The lack of domestic chip supplies is a growing threat. John Abbott, an analyst at S & P Global Market Intelligence, said the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry lends itself to booms and busts, “with dips in the market having occurred roughly every five years since 1980.” This cycle has seen a double dip, both in 2019 and again now. Major aerospace contractors haven’t faced the extent of shortages that slowed automotive production, at least not yet. But regional breakdowns in the supply chain have highlighted concerns.

Ahead of the anniversary of the January 6th Capitol Riots, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III issued a memo to streamline authority for deploying the DC National Guard. The December 30, 2021 memo would give the Defense Secretary sole authority to authorize the deployment of the DC National Guard in lieu of the Secretary of the Army, who previously had that authority. National Guard forces in the 50 states are commanded by the governor of the state unless activated under title 10, which federalizes the Guard to serve under the commander-in-chief. The DOD executive secretary is the single point of entry for DC government requests and the authority may not be further delegated, the memo states.

The danger faced by American troops training Iraqis and those fighting the Islamic State group in neighboring Syria remain high with U.S. Central Command repelling a drone strike Jan. 3 and destroying a rocket site Jan. 4. Two armed drones flew near an Iraqi military base hosting U.S. forces near Baghdad International Airport Jan. 3 when they were detected and shot down, according to press reports. The attempted attack came on the second anniversary of the assassination by a U.S. drone strike of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad. Deir ez-Zour, Syria known as Green Village observed several launch sites of indirect fire rockets that posed “an imminent threat,” according to a Coalition official.

A South Korean air force F-35 pilot was forced to make an emergency “belly landing” but managed to escape unharmed Jan. 4, according to multiple media reports. The incident was caused by “avionic system issues,” South Korean air force officials told news agency Yonhap, which caused the landing gear to malfunction and resulted in the pilot landing on a runway with its gear up.