News
Air Force jets intercept Russian aircraft near Alaska
Four Russian aircraft, including a fighter jet and bomber, flew into a buffer zone of international airspace near Alaska Feb. 13, according to a release from the North American Aerospace Defense Command on Feb. 14, prompting a handful of U.S. Air Force jets to scramble and intercept them.
11 countries to give tanks to Ukraine, as Kyiv is ‘contemplating’ spring offensive
Eleven countries have signed on to send tanks to Ukraine as military equipment donations ramp up in anticipation of a potential spring offensive, according to U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.
Suspected Iranian weapons seized by US Navy may go to Ukraine
The U.S. military is considering sending Ukraine thousands of seized weapons and more than a million rounds of ammunition once bound for Iran-backed fighters in Yemen, U.S. and European officials said.
Business
To surge weapons production, Air Force may accept less efficiency
The Air Force wants its suppliers to make weapons faster — and it may have to accept less efficiency as the price of the surge production capacity needed for a modern fight, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr. said Feb. 13.
Northrop links drones, ships in demonstration of connected Navy fleet
Northrop Grumman, the world’s fourth-largest defense contractor by revenue, said it was able to share information between a high-flying surveillance drone and stand-ins for fighter jets and warships in what it called a first-of-its-kind flight test.
Raytheon to deliver JPALS assisted landing software for Japanese ship Izumo
A US Navy official noted the “urgency” for Japan to get the software currently used by the U.S., UK and Italian navies.
Cobham to supply satellite terminals to Inmarsat for U.S. Navy network
Cobham Satcom will supply as many as 170 terminals to Inmarsat for the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command, the company said.
Cobham to supply satellite terminals to Inmarsat for U.S. Navy network
With eyes on more Navy maintenance work, Austal opens California shipyard
Austal has invested $100 million in buying the land, revitalizing its facilities and building a floating dry dock to be used nearby.
Defense
US Space Force crafting new schedule for GPS ground system already delayed U.S. Space Force effort to develop a modern, cybersecure GPS ground system is facing new schedule setbacks.
DOD reviews use of super-secret SAP classification, for space programs and beyond
John Plumb, DOD assistant secretary for space policy, suggested overuse of SAPs is hindering information sharing across programs and, more importantly, to allies.
Veterans
Defrauding veterans would be a federal crime under bill pushed by senators
Defrauding veterans of their benefits would be its own federal crime under a bipartisan bill recently reintroduced in the Senate.
Vets groups push for another hefty increase to VA’s budget next year
Veterans advocates are pushing for more than a 10 percent boost in Veterans Affairs program funding in fiscal 2024 to cover expanded health care services for elderly veterans and needed improvements to aging department buildings.
The VA program that has homelessness down among veterans
Advocates attribute the success to a well-funded “housing first” policy.
