The Associated Press
A CIA drone strike has killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in Afghanistan, according to five people familiar with the matter. Current and former officials began hearing July 31 that al-Zawahri had been killed in a drone strike, but the Biden administration delayed releasing the information until his death could be confirmed, according to one person who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.
Defense One
The U.S. will send Ukraine thousands more 155mm howitzer shells and HIMARS rockets in a new package of military aid, the White House announced Aug. 1. The $550 million package, which includes 75,000 155mm rounds, will bring the total amount of military aid the Biden administration has provided Ukraine to $8.8 billion.
Defense News
Senate lawmakers want to boost the Space Force’s budget by more than $2 billion to support missile warning satellite development, responsive launch capabilities, and improved testing and training infrastructure. The proposed increase comes as part of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s $792 billion spending package for fiscal 2023.
Defense News
Amid pressure from U.S. lawmakers, the White House is weighing a September rollout for its long-delayed National Security Strategy, now being rewritten to emphasize Russia alongside China following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden and his administration had been making a full-court press in Congress to pass signature legislation aimed at competing with China economically and technologically, but his National Defense Strategy remains secret, fueling frustrations from Capitol Hill that open discussions about strategy-driven budgeting are being hamstrung.
Military.com
The Department of Defense will no longer issue the Global War on Terrorism Medal to all service members, ending a two-decade period during which the award was given to everyone in the ranks to signify America's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. The medal isn't going away; it's just becoming more selective. Starting Sept. 11, 2022, a service member must have worked directly for a counterterrorism operation for at least 30 days to receive the award.
Military.com
A command created in the wake of World War II marked its 70th anniversary while staring at a burgeoning threat as Russia continues its invasion attempt in Ukraine. The U.S. military's European Command celebrated seven decades of existence Aug. 1 in a festive ceremony that included a cake and talk of the need to hold the NATO alliance together.
SpaceNews
The Space Force, the military branch responsible for providing satellite-based services to the U.S. armed forces, was also recently assigned the role of “integrator for joint space requirements,” which means the Space Force will have to coordinate the wish lists of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, and recommend how to meet future needs. The bulk of those needs will come from the Army’s land forces, which are large consumers of satellite services for global navigation and communications.
Breaking Defense
The Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency has awarded Northrop Grumman a contract worth up to $3.3 billion to lead the development of the next iteration of the weapons systems program for Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) designed to take out intermediate- and long-range missiles headed toward the United States.
Air Force release
From the Air Force’s inception 75 years ago through today, there has been no shortage of visionaries who have selflessly and honorably served to drive the Air Force into the future. Five of these great leaders shared their wisdom and experiences with Airmen during the Nellis Air Force Base leg of the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air Force 75th Anniversary Legends tour.
One More Thing
Task & Purpose
The U.S. military trains to win wars, but many service members often put themselves in harm’s way even during relatively peaceful times. That’s the case for the Air Force pararescue and combat controller communities, who saved the lives of dozens of Americans endangered by plane crashes and flooding in Alaska and Kentucky last week alone.
