News
Biden warns Russia that war on Ukraine would be ‘bloody and destructive’
President Joe Biden on Feb. 15 said he believes the Russian public does not want “a bloody and destructive war against Ukraine” and said diplomatic solutions to the standoff in Eastern Europe are still available to Russian leaders.
US has spent billions on equipment and training in Europe to deter Russia. Is it enough?
Amid the prospect of Russia invading Ukraine, top experts say the unfolding crisis will test the U.S. military’s ability to seamlessly and rapidly move American troops and heavy armor across the borders of multiple countries and could also magnify potential gaps in both strategy and capability.
Russia sends warplanes to Syria for naval drills in Mediterranean
Russia also has expanded and modified a naval base in the Syrian port of Tartus, the only such facility that Russia has outside the former Soviet Union.
Business
Pentagon worried about mergers, especially among hypersonic weapons suppliers
New recommendations released Feb. 15 to boost defense industrial base competition make clear the Pentagon is concerned about industry consolidation, particularly around hypersonic weapons.
Proteus reveals more details of Blue Spear missile
A joint venture between Israeli and Singaporean defense firms has revealed more details of its Blue Spear sea-skimming missile at the Singapore Airshow, emphasizing its flight profile and mission-planning capabilities.
See images from the first day of the Singapore Airshow
Singapore’s biennial air show opened Feb. 15 on a smaller scale than before the pandemic, even as the aviation sector gears up for a recovery two years after coronavirus outbreaks nearly paralyzed air travel.
Amentum closes $1.9 billion acquisition of PAE
Services contractor Amentum said Tuesday it has closed its $1.9 billion acquisition of PAE, marking the contractor’s latest move to subsume its rivals.
Poland shortlists Babcock, Thyssenkrupp for $2 billion frigate program
The Polish Ministry of National Defence has shortlisted two offers for the Miecznik (Swordfish) frigate acquisition program, submitted by UK Babcock International with its Arrowhead 140 vessel, and German Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ Meko-A300 warship.
Inside the alleged ‘boardroom coup’ at Aerojet Rocketdyne
Legal documents viewed by Breaking Defense reveal the company’s board is split into warring factions, each seeking to oust the other’s leader in the wake of Aerojet’s failed merger with Lockheed Martin.
Oracle gets go-ahead to host top secret Air Force data
Oracle this week announced it can now handle some of the Department of Defense’s most sensitive data on one of its platforms, extending the cloud giant’s reach in the military sphere.
Defense
Judge temporarily exempts Air Force officer from vaccine mandate in religious freedom case
The order from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia marks the first time a court has barred the Air Force from enforcing its mandate for a service member.
How autonomous wingmen will help fighter pilots in the next war
With the U.S. military shifting its focus to winning a war against an advanced adversary, such as China, experts say the manned-unmanned teaming concept would be crucial to the U.S. prevailing.†
Only small inventories of hypersonic missiles in USAF’s future, due to cost
The high cost of hypersonic missiles will likely drive the Air Force to build only small inventories of them, relying more heavily on other types of munitions such as lower-speed cruise missiles, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said Feb. 15.
USAF should take advantage of secondhand parts market, Pentagon nominee says
As the Air Force looks to boost its aging aircraft’s mission capable rates and to control sustainment costs, the Defense Department should encourage the service to take full advantage of the secondhand market for parts, the nominee to lead the Pentagon’s sustainment enterprise told Congress on Feb. 15.
Veterans
Vets’ disability benefits for tinnitus, mental health issues may change
No veterans would lose benefits under the plan, but veterans applying for disability benefits in the future could see a more difficult path to payouts.
VA tops 20,000 COVID deaths in less than two years
Almost 2,400 new VA deaths have been reported since Jan. 1.
