News
Congress avoids government shutdown, drops Ukraine aid
Congress passed a bipartisan short-term funding bill at the last minute after removing $6 billion in Ukraine assistance.
Ukraine says it has a massive database the American Embassy can use to track every last weapon the US has sent to Kyiv
Ukraine said it now has a meticulous system for storing and tracking U.S.-provided munitions that the American embassy can access anytime.
Biden says there’s ‘not much time’ to keep aid flowing to Ukraine
President Joe Biden spoke Oc.t 1 after Congress passed a short-term funding package that dropped assistance for Ukraine in the fight against Russia.
Business
F-35 program finishes years-late tests needed for full production
The F-35 program has completed a long-delayed series of crucial tests, which could pave the way for a decision next year to officially move the advanced fighter jet into full-rate production.
Boeing to pay $8.1M to settle Osprey false claims allegations
The government claimed Boeing failed to test machines used in the composite manufacturing process for the Osprey; Boeing denied the allegations.
Mullen, former Joint Chiefs chairman, to lead board for unmanned tech firm Saildrone
The recruitment of a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is a major win for Saildrone, which has been building its profile in US Navy circles since 2020.
Lockheed wins $1.1B contract to design Navy’s Integrated Combat System
The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin $23 million to begin creating the Integrated Combat System that may one day connect the Navy’s and U.S. Coast Guard’s surface fleets.
BAE Systems to supply US Army with jam-resistant navigation tech
BAE Systems will provide the U.S. Army high-tech, embeddable computer cards used for secure navigation on foot and aboard armored vehicles in a contract worth $318 million.
UAE defense giant buys into Brazilian smart weapons specialist in latest Latin American move
Abu Dhabi-based EDGE Group has made several high-profile plays to establish itself in the Brazilian market.
Ukraine hosts a defense industry forum seeking to ramp up weapons production
for the war
Ukraine hosted an international defense industry conference as part of a government effort to ramp up weapons production within the country to repel Russia’s full-scale invasion and reduce foreign dependence on arms deliveries.
Army taps DRS, Intelsat for pioneering SATCOM service pilot
“It will provide commercial SATCOM subscription services, which include SATCOM coverage in different locations, terminals, bandwidth, training if required by the unit and help desk services,” Paul Mehney, public communications director for Army PEO C3T, told Breaking Defense.
Chinese defense firms show off counter-drone tech at Serbia arms show
Chinese defense companies are tapping into Serbia’s market potential, striving to further expand their activities within the country and the wider Balkan region, manufacturers say.
German Cartel Office approves Rheinmetall’s foray into Ukraine
German defense contractor Rheinmetall has cleared a review by the federal Cartel Office to operate a maintenance plant in Ukraine, as more European arms makers consider setting up shop in the war-torn country.
Defense
As Milley exits, ‘toothaches’ and challenges facing Brown’s first days as
Joint Chiefs chair
The Air Force four-star general is taking the chairmanship reins with a set of hurdles looming in front of him.
Soldiers worry that ROTC admin error could upend retirement plans
Former participants in a popular Army education program worry they may be forced to delay their retirement plans and repay thousands of dollars in wages after the recent discovery of a long-running statutory oversight.
Navy to test SEALs, special warfare sailors for steroids and PEDs
Naval Special Warfare Command will start testing its special warfare sailors for the unauthorized use of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs.
F/A-18 Hornet training squadron is decommissioned at Miramar marking the
end of an era
An air squadron that trains pilots to fly F/A-18 Hornets was decommissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar during a “sundowner ceremony” on Sept. 29, marking the end of an era for the Department of the Navy.
Air Force revamps first week of boot camp to build trust, life skills
A new “Zero Week” curriculum aims to better prepare enlistees for the 52-day gauntlet of basic military training, while fostering skills like decision-making and emotional resilience that will benefit them throughout their careers.
Veterans
Army vet forced to quit as cop because of burn pit illness wins nearly $2.5M in lawsuit
Retired Capt. Le Roy Torres first filed his wrongful termination lawsuit against the Texas Department of Public Safety in 2017 and took his fight all the way to the Supreme Court.
Thousands of workers leave the VA amid a flood of new cases and quota demands
Claims processors with the Department of Veterans Affairs say they have strained to keep up with a flood of new cases brought on by the PACT Act and an existing quota system that pits their livelihoods against the veterans they signed up to help as a growing number of the processors leave the job.