Watchdog: Air Force Plan to Divest Old F-22s Has Too Many Holes
A government watchdog said the Air Force’s proposal to divest 32 of its F-22 fighter jets leaves too many questions unanswered for Congress to make a well-informed decision.
New Report: USSF’s Missile Warning Satellites in All Orbits Face Challenges
The Space Force is working on dozens of new missile warning and tracking satellites that will go across every orbit in space—geosynchronous, polar, medium-Earth, and low-Earth. But a new report from a government watchdog noted issues in those programs could lead to delays and other challenges.
Historic USAF Court-Martial Hits Snag as Too Many Generals Struck from Jury Duty
The trial of Maj. Gen. Phillip Stewart, the second Air Force general in history to face court-martial hit some turbulence June 19 as the court ran out of candidates for the eight-seat panel, the military equivalent of a jury.
Tactical Vehicle Rollover on WWII-Era Road Leaves 2 Airmen Disabled
One Airman was left permanently paralyzed below the waist and another suffered internal bleeding and had her leg amputated after an all-terrain search-and-recuse vehicle they were riding in rolled over on the island of Tinian last year. A subsequent investigation determined neither Airman was wearing a seatbelt or protective equipment, and the driver was speeding down a rough, World War II-era road.
Radar Sweep
Putin Threatens to Arm North Korea, Escalating Tension with West Over Ukraine
The New York Times
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia directly warned the United States and its allies that he is willing to arm North Korea if they continue to supply Kyiv with sophisticated weapons that have struck Russian territory, raising the stakes for the Western powers backing Ukraine.
US Gives Ukraine Front-of-the-Line Privileges for Air Defense Missiles
POLITICO
The Biden administration is moving Ukraine ahead of other countries that were slated to receive air defense missiles, the latest move in its effort to rush urgently needed weapons to Kyiv. The U.S. will “reprioritize” deliveries of Patriots and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems missiles planned for a select group of other countries so that the munitions coming off the production line will instead go to Ukraine, John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council, announced June 20.
Northrop Grumman Gets Price Cap Increase for Upcoming B-21 Lots
Aviation Week
Future procurement costs of the B-21 Raider will be more favorable for Northrop Grumman, which has announced a substantial loss on the first five lots of the bomber, though it is not likely the production will be profitable yet.
House Intelligence Chair Blasts White House over Russia’s Space Nuke Threat
SpaceNews
House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) is ripping into the Biden administration for not being more transparent about intelligence on Russia’s purported development of a space-based nuclear weapon. Turner, speaking June 20 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, accused the White House of withholding details about the status of the Russian anti-satellite weapon program, which he described as the modern-day equivalent of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Ultrasecure Comms Could Give Special Operators a Leg Up
Defense One
Quantum computing gets a lot of attention for its potential to break encryption, but it might also make special operators’ communications more secure than ever. Late last year, a company called Rhea Space Activity demonstrated its quantum communications prototype, QLOAK, in Norway for representatives of U.S. Special Operations Command, Norwegian Special Operations Command, and the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment.
Here’s How DIU Will Spend Almost $1B This Year
Breaking Defense
The Defense Innovation Unit on June 20 laid out its plans for how it will spend the $938 million Congress gave the organization for fiscal year 2024. The budget, which will be dispersed across four areas to streamline the organization’s “DIU 3.0” strategy, with DIU Director Doug Beck saying in a press release that “DIU’s FY24 spending is concentrated on closing the U.S. military’s most critical operational capability gaps with the focus, speed, and scale required to help us deter major conflict or win if forced to fight.”
Pentagon CIO Tells Agencies, Industry to Put a Stop to Email Typos That Could Disclose Sensitive Info
DefenseScoop
Department of Defense Chief Information Officer John Sherman is calling on other U.S. government agencies, the defense industrial base, and international partners to take steps to prevent typos that could accidentally divulge sensitive military information to unintended email recipients.
US Prepares to Open New Training Site for Foreign F-35 Pilots
Air Force Times
A new F-35 training site under construction in northwest Arkansas is preparing to welcome fighter pilots from around the world this fall. Ebbing Air National Guard Base will become the latest U.S.-based site dedicated to training foreign pilots across the global F-35 Joint Strike Fighter enterprise, which now encompasses more than 3,500 jets in 18 countries.
Traumatic Brain Injury Prevention Efforts Included in Must-Pass Defense Bill
Military.com
Efforts to improve care and research for service members suffering from brain injuries are included in both the Senate and House versions of the annual must-pass defense policy bill, raising the chances more support for those troops could be on the way.
US Needs to Invest in Cheaper Long-Range Drones for Taiwan Scenario, Report Says
Breaking Defense
In order to counter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the U.S. military needs to buy a diverse fleet of uncrewed aircraft that spans the gamut from sophisticated long range stealth aircraft to cheap commercial drones, says a new report from the Center for a New American Security. But greater U.S. investments in drone technologies won’t be enough to erode China’s advantages, the authors of the report warn, adding that Taiwan needs to also invest heavily in its own fleet of uncrewed capabilities.
Honeywell Strikes $2 Billion Deal for Defense Business
The Wall Street Journal
Honeywell International has struck a roughly $2 billion deal to buy aerospace and defense technology company CAES Systems from private-equity firm Advent International. CAES, formerly known as Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions, designs, develops and tests electronics ranging from antenna systems to communication networks for aerospace and defense companies.
Military Athletes Race for Spots on USA Team for Paris Olympics
Stars and Stripes
Two Soldiers and an Airman will run the length of 30 football fields on June 21, jumping 28 barriers and seven water pools in a race to qualify for the final spots on Team USA and go to Paris next month to compete in the Olympic games.