News
Patriot missile system not a panacea for Ukraine, experts warn
The U.S. government appears to be finalizing plans to deliver the Raytheon-made Patriot surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine, with multiple outlets reporting that the Biden administration could announce its intent by the end of the week to transfer a single battery from U.S. stocks.
New EU sanctions target Russian military-industrial complex
The European Union said Dec. 16 its latest round of sanctions will hit Russia’s military-industrial complex, as well as people and groups that are attacking Ukrainian civilians or kidnapping children.
Business
The big money US military contractors are making in Ukraine’s war, explained by an invitation
A Ukrainian Embassy reception, sponsored by American weapons makers.
Lithuania signs $495 million deal to buy HIMARS, ATACMs
Lithuania and the U.S. government have finalized a $495 million deal for as many as eight M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, the Lithuanian government announced Dec. 16.
Space imaging company Maxar agrees to $6.4 billion takeover
Maxar Technologies, a provider of space imaging services to companies and governments, agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Advent International in an all-cash transaction valued at $6.4 billion.
Military spending surges, creating new boom for arms makers
The combination of the war in Ukraine and concern about longer-term threats from Russia and China is driving a bipartisan push to increase U.S. capacity to produce weapons.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/18/us/politics/defense-contractors-ukraine-russia.html?utm_campaign=dfn-ebb&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sailthru&SToverlay=2002c2d9-c344-4bbb-8610-e5794efcfa7d
Leidos wins hypersonic project ‘mayhem’ deal, worth up to $334M
The Air Force awarded a $334 million contract to Leidos for Project “Mayhem,” the secretive program to develop a hypersonic weapons and sensor platform, the Pentagon announced Dec. 16.
L3Harris moves to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne
L3Harris, the country’s sixth largest defense contractor, plans to acquire propulsion expert Aerojet Rocketdyne in a deal valued at $4.7 billion, the two companies announced Dec. 18.
Fincantieri expects huge shipbuilding kick from fatter defense budgets
Italian ship yard Fincantieri is set to boost its naval business thanks to war-driven defense budgets and has its sights on business opportunities that could total Ä20 billion euros in the next five years, the shipyard’s recently appointed CEO said on Dec. 16.
Spain lines up Brimstone missile and naval helicopter orders for 2023
Spain lines up Brimstone missile and naval helicopter orders for 2023 – Breaking Defense
The Spanish Ministry of Defense plans on awarding production contracts to industry for Brimstone air-to-surface missiles and new naval helicopters in 2023, military and industry officials said last week.
Defense
Pentagon has received ‘several hundreds’ of new UFO reports
A new Pentagon office set up to track reports of unidentified flying objects has received “several hundreds” of new reports, but no evidence so far of alien life, the agency’s leadership told reporters Dec. 16.
Green Berets are testing a new highly mobile 120mm mortar system
An Army Special Forces group is working on testing and fielding a brand new 120mm mortar system platform for U.S. special operations forces around the world, officials announced on Dec. 15.
Have soldiers forgotten how to use a map and compass?
About seven months after the Army reintroduced land navigation to its Basic Leader Course, or BLC, half of the soldiers in that pilot program have failed the training.
The B-21 Raider and the future of the Air Force bomber force
The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is the Air Force’s new stealth bomber.
Veterans
Biden urges vets to apply for burn pit benefits right away
President Joe Biden held a veterans town hall event in Delaware on Dec. 16 to cap a week of public events highlighting new benefits and services for former service members with toxic exposure injuries, particularly those caused by burn pits.
More than a quarter-million wreaths laid at Arlington National Cemetery
Tens of thousands of volunteers turned out to lay some 257,000 wreaths on veterans’ headstones inside the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery early Dec. 17.
