Military.com
Military spouses could have more opportunities to work remotely for the federal government under legislation advancing through Congress, giving spouses more options for stable employment as they move from duty station to duty station with their partners in uniform. An amendment added to the House's version of the National Defense Authorization Act last week would specify that federal agencies can hire military spouses to work remotely using an expedited hiring process reserved for those spouses.
The Associated Press
The Biden administration announced June 27 that it is sending up to $500 million in military aid to Ukraine, including more than 50 heavily armored vehicles and an infusion of missiles for air defense systems, as Ukrainian and Western leaders try to sort out the impact of the brief weekend insurrection in Russia. The aid is aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s counteroffensive, which has been moving slowly in its early stages.
POLITICO
The turmoil in Russia is giving Ukraine’s allies on Capitol Hill new ammunition in the fight to secure more weapons and aid for Kyiv. It’s still unclear what the brief mercenary rebellion will mean for Russia and Ukraine, but lawmakers argue the schism between Vladimir Putin and Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is a sign Western-supplied weapons are working, and that Washington needs to navigate skepticism in Congress to keep the tap open.
SpaceNews
he House Appropriations Committee last week approved a $826.4 billion spending bill for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2024, about $285 million above the Biden administration’s request. The bill, however, recommends nearly $1 billion in cuts from the U.S. Space Force’s $30 billion request. The HAC defense subcommittee, which in recent years has proposed increased spending for the Space Force, said the cuts recommended in its 2024 markup reflect concerns about programs’ performance and Space Force justifications.
Air & Space Forces Magazine
Virtually every part of the Department of the Air Force’s drive to modernize is being shaped by Secretary Frank Kendall’s seven Operational Imperatives—lines of effort that address the most important and urgent challenges facing the Air Force today. Now, the department and industry are working together to develop solutions for each imperative, and the results will likely change the Air Force and Space Force for the next generation. Keep up with all the latest news on each Operational Imperative.
Breaking Defense
With increased demand worldwide for low-cost armed helicopters, Texas-based Bell says it’s found a balance between demand, supply and Foreign Military Sales-related obstacles offering militarized commercial helicopters to some customers on tighter budgets. At this year’s Paris Air show, a Bell 429 helicopter was exhibited in the static display in its police configuration, which the company says can be militarized through weapons integration upon request to become what’s known as a special mission aircraft (SMA).
Defense One
As the U.S. Space Force prepares for conflict in space, the service’s orbital warfare unit is training its Guardians to respond to provocations from Russia or China. Based at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., Space Delta 9 aims to “cultivate a deep understanding” of “offensive and defensive fires” so it can preserve access to space and respond to on-orbit threats if necessary, said Space Delta 9 Commander Col. Mark Bigley.
Subscription Required
Aviation Week
The U.S. Air Force is merging F-15E and F-15EX training as it brings on the new Boeing jets, but it still needs to determine how the Guard pilots will be able to train for its primary air-to-air role on a Strike Eagle that is more focused on defeating ground threats.
The Hill
“The tanker fleet remains essential to United States’ ability to project power, to protect the homeland, and maintain strategic deterrence that has brought stability for generations among the world’s powers. Effective and fail-safe aerial refueling is also instrumental in our global strike capability, rapid global mobility, and coordinated Joint Force and coalition efforts,” writes Air Mobility Command boss Gen. Mike A. Minihan
Defense News
More than a year ago, Congress passed a $40 billion Ukraine aid package. Lawmakers allocated a miniscule portion of that package―less than 2 percent―to expedite munitions production and expand access to critical minerals via the Defense Production Act. The Pentagon is now starting to make use of the bill’s $600 million appropriation for Defense Production Act funding.
One More Thing
The Aviationist
The Aeronautica Militare celebrated its 100th anniversary with an incredible, long-awaited airshow which paid homage to the service’s history. The three-day airshow, which lasted from June 16-18, was hosted by Pratica di Mare air base, near Rome, which in the past was the home of the annual “Giornata Azzurra” airshows. The airshow, one of the many initiatives planned throughout the year to celebrate the centennial, was designed as an immersive experience for visitors to experience all nuances of the Air Force, both the more visible front-line capabilities and the ones “behind the scenes” that are often overlooked by the general public.
