Radar Sweep
Austin to Press NATO Allies on Defense Spending
The news signals that Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III will not markedly depart from former President Donald J. Trump's policy, itself a continuation of former President Barack Obama's, to pressure NATO allies to put more resources toward defense.
The Drone Defense Dilemma: How Unmanned Aircraft Are Redrawing Battle Lines
Peter Roberts, the director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, said the world is waking up to the reality of modern warfare. “For a while there was the romantic view that either drones or tanks or missiles would win wars on their own,” he said. “There is no silver bullet on the battlefield, and this is an era which is rediscovering that.”
US, European Fighters in Mideast Share ISR Data Well
With potential French Rafale jet sales to Egypt and the UAE in the works, one crucial issue arises, especially in the face of the Iranian threat: Can they share data with the American fighters that pervade so much of the region?
Report: Iran and Russia Begin Joint Naval Drill
The Iranian and Russian militaries have kicked off a joint naval drill in the Indian Ocean aimed at boosting security of maritime trade in the region, Iran’s state TV reported on Feb. 16. Units from Iran’s Navy and the powerful Revolutionary Guard’s navy will take part in the exercise, dubbed “Iran-Russia Maritime Security Belt 2021,” in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, spanning a stretch of about 17,000 kilometers (10,600 miles).
Despite Its Small Size, Space Force Plans to Have Its Voice Heard in the Pentagon
The Space Force is by far the smallest branch of the U.S. military and will have to “punch above its weight” to get its share of military funding and other resources, said Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, deputy chief of space operations.
Sens. Mark Kelly, Tammy Duckworth, and Angus King Claim Armed Services Gavels
New power-sharing rules for Senate Democrats are shaking up the Senate Armed Services Committee, with some junior authorizers taking prized subcommittee chairmanships.
Oversight Offices See Glimmers of Progress in DOD, VA Electronic Health Records
The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs still have a very long way to go before they achieve the long-sought objective of a fully integrated electronic health record infrastructure. But a pair of recently released oversight reports show that the multibillion dollar EHR programs, both of which had rocky starts, have made meaningful progress in just the past year.
Purdue to Co-Lead DOD-Funded Project to Advance Adoption of Lead-Free Electronics
A new consortium funded by an award from the U.S. Department of Defense has selected Purdue University to co-lead its first project aimed at advancing the adoption of lead-free electronics in defense systems. The Defense Electronics Consortium, to be established and managed by the U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics, is designed to address the defense risks created by the contraction of the U.S. electronics manufacturing sector over the last 20 years.
Veterans Used Their Military Training to Plot Violence in Capitol Riot, Feds Say
Retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Thomas Edward Caldwell had a plan leading up to the violent Jan. 6 takeover of the U.S. Capitol, according to federal prosecutors. The 66-year-old former Reserve intelligence officer wanted to transport weapons into Washington, D.C., by boat—possibly with three four-man sniper teams who could "go hunting after dark" for "cockroaches who prey on the weak." That's according to new court documents that allege Caldwell and other veterans who forcibly busted into the Capitol last month relied on military training to prepare for the breach.
This Montage of Bad U-2 Landings Shows How Hard It Is to Tame the Dragon Lady
A veteran U-2 pilot describes what it takes to enter the elite cadre of Dragon Lady drivers, including learning to land the notoriously touchy jet.