Radar Sweep
US Troops and A-10s Return to Marjah Fight
The Afghan government said Nov. 30 its forces cleared the opium rich and volatile district of Marjah, Afghanistan, after four years of control by the Taliban, but some remain skeptical of the claim and question whether Afghan forces can truly hold the territory.
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Talks Turkey’s Erdogan, and ‘the Hole He’s Dug Himself into’
A key gatekeeper on US foreign military sales, Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho.) opposes F-35 sales to ally and NATO member Turkey, and he practically personifies Turkey’s strained relations with Congress. In a recent interview with Defense News, he discussed upcoming committee action to sanction Turkey, his opposition to renewing the New START Treaty and his support for proposed sanctions on companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.
OPINION: Three Tweaks to Foster Innovative Defense Products
“Pentagon brass fretting about their dwindling technological advantage should take a look at Palantir and Anduril—two innovative companies that are applying commercial tech to military problems—and ponder: how can we help non-billionaire-backed companies do the same?” writes Jeff Decker, a Beall postdoctoral fellow at the Naval Postgraduate School. “Although the Defense Department cannot give promising young startups millions of dollars, as Peter Thiel and Palmer Luckey did, it can make three tweaks to help the US realize an American brand of ‘military-civil fusion.’”
Pentagon Eyeing More Advanced Virtual, Augmented Reality Headwear
Technology improvements driven by the commercial sector are expected to yield virtual and augmented reality goggles that solve many of the problems associated with the headsets being used by the US military today, experts say.
Air Force Test Center Activates Cyber Lab Detachment
The Air Force Test Center officially activated a new detachment within the 47th Cyberspace Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif., on Nov. 19. "The detachment provides the Air Force with a secure avionics cyber test laboratory and fields cyber test capabilities to evaluate the Air Force's premiere weapons systems," a news release published on the service's website states.
Cheap Cyber Weapons Threaten Unintended Consequences
A new report on the commoditization of cyber weapons suggests that the easy availability of inexpensive offensive cyber tools is reshaping the cyber threat landscape. The report is being briefed to officials across the federal government, including elements of the Defense Department, Homeland Security Department, FBI, Senate Cyber Caucus, and the Secret Service.
Indo-Pacific Partners Join Pacific Air Forces for 68th Year Delivering Humanitarian Aid to 20,000 People across 56 Islands
US and partner airmen in Guam are set to participate in the Defense Department’s longest running humanitarian mission beginning Dec. 10.
NATO Signs AWACS Upgrade Contract with Boeing
NATO has signed a $1 billion contract with Boeing to upgrade the Alliance's 14 E-3 Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft. The AWACS Final Lifetime Extension Programme (FLEP) contract was signed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Boeing International President Michael Arthur at Melsbroek, the military part of Brussels airport, on Nov. 27, the Belgian Ministry of Defence said on its website.
Russia Plans to Set Up Massive New Radar Array to Help "Control" the Arctic Region
Russia claims the new radar would give it enhanced early warning of incoming aircraft, cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons from the region.