Concerns over weapons of mass destruction have surged in recent weeks as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has turned increasingly brutal. Officials warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin may use chemical, biological, or even nuclear weapons. For the Defense Department’s counter-WMD leaders, it’s a pivotal moment—and ...
National Security
Army Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla took command of U.S. Central Command on April 1, formally succeeding Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. in a ceremony in Tampa, Fla. In the first few moments after taking command, he argued that the U.S. “must remain fiercely ...
A day after announcing it would cut back on military operations toward the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, Russia had repositioned about 20 percent of its forces around the city. Defense Department Press Secretary John F. Kirby offered the latest assessment during a press briefing March ...
Budget compromises driven by the need to modernize two-thirds of the nuclear triad forced Air Force leaders to cut planned F-35 purchases in 2023 to just 33—15 fewer than it bought in fiscal 2022 and 27 fewer than 2021, said Lt. Gen. David S. Nahom, ...
The head of U.S. European Command predicted that more American troops will need to be stationed on the continent in the coming years, even after the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine ends. Air Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters, appearing before the Senate Armed Services ...
The Pentagon is asking Congress for $773 billion in fiscal 2023, releasing a budget request March 28 highlighted by inflation, a classified new National Defense Strategy, and a continued focus on China as the pacing challenge while categorizing Russia as an “acute” threat. All told, ...
The Air Force plans to retire half its AWACS fleet of E-3 Sentries and most E-8C JSTARS in fiscal 2023 and 2024, but it anticipates a delay between the retirements and new space-based ISR capabilities that could replace them, Air Force leaders said as the ...
U.S. Northern Command boss Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, who has pushed for the Pentagon to allocate more resources to the Arctic region in its annual budget, hopes to see a “significant” funding boost for domain awareness in 2023. Speaking before the Senate Armed Services Committee ...
President Joe Biden warned that the United States will respond if Russia uses chemical weapons against Ukraine. Biden also promised to take in 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, provide $1 billion in humanitarian support to Ukraine, and impose a new round of sanctions against Russian politicians, entities, ...