Daily Report

March 17, 2025

Radar Sweep

Trump Signs a Bill Funding the Government for 6 Months, Avoiding a Shutdown

The Associated Press

President Donald Trump has signed into law legislation funding the government through the end of September, ending the threat of a partial government shutdown. ... The bill largely keeps government funding at levels set during Joe Biden’s presidency, though with changes. It trims non-defense spending by about $13 billion from the previous year and increases defense spending by about $6 billion, which are marginal changes when talking about a topline spending level of nearly $1.7 trillion.

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Russia Overpowers Bold Ukrainian Military Venture in Kursk

The Wall Street Journal

Ukraine’s audacious military gambit inside Russia drew toward a close this week much as it started last summer: quickly. A rapid Russian advance in recent days left remaining Ukrainian forces increasingly isolated under withering assaults, and they had pulled out from all but a sliver of Kursk province by the weekend.

Our Best Look at North Korea’s New Early-Warning Radar Plane

The War Zone

New imagery shows the progress made on North Korea’s shadowy airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, based on an Ilyushin Il-76 Candid airlifter. ... Since the start of this year the aircraft now had its rotodome fitted, putting to bed any suggestion that it’s intended for a role other than AEW&C.

Intelligence and Dual-Use Commercial Satellites Launch on Transporter-13

SpaceNews

SpaceX’s Transporter-13 rideshare mission on March 15 carried dozens of small satellites into orbit, including several funded by U.S. military and intelligence agencies. ... Among the 74 payloads was a technology demonstrator from the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), the agency responsible for designing, building, and operating U.S. spy satellites. The payload consists of two cubesats designed and operated by NRO’s Advanced Systems & Technology Directorate for an unspecified research mission. Transporter-13 also carried small satellites from commercial startups that have received military funding to explore defense applications.

PODCAST: Modern Combat Power: It Takes a Weather Advantage

The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies

Heather “Lucky” Penney and Col. Patrick Williams explores one of the most important make-or-break factors in warfare: weather. Environmental conditions control when and how we employ military power … and what enemies can do to us.

One More Thing

What Are US Air Force Pilot ‘Dollar Rides’?

Simple Flying

The phrase “Dollar Ride” can be traced back to the turn of the 20th century in the legacy of the barnstormer pilots who flew in remote corners of the United States at the dawn of America’s foray into flight. These early aviation pioneers would offer rides in their planes to anyone who paid a “buck a ride” and briefly let them take the controls when they were in the air.