News
Feds dismiss charges against retired admiral in ‘Fat Leonard’ case
A federal judge last week dismissed all charges against retired Rear Adm. Bruce Loveless for his alleged role in the West Pacific web of bribery and graft that has come to be known as the “Fat Leonard” scandal.
Russian lawmakers toughen punishment for soldiers
Russia’s Kremlin-controlled lower house of parliament on Sept. 20 approved legislation that toughens punishment for soldiers breaching their duties, in an apparent effort to boost discipline in the ranks amid the fighting in Ukraine.
Putin announces partial military mobilization for Russian citizens
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said he’s signed a decree on a “partial mobilization” of Russian citizens from Sept. 21, nearly seven months into his war on Ukraine.
Russia moves toward annexing Ukraine regions in a major escalation
The Kremlin’s puppet authorities in occupied areas declared plans for staged referendums to approve joining Russia.
Business
A first look at the B-21 Raider bomber is coming soon
The B-21 Raider, the Air Force’s next stealth bomber, will be unveiled to the public for the first time in early December, Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter said Sept. 20.
Ship repair delays increased in 2022 due to labor, material challenges
More ship maintenance availabilities are running long this year due largely to labor challenges and material issues, the fleet maintenance officer for U.S. Fleet Forces Command said Sept. 20.
Eight F-35 jets await delivery during halt over Chinese alloy
Lockheed Martin has eight completed F-35 fighters it is waiting to ship to the U.S. military after the discovery of a Chinese alloy in the aircraft prompted the Defense Department to halt further deliveries.
‘Motivated’ millennials set to replace baby boomers, defense execs say
Millennials, the defense industry wants you.
With Korean aircraft buy, Poland pushes beyond post-Soviet airframe legacy
Polish military officials envision FA-50 playing a number of roles, and carrying a number of weapons, as the air force modernizes.
Defense
Air Force reverses plan to cut special duty pay for enlisted airmen
The Air Force will no longer cut special duty assignment pay for enlisted airmen in some of the service’s most grueling and important jobs, reversing a plan that was set to take effect Oct. 1.
‘We’re not ready’ to fight China in space and cyber, say top US generals
The United States is unprepared for a wartime fight with a peer adversary in the space and cyber domains, top U.S. generals said Sept. 20 during a panel at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference.
Fears about ending Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the military were baseless and overblown, Pentagon finds
Concerns ended up being a “nonissue” according to a report from the Joint Chiefs of Staff’s research unit.
Paul drops hold on SBIR defense innovation grants after reforms
Congress could pass legislation as soon as this week to reauthorize a small business innovation grant program favored by the Pentagon after reforms addressing concerns over the abuse of the rewards process persuaded Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to drop his opposition to the program.
Congresswoman calls for examination of military pretrial confinement
A Texas representative whose district includes one of the nation’s largest Army posts is calling for hearings to examine the military’s pretrial confinement system, which gives commanders the discretion to detain service members facing criminal charges ahead of trial.
Army missile teams will add robots and multi-payload rockets
Future Army missile crews may not be crews at all.
Brown: Need to consider allies when analyzing Air Force’s capacity
The Air Force’s own internal analysis has left Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. confident in the capacity of the service’s combat aircraft fleet — especially when considering what the United States’ partners and allies can bring to the fight.
Veterans
Group tries to overload VA Crisis Line to protest prosecutions of Capitol rioters
A handful of protesters Sept. 29 at two Department of Veterans Affairs office buildings in Washington urged their followers to flood the Veterans Crisis Line to call attention to veterans who are jailed in D.C. for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
A nonprofit business accelerator is offering grants to veteran small business owners
Time and again, year after year, if there’s one problem veteran entrepreneurs have in getting their businesses off the ground, it’s access to capital. The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University has been researching veterans’ barriers to entry in the marketplace since 2017, and capital is always the top issue.