairman said Tuesday.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

Japan, US, France hold 1st joint drills on Japanese land

TOKYO — Japanese ground troops joined American and French counterparts in their first three-way exercise on Japanese land, as they seek to strengthen military ties amid growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

NASA Still Aiming For Oct. 31 Launch Of James Webb Space Telescope

The War ZoneTue 11th May

Five JASSM Stealth Missiles Have Been Loaded On An F-15E Strike Eagle For The First Time

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet has, for the first time, been loaded up with five AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, or JASSMs, as part of a proof-of-concept at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The jet has apparently not yet flown with the five stealthy cruise missiles attached, but there are plans for the tests to continue, with the aim of more than doubling the Strike Eagle’s previous JASSM load.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

The Army is making tank upgrades as simple as switching video game cartridges

WASHINGTON — It’s not easy to upgrade tanks.

Breaking DefenseTue 11th May

JROC Takes More Control Over Service Weapon Buys

This represents “a little bit of a different take on how the JROC has been run before,” said Brig. Gen. Rob Parker, deputy director of the Joint Staff J6 directorate for Command, Control, Communications, & Computers/Cyber. The idea, he told AFCEA today, is for the JROC to be “more prescriptive, directive to the services.”

Defense NewsTue 11th May

US Navy’s top officer applauds workforce at Bath Iron Works

BATH, Maine — The U.S. Navy’s top officer liked what he saw Monday during a tour of shipbuilder Bath Iron Works, praising the shipyard and its workforce for getting back on track after a strike last summer.

The War ZoneTue 11th May

Largest Rocket Barrage From Gaza Ever Hits Central Israel Amid Fears Of An Imminent War

Air raid sirens have been blaring across central Israel after the Al Qassam Brigades, the militant wing of the Palestinian group Hamas, announced that they had fired approximately 130 rockets toward Tel Aviv and other population centers to the north of the Gaza Strip. This was in direct response to a series of Israeli airstrikes on targets in Gaza, most notably one that destroyed the Hanadi Tower, a combined office and apartment building owned by Hamas. This also appears to be the largest rocket attack from Gaza aimed at central Israel ever and is the latest in a series of escalating tit-for-tat actions between Israel and Palestinian militants in recent days.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

New Pentagon directive to manage gobs of data: Make it all sharable

WASHINGTON — Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks released a new plan to manage and learn from the department’s vast data stores that starts with a simple decree: Any DoD data is a resource for the whole agency.

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

Collins Selected For Falcon 10X, To Deliver Avionics For X-59

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

U.S. Navy Reserve Proposes F-16 Aggressor Acquisition

Breaking DefenseTue 11th May

Revised JADC2 Strategy Hits DepSecDef’s Desk

Also, the Joint Staff is making progress on an implementation plan for the new strategy, as well as on a JADC2 reference architecture for sharing data across the services and combatant commands, Army Brig. Gen. Rob Parker, deputy director of the Joint Staff’s J-6 directorate, said today.

Breaking DefenseTue 11th May

Presumptive Comptroller Gets Easy Go At SASC

Mike McCord, nominated to be the Pentagon’s comptroller, reprising a role he performed in the Obama Administration, and Ronald Moultrie, nominee for undersecretary for intelligence and security, faced no challenges to their records or reputation before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Aviation ListTue 11th May

F-15E Strike Eagle Loaded With Five AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs) For The First Time

The U.S. Air Force continues to work on expanding the F-15E Strike Eagle‘s already impressive capabilities. The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron completed a munitions PoC (proof-of-concept) called Project Strike Rodeo, May 11, 2021, that validated loading five AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM) on the aircraft. The test paves the way for follow-on flight testing that would more than double the F-15E’s current JASSM-carrying capacity.

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

New NASA Chief Eyes China Orbital Debris, Private Spaceflight

Defense NewsTue 11th May

France performs first lock-on firing of MMP missile from new Jaguar vehicle

PARIS — The first stage of integrating the MMP medium-range missile onto France’s new Jaguar armored reconnaissance and combat vehicle was successfully carried out last month when the weapon was fired from the retractable pod on the vehicle’s turret and hit a fixed target.

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

USAF Demonstration Points To Doubling JASSMs On F-15Es

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

U.S. Maintaining Pace Of Aggressive Rotorcraft Development Efforts

The War ZoneTue 11th May

A Boeing 707 That Survived The ‘Black September’ Hijacking Spree Is Getting Scrapped

At an abandoned airport in Berlin, a derelict Boeing 707 airliner tells a story of Cold War intrigue, international terrorism, and the changing fortunes of the German capital. But time is now up for the decaying jet, and the excavators have moved in to begin breaking up this historic aircraft.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

Germany goes Hail Mary on funding Europe’s next-gen fighter

COLOGNE, Germany – German defense leaders have admitted they have no firm financing plan for the Future Combat Air System, but they plan to submit the project to lawmakers for approval soon anyway.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

Comptroller, intel nominees cruise through hearing amid supply chain questions

WASHINGTON — Two top Defense Department nominees cruised through a Tuesday confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee, setting the stage for a quick path towards the Pentagon.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

China fields J-10 jets powered by homemade engine

ICYMI, this photo published on the website of China’s state radio broadcaster is confirmation the Chengdu J-10C powered by the indigenous WS-10B turbofan is in PLAAF service, suggesting China has sufficient confidence in the engine to use it on single-engined types pic.twitter.com/NHGkxVeQWV

Overt DefenseTue 11th May

US Vessels Fire Warning Shots at 13 Iranians Boats

On 10 May, six US Navy ships escorting the guided missile submarine USS Georgia, as it travelled through the strait of Hormuz, ended up in an incident involving thirteen “fast boats” of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby, the boats approached the American vessels “precariously” and did not respond to warnings calling for them to increase their distance from the US ships.

Defence BlogTue 11th May

South Korea unveils design for future military transport aircraft

South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries, commonly known as KAI, has released a short promo video of its proposed design for the future military transport aircraft.

Breaking DefenseTue 11th May

Joint All-Domain Operations: The Key To Decision Dominance And Overmatch

Breaking Defense: How can the aerospace and defense industry help solve the services’ Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) and joint command and control challenges?

Overt DefenseTue 11th May

The UK Announces That F-35Bs Will Take Part in Operation Shader Against ISIS.

The United Kingdom, along with its NATO allies, has reiterated its commitment to defeating ISIS and enhancing regional stability. The UK’s contribution to the Global Coalition against ISIS is Operation Shader. As part of the US-led alliance, the UK will deploy F-35B Lightning jets for the first time to combat ISIS in both Iraq and Syria.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

US approves $1.7 billion Aegis missile defense sale to Canada

WASHINGTON― The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale to NATO-ally Canada of four Lockheed-made Aegis missile defense systems valued at up to $1.7 billion, the Pentagon announced Monday.

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

KSC Director Cabana Named NASA’s Associate Administrator

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Rolling To Remember To Be Staged at National Mall

WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands of motorcyclists will gather in downtown Washington on May 30, shutting down the streets around the National Mall for about 15 hours to conduct a traditional Memorial Day ride.

Overt DefenseTue 11th May

Japanese Companies Seek Alternatives to Chinese Drones; New US Drone Deployment to Japan

A number of top Japanese companies have announced their decision to stop relying on Chinese drones due to security concerns. Chinese drones may send back sensitive data to their manufacturers which, especially when said drones are used for tasks like inspecting communication infrastructure, may translate into a direct risk. Japanese government organizations like the Coast Guard have already cut down on the use of PRC-made drones and the government has urged private companies to do the same. Now, companies like Kyushu Electric Power and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone are officially trying to turn to domestically produced alternatives.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

Marines eye tactical resupply drone prototypes

The Marines are one step closer to finding ways to transport vital supplies to Marines on the move via drones.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

To reach 355 ships, Navy must revamp shipbuilding, recruitment and retention, advocacy group says

Nailing down how many ships the Navy needs to compete with Russia and China is only one piece of the puzzle regarding how the Navy needs to grow, according to the Association of the U.S. Navy.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

New fueling system completed at Indiana’s Grissom Air Reserve Base

BUNKER HILL, Ind. — An overhaul on a new jet fueling system has been completed at northern Indiana’s Grissom Air Reserve Base following several years of work to replace a system installed in the 1950s.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Coast Guard Cutter Fires Warning Shots at Iranian Speedboats

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter fired warning shots from its .50-caliber machine gun at a large group of armed Iranian speedboats that were quickly approaching American ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday morning.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Navy Commissions USS Miguel Keith

The Navy’s latest Expeditionary Sea Base ship officially entered the fleet on Saturday.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

The End of Iraq's F-16 Fleet?

Without U.S. technicians, the fall from grace of the Iraqi Air Force’s Viper fleet could be complete.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

China Military Watch

Overt DefenseTue 11th May

Israeli Navy Receives Second Sa’ar 6 Corvette from Germany

The Israeli Navy has received the second of four Sa’ar 6-class corvettes from German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

South Korea’s KAEMS Signs C-212, CN-235 MRO Agreement With Airbus

South Korea’s KAEMS Signs C-212, CN-235 MRO Agreement With Airbus is part of Aviation Week Network's complimentary online access.

Defence BlogTue 11th May

Cobham wins $7.1 million U.S. Navy contract for water activated parachute release systems

Cobham Mission Systems, the U.S.-based world leading design and manufacturer of innovative aerospace safety and survival systems, announced today it has been awarded a new $7.1 million prime contract from the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support.

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

U.S. Space Force Delivers Rideshare Satellites For SBIRS-5 Integration

Aviation ListTue 11th May

Leonardo Inaugurates A New State-Of-The-Art Helicopter Training Academy In The United States

Leonardo announced that a new state-of-the-art Helicopter Training Academy has been inaugurated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 29, 2021. The Academy, which was first announced in 2019, is located in the company’s campus in northeast Philadelphia that also includes production, support and administrative functions for the United States.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Army Endorses CH-47 Chinook Upgrades

The clouds hanging over the biggest industrial complex in southeastern Pennsylvania began to clear Wednesday as Army leaders endorsed helicopter upgrades essential to its future.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

What's Actually Different About the Block III Super Hornet?

The U.S. Navy began taking delivery on the first Block III F/A-18 Super Hornets for testing last year, and while the jet may look strikingly similar to its predecessor on the outside, a peek inside the cockpit shows just how much this fighter has changed.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

The Tension Between Secrecy & Innovation

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Russia and the High North

What are the implications of renewed great power competition in the Arctic?

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

The Logic of U.S.–China Competition

In his recent address to the U.S. Congress, President Joe Biden warned that China is deadly serious about trying to become the world’s most significant power. But Biden also declared that autocrats will not win the future; America will. If mishandled, the U.S.–China great-power competition could be dangerous. But if the United States plays it right, the rivalry with China could be healthy.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

SOFWERX Zeros In on Rapid Acquisition

An innovation hub linked with Special Operations Command is pivoting its efforts from discovering new technology to more rapidly putting capabilities into the hands of commandos.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Army Leaders Have Agreed to Cap Troop Size

Gen. McConville and the acting secretary have agreed the force will not grow past 485,000 active-duty soldiers next year. But can they keep it from shrinking?

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

White House's Familiar Slate of Pentagon Nominees

WASHINGTON — After three months of silence on who would make up his administration’s top Pentagon leaders, President Joe Biden announced the names of 17 potential officials in April.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Pentagon Weighs Ending JEDI Cloud Project

With $10 billion contract mired in litigation from Amazon, defense officials are reviewing other options to move forward

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

The U.S. Needs To Impose Costs on China for Its Economic Warfare

The United States has failed to sufficiently deter China’s long-running campaign of cyber-enabled economic warfare. Beijing violated the Obama-era bilateral deal to cease economic espionage and then shirked the Trump-era agreement intended to recoup economic losses from its unfair trade practices. There are several components to a better deterrence policy, and it is time to find effective ways to impose costs on Beijing.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Top Democrats Urge Biden To Lift Sanctions on Tehran

Prominent Democratic National Committee members urged President Joe Biden to relieve sanctions on Iran as the window closes for a return to the nuclear deal.

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Russia's New Yasen-Class Submarine

Nearly 12 years after construction began on Russia’s first modified Yasen-class submarine, the Russian Navy raised St. Andrews’s Flag — the ensign of the Russian Navy — on the advanced subvariant of the original Yasen-class family of nuclear attack submarines. Compared to the parent design, the modified Yasen-class (alternatively known as the Yasen-M-class) is about 40 feet shorter, as it lacks one of the flank sonar arrays seen on its predecessor. 

Real Clear DefenseTue 11th May

Russia Recoils From Possibility of Stable Relationship With U.S.

Aviation WeekTue 11th May

Virgin Galactic Return To Flight Faces New Delay

Defence BlogTue 11th May

U.S. Navy releases footage of incident in Strait of Hormuz with Iranian Navy Forces

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command has released footage of the incident in the Strait of Hormuz with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) on 10 May.

Defence BlogTue 11th May

Kongsberg gets $499M contract modification for CROWS systems

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS, part of Norwegian defense company Kongsberg, has received a $499 million contract modification for the Protector Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station system, also known as CROWS.

Defence BlogTue 11th May

Sale of Aegis Combat System to Canada approved

The U.S. State Department recently approved the potential sale to Canada of more than $1.7 billion worth of integrated naval weapons system produced by Lockheed Martin, according to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

The War ZoneTue 11th May

The End Of Iraq's F-16 Fleet Is A Real Possibility As Lockheed Contractors Prepare To Leave

The troubled saga of the Iraqi Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-16IQ Viper fighter jet fleet has taken another turn for the worse, with the announcement that manufacturer Lockheed Martin is to withdraw its maintenance teams supporting the jets from the country. The move has been taken amid continuing concerns for the safety of foreign contractors working on behalf of Iraq and the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, where Iranian-backed militias are still waging a campaign of violence.

Defense NewsTue 11th May

Cannibalized parts, systems that sailors can’t fix: LCS maintenance woes could get worse, watchdog warns

When they first started filling the surface fleet’s ranks 13 years ago, the Navy’s littoral combat ships were billed as agile, efficient vessels capable of taking on a variety of missions.

The War ZoneTue 11th May

About Those Custom Rifles Navy SEALs Were Seen Carrying On A Recent Training Mission

Yesterday we published some incredible shots of Navy SEALs and SWCCs operating with the Army's Night Stalkers off the coast near Dam Neck, Virginia. You can see those images here. It didn't take long for our mailbox to fill up with inquires as to what rifles the SEALs, who are reportedly from SEAL Team Six, a unit that has an unparalleled small arms armory, were carrying on their training mission aboard the highly modified MH-6 Little Birds and MH-60 Black Hawks. So, we did some research, and here is what we found out—they are indeed unique, at least when it comes to the U.S. military and AR-15/M4/M16 pattern rifles.

Breaking DefenseMon 10th May

Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack Follows Years of Warnings

Details are still emerging. Texas-based Colonial Pipeline Company, which owns and operates the pipeline, issued a statement today saying the company is dedicating “vast resources to restoring pipeline operations quickly and safely. Segments of our pipeline are being brought back online in a stepwise fashion… and this takes time.” The statement said the company’s goal is to restore pipeline service by the end of the week.

The War ZoneMon 10th May

Top Russian Submarine Design Bureau Hit By Cyber Attack With Chinese Characteristics

Russia's Rubin Design Bureau was the target of a cyber attack involving an image file with malicious software embedded inside it via a specific tool that has become a hallmark of multiple entities linked to the Chinese government. The file could have been used to create a backdoor into the networks at Rubin, a prolific designer of submarines and other underwater platforms. Its portfolio includes the ultra-quiet Borei class ballistic missile submarine, the unique Belgorod and Losharik special missions submarines, and the Poseidon nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ultra-long-range 'doomsday' torpedo, among other work.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

The US Navy’s bio-preparedness innovation window remains open through cruise lines

COVID-19 demonstrated gaps in the U.S. Navy’s maritime bio-preparedness. Through cruise lines’ struggle for survival, the pandemic will continue to offer a unique test bed for tactics, techniques and procedures, or TTP, as well as technologies to mitigate respiratory pathogens — specifically those passive measures most conducive to defense against bioweapons. The Navy should seize this opportunity to develop novel bio-preparedness solutions by partnering with the cruise industry.

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

Osiris-Rex Starts Long Journey Back To Earth

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

The Weekly Debrief: NATO Goes To Space

Defense NewsMon 10th May

National security agencies warn of 5G network vulnerabilities, adversary influence

WASHINGTON — A group of top U.S. national security agencies warned Monday in a report that adversarial nations’ influence on 5G standards is a major threat to securing advanced communications networks of the future.

Breaking DefenseMon 10th May

JAIC Automates DoD’s Back Office: ‘From 20 Minutes To Seconds’

“[Back office functions] are the things that make the department run on a daily basis,” Bryan Lane, a JAIC deputy director who heads up its business process transformation portfolio, told me. “And this is truly for government writ large. These are all the things that happen behind the scenes that make government machinery move and move in an efficient way.”

Breaking DefenseMon 10th May

Northrop Breaks Into DARPA’s Blackjack

Blackjack is widely seen by the satellite industry as a boot-strap into a lucrative DoD market for smallsats in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). DoD sees LEO constellations as potentially providing a host of services to warfighters in highly-contested conflict zones — both as alternatives to today’s uber-expensive handful of milsats, and as a foundation for Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2).

The War ZoneMon 10th May

Warning Shots Fired After Iranian Vessels Swarm American Missile Submarine In Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

A U.S. Coast Guard patrol boat fired warning shots earlier today at a swarm of Iranian boats that got worryingly close to a group of American naval vessels escorting the U.S. Navy's Ohio class guided-missile submarine USS Georgia through the volatile Strait of Hormuz. This is the third incident of Iranian boats harassing U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf region in a little over a month and the second time in two weeks that American forces have responded with warning shots. 

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

OneWeb To Buy TrustComm After Recent Demo For Pentagon

Breaking DefenseMon 10th May

Afghanistan: Army Angst Over Uncertainty On Post-Pullout Demands

Even in that best case, the Office of the Secretary of Defense probably won’t let the Army budgets keep fiscal savings from the withdrawal, warned Whitley, who previously served as Army comptroller. If all goes well, “there will be some freeing of resources,” he said. “The Army’s position would be, it would be nice if that stayed with the Army; that probably won’t be the department’s position.”

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

NASA, Axiom Space Outline First Private Astronaut ISS Mission

Defense NewsMon 10th May

Pentagon orders small Israeli drones for indoor special operations

JERUSALEM — The Pentagon has awarded Israeli company Xtend a contract to deliver dozens of small unmanned aerial systems for use indoors and in urban environments by special forces in the Navy, Marine Corps and Army.

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

ZeroAvia Buys More Fuel Cells For Hydrogen Propulsion Development

The War ZoneMon 10th May

Kratos Mako Loyal Wingman Drone Emerges With Major Modifications For Skyborg Trials

An example of the Kratos UTAP-22 Mako unmanned aircraft, as used in the recent flight test of an artificial intelligence-driven “computer brain,” is now engaged on further flight trials for the Skyborg program, but with a radically reworked appearance suggesting it’s now carrying additional sensors, perhaps including an infrared search and track system. Accompanying photos of the revamped drone were released by the Pentagon, which announced that the flight in question “was the closest a manned fighter has flown to an unmanned aircraft under autonomous control in the history of the Department of Defense.”

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

Royal Mail To Fly Drone Deliveries To Scilly Isles

Breaking DefenseMon 10th May

Egypt, US Commit To Bright Star, Shared Logistics

“On April 27, the United States of America and the Arab Republic of Egypt signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate reciprocal provision of military logistic support, supplies, and services,” according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. It noted that “while the MOU does not obligate either side to provide support, it does create a standing mechanism to ensure that U.S. and Egyptian military forces can effectively offer reimbursable support to each other when required.

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

Zipline Expands Medical Drone Delivery In Africa

Defense NewsMon 10th May

Northrop Grumman awarded $13.3 million for Blackjack payloads

WASHINGTON — The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency awarded Northrop Grumman $13.3 million for continued work on a new satellite demonstration known as Blackjack, according to an April 28 contract announcement.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

Pentagon wants a cheap, ground-launched and hand-held counter-drone capability

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon wants industry to bring cheap, ground-launched capability as well as handheld options to take out small drones to its next demonstration seeking new technology to combat the threat, according to a request for information posted May 7 to the federal contracting website.

Overt DefenseMon 10th May

US Navy Captures Major Weapons Shipment Headed Towards Yemen

Over the weekend the US Navy announced that a massive shipment of military equipment had been intercepted and seized off the coast of Oman. USS Monterey (CG-61), a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, supported by a Coast Guard Advanced Interdiction Team, made the discovery during a routine boarding of a cargo ship in international waters.

Breaking DefenseMon 10th May

Army Plans To Grow Artillery EXCLUSIVE

Now the service has made a major decision to expand the artillery force by creating new battalions to operate the new XM1299 Extended Range Cannon Artillery, a tracked, armored howitzer with double the range of current cannon, the director of artillery modernization at Army Futures Command told me.

Breaking DefenseMon 10th May

Aaron Mehta Named Editor-in-Chief at Breaking Defense

Mehta brings deep experience, journalistic acumen, integrity and a wealth of defense expertise and insight to Breaking Defense. He will be the editorial leader for the brand, leading our staff of expert reporters, guiding the global expansion of Breaking Defense and planning and overseeing the execution of editorial strategy, content and plans.

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

NASA Raises Price Of Private Astronaut Missions

Overt DefenseMon 10th May

EU Moves to Grant Border Control Agency Frontex Greater Power

Near the end of April, the European Commission revealed plans to expand the mandate of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, or Frontex. The EU has been struggling with migrants who, upon having their applications for residence in the EU rejected, refuse to leave. Less than a third do so voluntarily after a decision to expel them is made.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

Rheinmetall plants roots in Michigan

WASHINGTON — Germany’s Rheinmetall has a new subsidiary and it is planting its roots in the heart of American vehicle manufacturing territory.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

Paratroopers with 82nd Airborne fly non-stop to jump into Estonia tonight

A large contingent of U.S. paratroopers is expected to jump into Estonia tonight after a long flight from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, that includes mid-air refueling.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

Marine grunts are getting new night vision, helmets, vehicles, tropical uniforms and boots

The core infantry gear upgrades are nearly complete across the force and new night vision, a high-cut helmet, new tropical uniforms and boots are soon to follow.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

Aircraft carrier Gerald Ford finishes post-delivery tests and trials

The aircraft carrier Gerald Ford has wrapped up its post-delivery test and trials.

Overt DefenseMon 10th May

The Fourth Generation ‘Yasen-M’ Class Nuclear Submarine, Kazan, Joins The Russian Navy

The acceptance ceremony of the Kazan (K561), a 4th generation nuclear attack submarine of the Yasen-M project, to the Russian Navy was held today in Severodvinsk, at the SEVMASH initiative, under the leadership of Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

China, the victim? From behind the Great Wall is a government under siege by foreign threats

MELBOURNE, Australia, and BEIJING — Activity by U.S. military ships and surveillance planes directed toward China has increased significantly under the Biden administration, a spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry said April 29.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

The northern bear: How is the Kremlin getting along with its neighbors?

MOSCOW — China remains the biggest buyer of Russian weapons in Southeast Asia, but Moscow is increasing military ties with other countries.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

What’s impeding Indonesia’s military ambitions?

MELBOURNE, Australia — The recent loss of a 40-year-old Indonesian submarine has highlighted the need for the Southeast Asian nation to replace many of its military platforms, but plans to do so have been stymied by budget shortfalls and a lack of adherence to its long-term vision.

Overt DefenseMon 10th May

Canada, Norway and the US to Join EU Project on Military Mobility

In late 2017, the European Union formally established PESCO, or “Permanent Structured Cooperation”, in order to better facilitate defense cooperation between EU members states. Under this framework, a significant number of projects were established with a variety of aims. Training Facilities like the Joint European Union Intelligence School, systems like the European attack helicopter Tiger Mark III and projects like the European Military Space Surveillance Awareness Network are just a few examples of initiatives undertaken under the PESCO framework.

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

Voyager Space Holdings Takes Over Nanoracks and Parent

Aviation ListMon 10th May

Germany Set To Replace Its P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft With The P-8A Poseidon

The Bundesministerium der Verteidigung (BMVg), the German Federal Ministry of Defence, is looking to the Boeing P-8A Poseidon as the temporary replacement for its ageing fleet of Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, according to Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Silberhorn.

Aviation WeekMon 10th May

RAF Planning October Deployment Of Typhoons, MRTT To Southeast Asia

Defense NewsMon 10th May

White House’s slate of nominees would put familiar faces back in the Pentagon

WASHINGTON — After three months of silence on who would make up his administration’s top Pentagon leaders, President Joe Biden announced the names of 17 potential officials in April.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

How COVID-19 has impacted South China Sea defense spending and procurement

The next Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, will take place June 4-5. The event will bring together leading policymakers as well as thought leaders drawn from across the Asia-Pacific region, the United States, Europe and beyond to engage in vital defense diplomacy. In preparation for this event, Defense News brings you this analysis by IISS on the state of defense spending and industry in Asia. For more information or to join in the discussion, visit the IISS website.

Defense NewsMon 10th May

Britain’s Royal Air Force chief talks F-35 tally and divesting equipment

WASHINGTON — On March 16, the United Kingdom rolled out its Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, a document that will serve as the guidepost for its military going forward. Included in that document were both cuts to existing systems and investments in new technologies.

The War ZoneSun 9th May

Navy SEALs And Army Night Stalkers Captured In Amazing Photos During Virginia Exercise

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160th SOAR), better known as the Night Stalkers, were flying in full force near Dam Neck, Virginia last week, hauling around Navy SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCCs), along with their boats and other gear, during a huge training exercise. It is somewhat rare to see the Night Stalker's heavily modified Little Birds, Chinooks, and Black Hawks operating together in one public place, especially in broad daylight, but that was the case in this instance. There was even a mass airdrop of supplies and assault boats from C-17s over the water. Yet one picture stands out above the rest—one of an MH-47 Chinook sling loading a stealthy Combat Craft Assault (CCA) boat while one of its crew, most likely a SWCC, fast ropes down into it in mid-air. 

Aviation WeekSun 9th May

Chinese Rocket Booster Falls into Indian Ocean

Overt DefenseSun 9th May

Weekend Briefing (3-7 May)

This week at Overt Defense we took a closer look at the Mi-35 downed in Burma, the shocking testimony of ex-Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher and trials of new supersonic cruise missiles by the Russian Navy. China is seeking opportunities to open a substantial naval bases on the Atlantic Coast and Egypt has purchased Dassault Rafale fighters from France. This and more can be found in our weekly Weekend Briefing below.

Defence BlogSun 9th May

Russian Navy shadows U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Black Sea

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine has released a photo showing the Russian Navy’s latest patrol vessel Pavel Derzhavin (363) shadowing the Legend-class national security cutter USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) of the U.S. Coast Guard in the Black Sea. 

Defence BlogSun 9th May

U.S. Navy seized enough weapons to equip ‘small army’

The U.S. Navy was able to seize thousands of Russian and Chinese-made illicit weapons from a stateless dhow — enough to equip a small army.

Defence BlogSun 9th May

U.S. Navy commissions its newest Expeditionary Sea Base ship

On Saturday, the U.S. Navy commissioned its newest Expeditionary Sea Base ship USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), May 8, at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, California.

Defence BlogSun 9th May

Ukrainian Army tests new aerial target system that replicates cruise missile

The Ukrainian Army is testing an integrated aerial target system that developed to support the training requirement of the armed forces.

Defence BlogSun 9th May

U.S. Air Force’s new F-15EX fighters join Alaska training exercise

The U.S. Air Force’s latest fighter jet, the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, participating in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces, according to 53rd Wing Public Affairs Advisor.

Defense NewsSat 8th May

Webcast: Missile Defense & Multidomain Operations

This event took place on May 13, 2021.

Real Clear DefenseSat 8th May

IRGC Chief: Israel Could Be Blown Up in Single Operation

The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps indirectly claimed responsibility for a series of attacks against Israeli interests, adding that it takes just one operation to "blow up" Israel.

Real Clear DefenseSat 8th May

Marines Retooling Infantry Training for Complex Warfare in Pacific

CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. — After 20 years of counterinsurgency and low-end conflict in the Middle East, the Marines are rapidly retooling for a different kind of fight.

Defence BlogSat 8th May

British Army awards contract for ‘most lethal tank in Europe’

The UK Secretary of State for Defense Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP has confirmed a £800 million ($1,1 billion) contract with Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) to build the next-generation Challenger 3 battle tank.

The War ZoneSat 8th May

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. In other words, it's literally an off-topic thread.

Defence BlogSat 8th May

U.S. Army light tank prototype spotted at BAE facility in Michigan

New images of the light tank prototype developed by BAE Systems have recently emerged on social media. One of the light tank prototypes for U.S. Army infantry brigade combat teams was spotted at the company’s facility in Michigan.

The War ZoneFri 7th May

Surplus F-16 Vipers Eyed To Replace Navy Aggressor Squadron’s Legacy F/A-18 Hornets

As first reported by The War Zone, the U.S. Navy is now lining up the acquisition of additional F-16 aggressor jets to supplement the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets that are now headed to one of its dedicated adversary squadrons, VFC-12, the “Fighting Omars,” based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The F-16s are required since there’s a shortage of the earlier Block I Super Hornets available for the high-end adversary mission.

Defense NewsFri 7th May

House Defense leader: Space Force hasn’t met expectations for speedy tech

WASHINGTON — One of the top lawmakers in charge of the defense budget raised doubts Friday about whether the U.S. Space Force has lived up to its promise to reform the way it purchases space systems.

Aviation WeekFri 7th May

China Launches Eighth Trio Of Yaogan-30 Reconnaissance Sats

Defense NewsFri 7th May

US considers boost to security aid for Ukraine, says Blinken

WASHINGTON ― Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration will consider Ukraine’s expected request to buy American missile defense systems and other weaponry in the wake of a Russian military buildup on its border.

The War ZoneFri 7th May

Global Hawk Drones To Be Retired In Favor Of Secretive Penetrating Spy Aircraft

The U.S. Air Force is looking to get rid of all of its remaining Block 30 RQ-4 Global Hawk drones in the next year or two. The service says that it plans to replace those unmanned aircraft with a mixture of alternatives, including "penetrating" platforms and "5th- and 6th-generation capabilities." Those terms generally refer to stealthy platforms able to get past hostile air defense works to conduct operations in denied areas. This comes amid an increasing number of reports that a new, secret stealth spy drone, commonly referred to as the RQ-180, which also looks set to act as a communications and data-sharing gateway, is close to entering operational service, if it hasn't already.

Breaking DefenseFri 7th May

HAC-D Wants Space Acquisition Exec Post Filled Now

In particular, lawmakers expressed impatience at the lack of movement toward creation of a new space acquisition czar independent of the Air Force’s assistant secretary for acquisition and integration (a post formerly held by Will Roper; now in an acting role by Darlene Costello).

Aviation WeekFri 7th May

Which Aircraft Will Congress Let The U.S. Air Force Retire?

Aviation WeekFri 7th May

Morgan Stanley Expects Slower Start To UAM Market

Aviation ListFri 7th May

Crazy Cool Video Shows In Detail How The A-10 Thunderbolt’s GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling Gun Works

Dubbed Warthog, Hog or just Hawg, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is, basically, an airplane built around the GAU-8 Avenger 30-mm hydraulically driven seven-barrel Gatling-type cannon. The Avenger cannon is the Hog primary weapon and is able to fire 3,900 bullets per minute.

Defense NewsFri 7th May

Air Force once again asks Congress to let it mothball oldest RQ-4 Global Hawk drones

WASHINGTON — The Air Force will continue pushing for the retirement of its oldest Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawks, the service’s top officials said Friday, potentially setting up another fight with Congress about the future of the embattled surveillance drone.

Defense NewsFri 7th May

DIU looking for new multifactor authentication tool

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon’s Silicon Valley outreach team needs an internal cybersecurity tool to safely collaborate with commercial vendors outside of the department’s networks, according to a recent notice.

Aviation WeekFri 7th May

Lawmaker Pressures USAF To Appoint Space Acquisition Chief

Aviation WeekFri 7th May

U.S. Navy Moves Closer To First AARGM-ER Flight Test

Breaking DefenseFri 7th May

US-Israel Team To Battle Iran Missiles

Israeli defense sources told BD that while the Trump Administration focused on how to stop Iran’s gallop towards a nuclear bomb, the issue of Iran’s precision ballistic missiles has been ignored. Israel has reportedly launched at least 200 strikes against Iranian weapons shipments in recent years.

Aviation WeekFri 7th May

Jaunt Plans To Manufacture eVTOL In Canada

The War ZoneFri 7th May

That Mysterious Black Target From Kirtland AFB Was Related To A Program Called TDU-X

Two weeks ago, The War Zone published a brief story on a picture of a curious-looking black object, described as a "tow target," but with a shape reminiscent of an SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, taken at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico in 1980. Thanks to information readers sent to us, especially from Grigory Omelchenko, we have now been able to identify a contemporary program to develop a high-speed towed aerial target to support the testing of infrared and electronic countermeasures, or IRCM and ECM, respectively. That target, known as TDU-X, is very similar in size and shape to the object seen in the picture from Kirtland.

Defense NewsFri 7th May

Britain awards $1 billion contract to upgrade Challenger 2 tanks

LONDON — Anglo-German armored vehicle-maker Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land has signed a deal with the British Defence Ministry to upgrade Challenger 2 main battle tanks.

The War ZoneFri 7th May

Russia Just Accepted Its New Super-Quiet, Cruise Missile-Packed Submarine Into Service

More than seven years after its last nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, or SSGN, entered service, the Russian Navy has commissioned its next such vessel, the Kazan, the lead ship of a new subclass. The event marks an important advance in the overhaul of Russia’s mainly Cold War-era nuclear submarine fleet, which had previously introduced only one SSGN of all-new design, the Severodvinsk, since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The new type is based on the design of the Severodvinsk, the sole Project 885 Yasen vessel.

Breaking DefenseFri 7th May

Army Builds AI Development Toolkit For All Domain Ops

From a cold start in August, with no code on hand, the team had a functioning bare-bones version – what’s called a Minimum Viable Product – ready in five months, a pace the AITF’s chief data scientist, Lt. Col. Isaac Faber, called worthy of a Silicon Valley startup in an interview.

Aviation WeekFri 7th May

Perseverance Captures Ingenuity Sound On Mars

Breaking DefenseFri 7th May

Jamming Strikes OSCE Drones Tracking Russian Forces

The OSCE’s drones conduct surveillance of the line of contact between Ukrainian  government troops and the Russian-backed separatists, while also mapping minefields and tracking the movement of weapons and troops on both sides. 

Breaking DefenseFri 7th May

All-Domain Demo Links U-2, F-35 & F-22

“This is really the first time that all three of those live platforms in the air were connected,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Aviation WeekFri 7th May

NASA Astronaut Urges Future Space Tourists To Pack Smart

Overt DefenseFri 7th May

US Soldiers Drugged in a Polish Strip Club

Controversy sparked recently over a bizarre incident that saw a US Army officer drugged in Poland. The incident followed wild celebrations of a group of soldiers from the Combat Aviation Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division’s 101st Aviation Regiment’s 1st “No Mercy” battalion. Around 40 members of the battalion went for a two-day World War Two battlefields trip to Gdansk, which ended with one officer missing after the night out.

Defence BlogFri 7th May

Rheinmetall unveils new generation of tactical trucks

German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall has unveiled the HX3, the latest generation of its globally tried-and-tested HX family of heavy-duty trucks. 

Overt DefenseFri 7th May

The Greek Navy Receives First Upgraded Aegean Hawk S-70 Helicopter

At a ceremony yesterday, the first upgraded S-70B was handed over to the Greek Navy. The ceremony was attended by US Ambassador to Athens Geoffrey Pyatt, Greek Chief of General Staff Konstantinos Floros, and Commander of the Greek Naval Forces Sylianos Petrakis.

Defense NewsFri 7th May

US military power comes from more than just the defense budget

The Biden administration recently proposed a $753 billion national security budget that includes $715 billion for the Defense Department. Some policymakers, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have argued that the United States needs to spend even more to effectively compete with China. However, focusing only on the top-line defense budget number misses the ways that other federal spending promotes national security. With domestic challenges ranging from the ongoing pandemic to long-delayed infrastructure investments, now is a good time to consider spending that provides both domestic and national security benefits. Infrastructure spending offers one such example.

Overt DefenseFri 7th May

Former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Admits to Crimes in Iraq

In 2019, the controversial US Navy SEAL sniper Eddie Gallagher was court martialed and demoted for “wrongfully posing for an unofficial picture with a human casualty”. Gallagher had already been accused by many former comrades of much more serious violations including shooting clearly unarmed civilians, including children and the elderly, as well as attempting to run over a Navy Military Policeman. However, following an appeal for clemency by the former sniper and his legal team, the case gained a political dimension. President Trump decided to, controversially, pardon Gallagher in late November 2019.

Defense NewsFri 7th May

Air Force begins clearing B-1Bs to fly as safety inspections continue

The Air Force is beginning to return B-1B bombers to the air after grounding the entire fleet last month to investigate a fuel system issue.

Overt DefenseFri 7th May

Chinese Bases May Soon Appear on the Atlantic Coast

In late April, US AFRICOM commander General Stephen Townsend warned congress and the public about the dangers of ignoring Africa. As American troops withdraw and US Army Africa merges with Army Europe, China and Russia have been expanding their presence on the continent.

Breaking DefenseFri 7th May

White House Needs New Arms Sales Approach

US arms sales are one of the trickiest and most complex aspects of US foreign policy. Decisions over arms sales require balancing competing foreign policy, military, and economic interests, as well as weighing these concerns with our democratic values. As a result, US arms sales ultimately reflect the priorities and outlook of the wider administration.

Defense NewsFri 7th May

Want better AI for the DOD? Stop treating data like currency

Five years ago, the U.S. military was behind on artificial intelligence. The easiest way to explain the state of AI in the Department of Defense was by comparison to Silicon Valley, and it wasn’t a flattering look. When this became apparent, it took time for the defense community to articulate why AI mattered and why it deserved greater attention in terms of budgets and brainpower.

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

U.S. & Russia Are on a Collision Course in the Black Sea

Putin is pulling troops back from the land border, but getting more adventurous on the waters.

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

More Than 130 House Lawmakers Push to Ramp Up F-35 Buy

WASHINGTON — More than 130 members of the House of Representatives have signed a letter urging continued financial support for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, signaling a potential roadblock for lawmakers hoping to cut F-35 procurement in fiscal 2022.

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

First B-1B Bombers Take Flight After Two-Week Grounding

Some B-1B Lancer bombers began flying again Monday after the entire fleet was grounded for two weeks to inspect problems with the fuel system following a ground emergency last month at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

Army Clears Full-Rate Production Of Northrop Grumman's CIRCM

The U.S. Army awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to begin the full-rate production of the laser-based Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) system on April 30, 2021. The firm-fixed-price contract, worth slightly less than 1 billion USD, will procure an unspecified number of CIRCM systems to equip all the helicopters currently serving in the U.S. Army, beginning from the UH-60M Black Hawk, as well as the winners of the competitions within the Future Vertical Lift program, which will replace the current helicopter fleet.

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

B-52 Demos Hypersonic Missile Kill Chain

A B-52H bomber demonstrated the steps necessary to fire a hypersonic AGM-183 missile at a target 600 nautical miles away during the ongoing Northern Edge exercise in Alaska, the Air Force reported.

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

'A Lot of Risk' in Army's Proposed 2022 Budget

There is one thing that Congressional representatives and the Army’s top leaders seem to agree on: the service’s upcoming budget request is not going to be what anyone wants.

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

Are Augmented Humans the Future of War?

It is easy to advocate an outright ban on “supersoldiers.” But augmentation has been around in one form or other for a long time – in life and war alike.

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

Nobody Wants Rules in Space

Debris from a crashing Chinese rocket hurtling toward Earth and a Russian projectile-shooting spy satellite are the two examples of a big problem: too few rules governing how nations behave in space. Wednesday on Capitol Hill, lawmakers pressed Biden administration officials on what the United States can do to set some hard boundaries. The answer: The United States wants norms in space, but don’t expect anything legally binding anytime soon. 

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

U.S. Nuclear Weapons Upgrade to See Delay on Old Silos, Tech

Upgrading America’s nuclear missile arsenal will likely take longer than expected because of the complexities of pulling 1970s-era ICBMs out of aging silos and testing and installing replacement missiles and technology to run the system for decades to come, according to a congressional audit.

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

Huntington's Big Unmanned Plans Start To Gel

“Of all the budget items that I see out there, the unmanned budget item is probably going to have the largest percentage growth over the next five years, in my view,” HII Chief Financial O

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

Time for Cognitive Warfare Against China?

“Cognitive warfare”? Yes, please—and more of it!

Real Clear DefenseFri 7th May

'Hope' Has Become the U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan

U.S. military officials remain optimistic, but unspecific, about how the worsening situation in Afghanistan will improve before the full U.S. withdrawal by September.

Defence BlogFri 7th May

U.S. Air Force’s MQ-9 Reapers gets bolstered capabilities

The U.S. Air Force announced on Thursday that the 174th Attack Wing has partnered with multiple Department of Defense contractors and academia to lead the effort in establishing new and additional capabilities for the MQ-9 Reaper.

Defence BlogFri 7th May

Russian Su-57 fighters cause mysterious sound that frightened Moscow residents

Numerous people reported hearing the strange high-pitched ringing sound during a rehearsal of the Victory Day Parade in Moscow, while the four newest Russian Su-57 Felon fighter jets appeared in the sky.

The War ZoneFri 7th May

B-52 Simulated A Hypersonic Weapon Strike During Massive Alaskan War Games

The U.S. Air Force has yet to conduct a successful live-fire test of its new AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, but says that it has now simulated the entire "kill chain" for employing one of these hypersonic missiles. With no actual weapon fired, the networks used to send the targeting information may be the more significant capability demonstrated here. This was all conducted during the biennial Northern Edge exercise, which began earlier this week in and around Alaska. Northern Edge exercises are routinely used to test and evaluate new systems and capabilities from across the U.S. military, with a special focus on advanced networking and communications concepts.

The War ZoneThu 6th May

Soviet-Designed An-2 Biplanes Are South Korea’s Secretive Aggressors

In the past, we’ve looked in some detail at the role that North Korea’s antiquated An-2 Colt biplanes could likely play in a conflict on the Korean peninsula, one that would embroil forces from the North, the South, and the United States. Among Kim Jong Un’s ramshackle air force, the An-2 has received a fair degree of coverage, boosted no doubt by its veteran biplane looks. On the other side of the DMZ, however, there exists a much more secretive military An-2 force — operated by North Korea’s foe, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF).

Breaking DefenseThu 6th May

Huntington’s Big Unmanned Plans Start To Gel

The Virginia-based Huntington Ingalls Industries has spent decades building the nation’s aircraft carriers and a good chunk of its destroyers, but company leaders are making the bet that the Navy’s move toward unmanned will create a new business that they need to invest in early.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

Bill seeks to bolster National Guard’s role in cyber response

WASHINGTON — A bill introduced this week in the House seeks to bolster the National Guard’s ability to respond to cyber threats, including critical infrastructure attacks in their states.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

EU and US defense leaders pounce on new pet project: military mobility

COLOGNE, Germany – European Union members have admitted the United States into a project aimed at quickening the flow of military personnel and equipment across the continent, hoping the move will open a new front in trans-Atlantic cooperation.

The War ZoneThu 6th May

The Definitive Answer On Why F-16s Carry AIM-120 AMRAAMs On Their Wingtip Rails

We recently posted a story about U.S. Air Force F-16Cs flying a long-range counter-air patrol mission into the South China Sea while fully armed with air-to-air missiles. The unusual weapons configuration, with five AIM-120 AMRAAMs on wingtip rails and underwing stores pylons and one AIM-9 Sidewinder underwing, as well, spurred a flurry of very familiar questions that I have gotten repeatedly for a decade: Why do F-16s carry AIM-120 AMRAAMs on their wingtip rails almost exclusively, instead of AIM-9 Sidewinders? I thought it was time to settle this once and for all with an answer straight from the F-16's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. 

Defense NewsThu 6th May

Hughes and OneWeb working to fill military’s Arctic communication gap

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force is teaming up with Hughes Network Systems and OneWeb to test how the latter’s new commercial broadband satellites could fill the military’s Arctic communications gap, the two companies announced May 5.

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

KSC Director: NASA’s Commercial Partnerships Should Continue

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

U.S. Navy Sets Flight Demo For T-44 Replacement Bidders

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

Boeing, NASA Targeting Uncrewed Starliner Test In July

Aviation ListThu 6th May

Libyan Coast Guard Shoots At Two Italian Fishing Boats: Italian Frigate And P-72A Surveillance Plane On The Scene

Two Italian fishing boats were involved in an incident about 30 miles off Libya on May 6, 2021. Warning shots were fired at the Aliseo and Artemide fishing boats, in international waters, off Misrata by a Libyan Coast Guard patrol vessel: the commander of one of the two fishing boats was injured, the Italian media reported.

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

TSA Selects Miami International For Counter-Drone Testing

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

U.S. Air Force B-1Bs Return To Flight

Breaking DefenseThu 6th May

NSA Calls For Review Of Op Tech Security

“A significant shift in how [OT] are viewed, evaluated, and secured within the US is needed to prevent malicious cyber actors from executing successful, and potentially damaging, cyber effects,” the guidance says.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

More than 130 House lawmakers push to ramp up F-35 buy

WASHINGTON — More than 130 members of the House of Representatives have signed on to a letter urging continued financial support for the F-35 joint strike fighter program, signaling a potential roadblock for lawmakers hoping to cut F-35 procurement in fiscal 2022.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

US Army looks for nontraditional business to tackle robotic vehicle sustainment

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army is tapping nontraditional businesses to tackle the challenge of future robotic combat vehicle sustainment, according to a statement from the Army Applications Laboratory.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

We are lost in the woods on acquisition reform

The Biden administration’s flat top-line defense budget proposal of $715 billion riled up the annual debate on how much is enough to defend the country these days. But how much is not the important question. Rather, it is how those dollars are spent that matters most, a point recently emphasized by Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the House Armed Services Committee chairman.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

Huntington Ingalls bullish on unmanned growth

WASHINGTON ― America’s largest military shipbuilder, Huntington Ingalls Industries, is known for for aircraft carriers and big deck amphibious ships, but its corporate strategy is sighted in on much smaller platforms.

The War ZoneThu 6th May

The Marine Corps Just Said Goodbye To Its Last Legacy C-130 Hercules Transport Plane

Modernization of the U.S. Marine Corps aerial refueler and transport fleet has reached a milestone with the retirement of the service’s last ‘legacy’ Hercules, a KC-130T. The Marines flew the ‘legacy’ Hercules as their primary multi-mission transport for six decades but, with this latest move, have now standardized on the new-generation KC-130J.

The War ZoneThu 6th May

B-1Bs Start To Get Back In The Air After Fleet-Wide Grounding

Some U.S. Air Force B-1B bombers have begun flying again after the fleet was grounded last month. That halt in flying operations, which The War Zone was first to report, was ordered after a huge hole was found in augmenter fuel filter housing on one aircraft following a ground emergency.

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

Philippines Committed To Fighter Program, Shows Off Up-Armed FA-50

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

UK Could Help India Develop Tejas Mk. 2

The War ZoneThu 6th May

China Wants To Revive A Strategically Located Airfield Deep In The Pacific: Report

The Chinese government reportedly has plans to refurbish and expand an airstrip on the island of Kanton, also spelled Canton, part of the archipelago nation of Kiribati in the central Pacific Ocean. If true, this could give Beijing an airbase in an incredibly strategical location, between North America and New Zealand, potentially giving China's military much greater reach throughout a critical and increasingly tense region.

Overt DefenseThu 6th May

New Textron Prototype for USMC Reconnaissance Vehicle Unveiled

On May 4th, Textron Systems announced its “Cottonmouth” prototype for the USMC Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARC) program. The new vehicle is the company’s bid for a planned replacement for the aging fleet of USMC LAV-25s. An ARC contract would be extremely lucrative as reportedly the corps is considering to acquire up to 500 new ARC vehicles to replace its 600 LAV-25s.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

Russian UAV Technology and Loitering Munitions

Breaking DefenseThu 6th May

Space Force Digital Vision Focuses On Speedy Decisions

SMC, which is transitioning to the new Space Systems Command, “is responsible for establishing the initial digital engineering ecosystem that we will use for our pathfinder programs,” Maj. Gen. Kim Crider, Space Force chief technology innovation officer, told reporters this morning. “We’re going to stand up an initial capability this year.

Overt DefenseThu 6th May

Egypt Purchases 30 Dassault Rafale Fighter Jets from France

The Egyptian Ministry of Defense announced the signing of a contract with France to purchase 30 Rafale fighter jets. With this, the claim that was first brought forward by the investigative journalism site Disclose, was officially acknowledged.

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

Wright Tests Megawatt-Scale Inverter For Electric Single-Aisle

Overt DefenseThu 6th May

British Ships Dispatched to Jersey Due to Dispute with France

Lying off the coast of Normandy, the island of Jersey, a self-governing British Crown dependency, is rarely of much concern to anyone who isn’t adamant on listing off fun facts about it.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

Space Force wants to be the world’s first fully digital service

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force unveiled its latest vision document May 6, laying out its desire to become the world’s first fully digital service.

Overt DefenseThu 6th May

Sentinel Photonics Awarded UK Government Funding

A new spin-out company called “Sentinel Photonics” will be rolling out a new batch of laser detection and protection items which have been made possible through research by the British Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). In summary, the technology allows for detecting the invisible lasers which are emitted by a number of weapons systems and identifying what type of threat is emitting said signal. This information may enable soldiers on the ground to take appropriate defensive action. The British government published an article in which it underscored the importance of this development, stating that “for the first time, protection from laser-based threats for dismounted soldiers is possible, potentially saving lives and improving survivability” and describing it as a “disruptive technology”.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

Army fires are at the center of a major NATO exercise — as Russia watches

The Army this week kicked off a key element of Defender Europe 2021, a series of Army-led military exercises across Europe and Africa, as the United States works out ways to fight battles alongside allies from Estonia to Morocco.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

Air Force aborts test launch of unarmed Minuteman III nuclear missile

The Air Force said Wednesday it called off a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III nuclear missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, after the weapon turned itself off during the final countdown.

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

Space Force Readies Cloud-Based Digital Platform For Release

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

Industry Supports Special Ops With Lethality Enhancements

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.K. plans to have a greater British presence in the Indo-Pacific region, as it adheres to a recent security assessment that calls for a pivot to Asia, the top admiral in the Royal Navy said on Wednesday.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

House Appropriators Fear Army Cuts, Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON: The Army’s 2022 budget isn’t out yet, but the Chief of Staff is already promising Congress a detailed Unfunded Requirements list of all the service priorities that will be left out – a list legislators will look for eagerly.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

How the WWII 'Bomber Mafia' Won the Strategic War

After the undeniable horrors of the Great War, a group of Army Air Corps generals spent much of the 1930s brainstorming ways to use airpower to make war bombing more strategic while keeping casualties to a minimum.

Defense NewsThu 6th May

How commercial satellite constellations fit into the Army’s future tactical network designs

JOINT BASE MYER‐HENDERSON HALL, Va. — The U.S. Army will begin implementing advanced satellite communications technology to increase network resiliency as part of its next iteration of tactical network tools.

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

China To Build UAV Industrial Base In Zigong

Aviation ListThu 6th May

The U.S. Army Clears Full-Rate Production Of Northrop Grumman’s CIRCM (Common Infrared Countermeasures)

The U.S. Army awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to begin the full-rate production of the laser-based Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) system on April 30, 2021. The firm-fixed-price contract, worth slightly less than 1 billion USD, will procure an unspecified number of CIRCM systems to equip all the helicopters currently serving in the U.S. Army, beginning from the UH-60M Black Hawk, as well as the winners of the competitions within the Future Vertical Lift program, which will replace the current helicopter fleet.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

America's National Security Hinges on ICBMs

ICBMs and their 400 ever-ready warheads are the most important part of the U.S. nuclear deterrent

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

Five Reasons to Keep Building The National Security Cutter

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

Iraq Scolds Turkey Over Latest Anti-PKK Offensive

Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited a military base in northern Iraq to supervise Turkish operations against PKK militants, drawing anger from Baghdad.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

ICBM Shuts Itself Down Before Launch

An unarmed Minuteman III test launch was aborted May 5 when the missile’s computer detected a fault during its terminal countdown and stopped the launch process, Air Force Global Strike Command said in a statement.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

Biden's North Korea Plans Come Into View

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

GEN Milley Warns of 'Potential International Instability'

The world may be entering an era of "potential international instability" with the rise of China and the advent of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics that could prove decisive to warfare, the top U.S. general warned on Wednesday.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

Austin Rolls Back Trump-Era Policy on Special Ops

A change in November elevated the Pentagon civilian overseeing special operations matters.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

Failing To Train: Conventional Forces in Irregular Warfare

A recent election saw a nationalist Estonian party take control of the government. Frustrated by the election outcome and lack of citizenship, the ethnic Russian minority, 20 percent of the population, demonstrated against the outcome. The Russian government released statements of support and launched a covert campaign to shape perceptions with more than two hundred thousand Twitter accounts sending 3.6 million tweets using #protectRussiansinEstonia. It also initiated snap exercises by ground, naval, and air forces in the region.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

First Test Flight Of Skyborg's 'Computer Brain'

The U.S. Air Force says that it has conducted the first flight test of an initial version of the artificial intelligence-driven "computer brain" it is developing under the Skyborg program using a Kratos UTAP-22 Mako unmanned aircraft. Kratos, along with Boeing and General Atomics, are on contract to start delivering new drones soon to support this project. Skyborg is centered on crafting a system of systems that will be able to fly networked "loyal wingman" type drones, as well as fully autonomous unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

PRC Investments in Global Maritime Infrastructure

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has embarked on a massive investment spree and established a meaningful stake in the control of global maritime infrastructure. These investments include the construction of new ports, the expansion and modernization of cargo handling facilities, the purchase of port management rights, and the establishment of control over the operations of petroleum storage and transshipment depots. Much of the capital is formally sourced from the PRC’s One Belt One Road Initiative, but major investments are also being made directly by state-owned, PLA-linked, and other Chinese enterprises. The scope of control over global maritime infrastructure has become sufficiently large to be of concern. The U.S. Navy’s 2021 Chief of Navy Operations NAVPLAN warns that China is, “extending their infrastructure across the globe to control access to critical waterways.“1

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

U.S. Bases in Central Asia: Where Will They Go?

The U.S. is attempting to evacuate its troops and contractors from Afghanistan by 11 September 2021, the 20th anniversary of the al-Qaeda attacks.

Real Clear DefenseThu 6th May

The Incredible True Story of America's Flying Saucer

America is no stranger to the idea of flying saucers, from reports of unusual craft flying in the skies above us to movies about aliens from another world invading our theaters. But back in the 1950s, while UFO-mania was taking the country by storm, a different kind of flying saucer was being tested by America’s Defense Department. This unusual, circular aircraft was known as the VZ-9 Avrocar, but today, many simply know it as America’s flying saucer.

Aviation WeekThu 6th May

SpaceX Sticks Starship Landing

Defence BlogThu 6th May

U.S. Air Force confirms Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test failure

The U.S. Air Force said Wednesday that a recent test of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile failed.

Defence BlogThu 6th May

U.S. Air Force is one step closer to receive autonomous unmanned combat aircraft

The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center has announced that the Skyborg leadership team conducted a two-hours and ten minute flight test April 29 of the Skyborg autonomy core system (ACS) aboard a Kratos UTAP-22 tactical unmanned vehicle at Tyndall AFB, Florida. 

Defence BlogThu 6th May

Lockheed Martin receives $51M support of the French Air Force C-130 aircraft

The U.S. Department of Defense said Wednesday that Lockheed Martin won a $51 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract in support of the French Air Force for long-term sustainment of C-130 aircraft.

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

Blue Origin Solicits Bids For July 20 First Crewed Launch

Breaking DefenseWed 5th May

House Appropriators Fear Army Cuts, Continuing Resolution

“What we’ve got right now is an Army budget that has risk built into it,” said John Whitley, the acting Army Secretary (and a Trump holdover). “It was prudent risk. It was risk taken to fund modernization and to be a good steward of the taxpayer resources, but what that means is, then when funding becomes unpredictable, you don’t have buffers, you don’t have the ability to absorb that as easily. We are going to protect modernization, but there is risk there, and there will be things we cannot do.”

Defense NewsWed 5th May

The Air Force’s first Skyborg autonomous drone prototype made its first flight

WASHINGTON — The Air Force carried out the first flight test of a “Skyborg” drone last month with an Kratos UTAP-22 Mako equipped with a bespoke autonomy system, moving the service one step closer to fielding an uncrewed “loyal wingman” for human pilots.

The War ZoneWed 5th May

With No Ejection Seats, Skyknight Fighter Crews Slid Down A Tunnel To Salvation

The Douglas F3D Skyknight was an early carrier-capable jet fighter that first saw combat in the Korean War, and again over Vietnam. Unusually, in case of a serious emergency, its crew were expected to bail out via an escape chute, rather than using more familiar ejection seats. This unusual procedure was even adapted to deliver special operations forces on at least one occasion during maneuvers in the late 1950s.

Breaking DefenseWed 5th May

OCX On Track, Says Raytheon; Begins New Upgrade

“We are still tracking to those to those commitments,” McCall said in an interview yesterday. Raytheon Intelligence & Space will finish qualification of the baseline OCX software and deliver it to Space Force this year for validation; and “final handover” of “the software and hardware that the system is going to run on” will take place in 2022.

Breaking DefenseWed 5th May

The B-21 Raider: A Marvel Of Digital Development

For example, the B-21 represents a significant step forward over the 30-year-old B-2 Spirit, as the B-21 is being designed by Northrop Grumman (who also built the B-2) to survive against the most advanced modern air defense systems such as Russia’s S-400 surface-to-air missile system and China’s J-20 stealth fighter, which entered service in 2017.

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

USAF Eyes Autonomous Inspector Small Spacecraft Tech

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

Grob 120TP Selected For Swedish Basic Training

Defense NewsWed 5th May

Air Force cyber school will add online training tool

WASHINGTON — The Air Force school to prepare airmen to become high-end cyber defenders will introduce an online training tool in its upcoming curriculum.

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

Aurora, Columbia Helicopters Team Up For Safer Firefighting Flight

The War ZoneWed 5th May

Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Test Aborted Due To Undisclosed Issue

The U.S. Air Force’s latest Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test ended in failure after a “ground abort” prior to launch. While the cause is under investigation, the news comes at a time when a debate is raging in Congress and elsewhere about whether to proceed with developing a replacement for the missile, which has been in use since the early 1970s.

The War ZoneWed 5th May

First Test Flight Of Skyborg's "Computer Brain" Flown On UTAP-22 Loyal Wingman Drone

The U.S. Air Force says that it has conducted the first flight test of an initial version of the artificial intelligence-driven "computer brain" it is developing under the Skyborg program using a Kratos UTAP-22 Mako unmanned aircraft. Kratos, along with Boeing and General Atomics, are on contract to start delivering new drones soon to support this project. Skyborg is centered on crafting a system of systems that will be able to fly networked "loyal wingman" type drones, as well as fully autonomous unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs.

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

AFRL Contracts For LEO Sat Demo To Connect Arctic Region

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

Directional Aviation Acquires UK Helicopter Operator

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

Former Albany CEO Now Head Of PE-backed Cadence Aerospace

Real Clear DefenseWed 5th May

Marines Seeking Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle Prototypes

The Marine Corps has collected proposals to design and build a prototype Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, meant to far surpass the capabilities of the legacy Light Armored Vehicle and help reconnaissance Marines observe their surroundings, find targets and even take out threats on their own.

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

FAA Adds Space Launch Areas To Nav Charts

FAA Adds Space Launch Areas To Nav Charts is part of our Business & Commercial Aviation subscription.

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

Turkish Aerospace To Begin Hurjet Prototype Assembly

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

USAF Scrubs Unarmed ICBM Test Launch

Overt DefenseWed 5th May

US Army Launches ‘Fires Shock’ Series of Exercises Throughout Europe and North Africa

The United States Army’s Europe and Africa command announced it will be conducting a series of artillery exercises in Europe and North Africa between the 5 May and 19 June.

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

Skyborg Brain Flies For First Time On Surrogate UAS

Defense NewsWed 5th May

Raytheon wins $228 million GPS ground system contract

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force awarded Raytheon Intelligence and Space a $228 million contract for the follow-on control system for the GPS satellite constellation April 30.

Aviation WeekWed 5th May

Wisk Agrees To Operate Autonomous eVTOLs For Blade

Breaking DefenseWed 5th May

Greece, Saudi Arabia Forge Closer Ties In Shadow of Iran & Turkey

“We signed an agreement to move a Patriot battery here in Saudi Arabia,” Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on April 20. “This is a big step forward for our country regarding the cooperation with the Gulf countries and also a contribution to the wider security of the energy sources for the West.”

Overt DefenseWed 5th May

British Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Outlines Anti-tank Project Details

The British Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) is seeking to improve on British army anti-tank (AT) capabilities. By 2030, the lab’s Battle Group Organic Anti-Armour (BGOAA) project aims to develop AT capabilities which are both more capable than their predecessors and cheaper due to a focus on interchangeability of various launch systems.

Defense NewsWed 5th May

German Defence Ministry dismisses French offer of pre-loved submarine hunters

COLOGNE, Germany – German defense officials have dismissed a French offer of four Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, arguing the refurbished planes’ expected readiness state would make them unsuitable for service in the German navy.

Defense NewsWed 5th May

Plan for Space Force reserve component is ‘fairly close,’ National Guard boss says

Senior military officials are “fairly close” on a plan to add a reserve component to the Space Force, the head of the National Guard Bureau told lawmakers Tuesday.