News
Congress boosts Pentagon budget, Ukraine spending in omnibus
Congress on Dec. 20 released its fiscal 2023 omnibus spending bill that includes $27.9 billion in emergency U.S. Department of Defense spending for Ukraine on top of a $69.3 billion budget increase for the Pentagon over fiscal year 2022 levels.
Afghan refugee bill sidelined again, dashing advocates’ hopes
Advocates pushing for Congress to help Afghan refugees with new immigration legislation were hopeful in recent weeks that they were inching closer to a legislative victory.
US to send $1.8 billion in aid, including Patriot battery, to Ukraine
Officials tell The Associated Press the U.S. will send $1.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine in a package expected to be announced Dec. 21.
Business
Aerojet Rocketdyne has a new suitor. Will the Biden administration approve?
L3Harris Technologies has entered a $4.7 billion deal to acquire the rocket manufacturer.
Germany pauses purchases of Puma tanks after operational problems
Germany will not purchase any more Puma infantry tanks until they have proven themselves to be reliable, Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Dec. 19 after several of the vehicles were put out of service during a recent military drill.
Drones, sats and rockets: As Sweden looks to boost spending, it’s taking lessons from Ukraine
“I think what became crystal clear on the 24th of February this year was that Russia is willing to take bigger political and military risks … and the threshold for the use of military force is very low,” Swedish defense minister Pal Jonson told Breaking Defense.
Defense
GAO to Pentagon: Get your tactical aviation plans in line
The military services are leaving capability gaps as they divest of older aircraft but arenít coordinating their tactical aviation spending plans to minimize risk, the Government Accountability Office said in a new report.†
Defense spending to rise by 9% in Congress’ FY23 budget deal
The Department of Defense would see a 9 percent funding boost over fiscal 2022 spending levels ó including enough money to fund a 4.6 percent pay raise for troops next month — under a compromise full-year federal appropriations bill unveiled by lawmakers Dec. 20.
Pentagon seeks to reassure after Air Force grounds entire B-2 bomber fleet
The Pentagon on Dec. 20 insisted it has “a variety of capabilities at its disposal” after the Air Force last week grounded its entire fleet of B-2 stealth bombers.
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3782431-pentagon-seeks-to-reassure-after-air-force-grounds-entire-b-2-bomber-fleet/?utm_campaign=dfn-ebb&utm_medium=email&utm_source=sailthru&SToverlay=2002c2d9-c344-4bbb-8610-e5794efcfa7d
Veterans
VA to get $300B, its biggest budget ever, under federal spending deal
The Department of Veterans Affairs budget would top $300 billion for the first time ever in fiscal 2023 under the federal government appropriations plan unveiled by congressional negotiators on Dec. 20.
