News
US to send Ukraine largest package yet, worth $3.75 billion
The U.S. announced its largest Ukraine aid package yet, worth $3.75 billion, which includes Bradleys and other armored vehicles as well as $907 million in more financing for Ukraine and its neighbors to buy American-made weapons and equipment.
US sending Ukraine Sea Sparrow missiles in latest aid package
The United States will send RIM-7 Sea Sparrows to Ukraine as part of Washington’s latest aid package.
US airstrikes in Somalia increased in 2022, killing more than 100
U.S. Africa Command conducted more than a dozen airstrikes in Somalia in 2022 in its counterterrorism operations against al-Shabab and aiding the Somali government, an increase of more than 30 percent over the previous year.
Business
Raytheon, Millennium get more funding for missile tracking satellites
The Space Force released an additional $605 million in November to Raytheon Technologies and Millennium Space Systems to build prototypes of satellites that can detect and track hypersonic and ballistic missiles from medium Earth orbit, C4ISRNET has learned.
Rafael upgrades Spyder system to counter tactical ballistic missiles
The Spyder air defense system can now counter tactical ballistic missiles thanks to an upgrade by its Israeli manufacturer, driven by “urgent operational requests from several existing customers throughout the world.”
Shipbuilders near and far line up for Latin American naval upgrades
Latin American countries are seeing the beginnings of a resurgence in naval shipbuilding following a decades-long lull that has left industrial capacity there languishing.
Colombia picks Elbit’s Atmos howitzer over Nexter’s Caesar
Colombia has ordered 18 units of the 155mm howitzer Atmos from Israel’s Elbit Systems in a deal worth $101.7 million, military sources in Bogota told Defense News.
Defense
Appropriators puzzled by Air Force cuts to ‘critical’ programs
Lawmakers want the service to explain why it now wants fewer aircraft it recently viewed as essential.
Army could not effectively address Gen Z’s misconceptions about Army life in 2022
In generations past, there were a few things we were sure we knew about joining the Army: You got money for college, free health care, access to VA home loans and you could retire after 20 years. Generation Z, the generation of Americans born after 1997, doesn’t know any of that, according to a survey released last year — but they also think they do.
Space Force shelves ‘weather data as a service’ model, for now
Space Systems Command believes that “WxDaaS” may become a viable option sometime after fiscal year 2030, said Lt. Col. Joseph Maguadog, but dedicated sats will have to do in the meantime.
Veterans
Calls to veterans’ suicide hotline spiked over New Year’s holiday
Compared to the New Yearís Eve 2021 and New Year’s Day 2022, the call volume each day was up almost 30 percent.
Veterans’ unemployment up slightly in December, despite overall gains
Veterans’ unemployment rose in December to its highest rate in nearly a year despite positive jobs news for the American economy as a whole.
