News
Russia suspends only remaining major nuclear treaty with US
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Feb. 21 that Moscow was suspending its participation in the New START treaty — the last remaining nuclear arms control pact with the United States — sharply upping the ante amid tensions with Washington over the fighting in Ukraine.
UK denies Challenger 2 gift to Ukraine reduces operational capabilities by nearly a third
The increased threat posed to European security by Russia has led to UK lawmakers intensifying scrutiny around British Army capabilities, which have been long been in the spotlight because of cancelled acquisitions, technical difficulties, contractor disputes, gross overspending and operational readiness issues.
A year of Russian fighting in Ukraine shows the US military what it needs to improve, analysts say
Hidden amid Russian failures is a threat still facing the United States military and its allies in Europe, where vulnerabilities persist on its eastern borders, experts say.
Business
Navy’s hypersonic launcher is headed to flight testing next year
Lockheed Martin will have a ship-based hypersonic missile launcher ready for flight tests next year, the company said, as part of the development work covered by a contract awarded Feb. 18.
DOD small business chief presses to revive innovation fund
The Biden administration’s next budget request needs to revive a special fund to help small businesses with innovative ideas work with the Pentagon, a top department official said Feb. 21.
Russia, Ukraine showcase loitering munitions at IDEX arms fair
In a rare setting, for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both Russian and Ukrainian companies are exhibiting their weapons in close proximity to each other at the IDEX and NAVDEX exhibitions.
Russian firm eyes options in Middle East for ‘joint production’ of tech, including 5th-gen fighters
Russian defense companies aren’t officially listed as participating in the Abu Dhabi-based IDEX 2023 expo but will be in a “separate pavilion.”
Austal USA opens Navy-oriented ship repair yard in National City
The company, which invested $100 million in the venture, will compete with San Diego’s two big ship-repair companies, General Dynamics-NASSCO and BAE, and smaller Continental Maritime.
Collins Aerospace joins forces with Saudi firm to make combat drones
Companies aim for 2024 for final system production, SRB Aerial System’s CEO told Breaking Defense.
Belarus to make Su-25 attack aircraft as Russia eyes industry takeover
In another sign of tightening defense ties between Belarus and Russia, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has announced his country’s defense industry is ready to kick off the manufacturing of Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft.
General Atomics, UAE advance talks over MQ-9B drones
Multi-year negotiations for the United Arab Emirates to procure MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones are in their late stages, executives from manufacturer General Atomics said in an interview at the IDEX arms fair here.
Key UAE defense player unveils new drones for cargo, combat
Local conglomerate EDGE unveiled 11 new unmanned and autonomous systems for intelligence and strike missions at the IDEX global weapons exhibition here.
Defense
US military investigating leak of emails from Pentagon server
The U.S. military’s Special Operations Command says it is investigating a report from a cybersecurity researcher that the command was leaking a trove of unclassified email data on the internet.
Admiral Gilday sees uncrewed vessels as critical to US Navy’s future
Uncrewed vessels with the ability to jam electronics, spy on faraway activities and even help coordinate the flow of fighting will play an increasingly important role in the service’s mission, according to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday.
Air Force sees chance to cut reliance on foreign supply chain by making rubber out of dandelions
The U.S. Air Force is spending millions of dollars on a program to make rubber from a certain species of dandelion that grows in the United States and use it to produce items such as aircraft tires to cut dependency on foreign supplies, service officials said.
Veterans
Lawmakers renew push for veteran centers at colleges
A group of lawmakers are continuing a years-long push to establish student veteran centers at universities and colleges, calling for more support for former service members adjusting to academic life.
How Green Beret Paris Davis’ teammates fought the Pentagon for his Medal of Honor
Early next month a decorated Special Forces colonel who disobeyed orders to save the lives of his men during a fierce battle in Vietnam in 1965 will receive the Medal of Honor at a ceremony in the White House.
Nearly 2M veterans screened for toxins as part of benefit expansion
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is poised to break the two million mark for the number of veterans screened nationally for toxins, perhaps as soon as this week, as part of the largest-ever expansion of benefits for veterans, the PACT Act.
Supreme Court rejects case tied to families being removed from VA caregiver program
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a case filed by a Navy SEAL and veterans advocates over new regulations put in place in 2020 by the Department of Veterans Affairs that led to families being told they were being removed from the agency’s caregiver program.
