News

White House announces Patriots for Ukraine amid Zelenskyy visit
The State Department on Dec. 21 announced the United States will provide Ukraine a Patriot missile defense system as part of the latest $1.85 billion tranche of military aid for Kyiv to defend against Russiaís invasion.

Amid a show of unity, Zelensky and Biden differ on some war needs
Behind the smiles and handshakes — and a new $1.85 billion military aid package — the Ukrainian president and his advisers continue to push Washington for advanced weaponry that Biden is reluctant to provide.

Major Congressional probe into Afghanistan withdrawal gearing up
The New Year will see a new Congress, and one of the first orders of business for Republicans is to investigate the Biden administration for how it handled the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan — an operation that saw a suicide bombing, and with it, the deaths of 13 U.S. service members and over 100 Afghans in its final few days.

 

 

Business

Lawmakers omit R&D tax break from 2023 spending bill
Company execs have credited the multibillion-dollar tax break with spurring innovation.

Ingalls starts fabrication on future USS Fallujah
Ingalls Shipbuilding has cut steel on the fourth America-class big-deck amphibious warship at its Mississippi shipyard, the company announced on Dec. 20.

Ongoing legal battle puts defense contracting barriers in spotlight
As the Army readies to take the next step in its priority effort to replace its infantry fighting vehicle, an ongoing court battle is shedding new light on the challenges faced by non-traditional contractors.

Romania spends $410 million on Israeli-British Watchkeeper drones
Romania’s state-owned defense company Romtehnica, acting as a representative of the country’s Ministry of National Defence, has signed a framework agreement with Israel’s Elbit Systems to buy up to seven Watchkeeper X drones.

 

 

Defense

Air Force, Space Force priorities largely supported in funding bill
Congress is poised to approve many of the Air Force’s top priorities for the coming year, thanks to legislation that avoids many of the restrictions that have kept the service’s plans in check over the past decade.

AF finally clears crashed B-2 from runway amid ongoing safety investigation
A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber that caught fire during an emergency landing earlier this month has finally been cleared from the runway of Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., as the service continues an ongoing safety investigation into the aircraft.

 

 

Veterans

All WWII vets would get VA medical benefits under budget bill
All living World War II veterans would be eligible for Veterans Affairs medical services and nursing home care under language included in the federal budget bill expected to be approved by lawmakers this week.

GI Bill fix for vets enrolled in defunct schools heads to White House
Student veterans looking to get their education benefits restored after an unexpected school closure would get clearer guidelines from the Department of Veterans Affairs under legislation finalized by Congress this week.