News
US, Russia stop sharing nuke data under faltering New START
The United States and Russia have stopped sharing biannual nuclear weapons data under the faltering New START treaty, the last arms control pact between the two countries, U.S. officials said March 28.
Ukraine fighting with Soviet-era helicopters
Flying missions to stave off the Russian invasion, Ukrainian pilots often go up in creaking, decades-old helicopters from another era of warfare.
How US trainers helped Ukraine reinvent its doctrine
One of the U.S. Army’s smallest security assistance assets has had an outsized effect on the battlefield in Ukraine, and its role is expected to grow.
Business
Getting tanks to Ukraine won’t impact Abrams Lima line, Camarillo says
Supplying Ukraine with M1A1 Abrams tanks won’t impact the schedules to build tanks for any other customers at the production line in Lima, Ohio, Gabe Camarillo, the Army’s under secretary, confirmed in an exclusive interview with Defense News at the Association of the U.S. Army’s Global Force Symposium.
Airbus demos in-flight autonomous guidance of target drone with tanker
Airbus Defense and Space, in cooperation with the company’s subsidiary UpNext, said it successfully demonstrated autonomous guidance and control of a Do-DT25 target drone using an A310 Multi Role Tanker Transport, or MRTT, aircraft during test flights in Spain.
Canada moves ahead on Boeing spy plane over Bombardier objections
The Canadian government is considering the purchase of as many as 16 P-8A surveillance aircraft from U.S. aerospace company Boeing without a competition, despite objections from Quebec-based Bombardier.
Global Force military symposium in Huntsville roars back from COVID, draws thousands
With 6,000 registered attendees, 150-plus exhibitors and more than 50 scheduled speakers, Huntsville’s annual spring defense symposium and trade show roared back to life March 28 after three years of being closed by the COVID pandemic.
General Dynamics unit puts short-range air defense on robotic vehicle
The General Dynamics Land System-made Stryker combat vehicle is the U.S. Army’s platform for its Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense system rapidly developed and deployed to Europe to fill an urgent capability gap.
Singapore buys six combat vessels that can serve as drone motherships
Singapore has hired a local company to build multirole combat vessels for its Navy, with several foreign defense contractors set to benefit from related work.
India awards three contracts to Bharat Electronics without competition
Indiaís Defence Ministry has awarded three defense contracts to state-run Bharat Electronics Ltd. worth a cumulative 67 billion rupees (U.S. $814 million) without holding a competition with other vendors.
Defense
Alabama senator’s delay of officer promotions over DOD abortion policy is hurting military families, Austin says
A standoff over the Pentagon’s abortion policies that is ensnaring normally routine general and flag officer promotions in the Senate is hurting service members and their families, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told senators March 28.
ARRW hypersonic missile test failed, US Air Force admits
The U.S. Air Force’s March 13 test of a hypersonic weapon was “not a success,” the service secretary told lawmakers March 28.
US Navy prioritizes ‘game-changing’ rearming capability for ships
In early October, the U.S. Navy reloaded a destroyer’s missile tubes using a crane on an auxiliary ship pulled alongside the destroyer, rather than a crane on an established pier.
US Army plans test for combining new air defense capabilities
The U.S. Army is planning a major test that will tie its new command-and-control capability with a new air and missile defense radar as well as a system designed to defend against other aerial threats, according to a service official.
Army’s new Poland garrison went from Warsaw’s wish list to high US priority
The soldiers came here with duffel bags and clipboards, carrying out site surveys for a mission in Europe that was fast transforming from a Cold War relic to a high priority in the aftermath of Russia’s 2014 attack on Ukraine.
Marine Corps can’t train MQ-9 operators fast enough
In separate hearings, two senators — both from North Dakota — pressed Pentagon brass about training issues and use case for the MQ-9 Reaper.
US Air Force plans self-flying F-16s to test drone wingmen tech
The U.S. Air Force’s next big step toward establishing a network of drone wingmen could come in a small fleet of experimental self-flying F-16 fighters.
Veterans
Families, veterans gather on Iwo Jima to remember crucial WWII fight
Former enemies turned allies returned to the volcanic sands of Iwo Jima on March 25 to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the bloody 36-day fight 78 years ago.
VA hopes for more state-run cemeteries for burial options
Veterans Affairs officials are nearing their goal of establishing a veterans cemetery close to where almost every veteran in America currently lives, but they’ll need significant help from state leaders to finish the plan.†
Fifty years later, Vietnam veterans ‘refuse to be forgotten’
Ceremonies across the country on March 29 will mark the 50th anniversary of the departure of the last U.S. combat troops from Vietnam.