News
Wars in Iraq and Syria cost half a million lives, nearly $3T: report
The U.S. military is about to surpass 20 years since invading Iraq, a war that has cost more than 550,000 lives, and nearly $1.8 trillion, according to a report released March 15.
Slovakia to transfer 13 MiG-29s to Ukraine, after Poland gives four
Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger has announced his country will deliver 13 out-of-commission Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine as part of Bratislava’s support to the nation’s struggle against the Russian invasion.
North Korea launches missile into sea amid US-South Korea drills
The launch was North Korea’s third round of weapons tests since the U.S. and South Korean militaries began joint military drills last week.
Business
Pentagon chooses Australian firm to build hypersonic test aircraft
The U.S. Department of Defense selected Hypersonix Launch Systems, an Australian aerospace company, to develop a high-speed aircraft that can test hypersonic technologies.
Greece buying vehicles that Marines Corps beached after fatal sinking
The U.S. government has approved the sale of dozens of Assault Amphibious Vehicles to Greece roughly a year after the Marine Corps barred the tracked vehicles from regular deployments following a fatal sinking incident in 2020.
Industry squabbles on need for novel space regulation as White House deliberates
The White House National Space Council is still “deliberating” how to parcel out responsibilities among US regulatory agencies for oversight of new types of on-orbit activities, according to a senior official.
Israel’s Elbit inks four aircraft technology contracts with Romania
Elbit Systems has signed four contracts with the Romanian military to upgrade helicopters, provide electronic warfare technology, deliver systems to support search and rescue operations, and supply avionics suites for training aircraft.
HII, Ocean Aero agreement takes at linking unmanned vessels
The two companies aim to expand the use of both their unmanned vessels by linking them together — technologically and, at times, physically.
Female shipyard workers fighting to ‘be treated equal’ at Newport News Shipbuilding
Felicia Harvey, Deborah Melton and Celeste Armstrong joined the United Steelworkers Union Local 8888 to give a voice to approximately 4,500 women working elbow to elbow with 20,000 men at Newport News Shipbuilding.
Defense
Higher cancer rates found in military pilots, ground crews
In a new study the Pentagon has found alarmingly higher rates of cancer among aviators than in the U.S. general population, and has further reviews planned.
US Army consolidates network modernization efforts into single office
A U.S. Army hub for battlefield communications development will soon oversee a larger portfolio.
Marines accelerate Force Design transformation in FY24 budget request
The U.S. Marine Corps is asking for money in fiscal 2024 to speed up its forcewide modernization effort as it tries to rapidly field new weapons, sensors and data processors, the commandant told Defense News.
Air Force F-22 Raptors make their first appearance at Clark Air Base, Philippines
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth aircraft have been training out of a Philippine air base that was once part of America’s largest overseas military community.
Veterans
Black veterans were more often denied VA benefits for PTSD than white counterparts, newly surfaced study shows
A newly surfaced 2017 internal Veterans Affairs report shows Black veterans were more often denied benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder than their white counterparts.