Will Budget Crunch Pentagon Laser & Space Investments?

Will Budget Crunch Pentagon Laser & Space Investments?
Will Budget Crunch Pentagon Laser & Space Investments?

Despite increasing uncertainty over President Trump’s surprise proposal to cut $33 billion from defense, the Pentagon’s R&D chief says he’s confident more cash will be pumped into laser weapons and new space capabilities.

Saudis OK Billions in Arms Sales, Congress Not So Sure

Saudis OK Billions in Arms Sales, Congress Not So Sure
Saudis OK Billions in Arms Sales, Congress Not So Sure

WASHINGTON: Even as Congress inches toward cutting off arms sales to Saudi Arabia over the disappearance of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi and Riyadh’s grinding war in Yemen, the United States is preparing to ship $14.5 billion worth of arms to the increasingly embattled kingdom. Those weapons include “helicopters, tanks, ships, weapons, and training,” a…

Japan Goes Big on Missile Defense, Aircraft: China Blames Trump For Tensions

Japan Goes Big on Missile Defense, Aircraft: China Blames Trump For Tensions
Japan Goes Big on Missile Defense, Aircraft: China Blames Trump For Tensions

Japan is in the middle of taking a hard look at its role providing security for the region, while it races to meet fresh threats from China and North Korea.

Australia Broadens Its Military Relationships With Shipbuilding Deals

Australia Broadens Its Military Relationships With Shipbuilding Deals
Australia Broadens Its Military Relationships With Shipbuilding Deals

  CANBERRA: As the Chinese challenge grows, Australia is clearly concerned about expanded Chinese influence within Australia and with regard to Chinese efforts to reshape the external environment to expand the influence and power of the Chinese authoritarian state. Clearly the United States remains Australia’s core ally in dealing with the Chinese challenge, but as…

Destroyers Maxed Out, Navy Looks To New Hulls: Power For Radars & Lasers

Destroyers Maxed Out, Navy Looks To New Hulls: Power For Radars & Lasers
Destroyers Maxed Out, Navy Looks To New Hulls: Power For Radars & Lasers

ARLINGTON: The Navy has crammed as much electronics as it can into its new DDG-51 Flight III destroyers now beginning construction, Rear Adm. William Galinis said this morning. That drives the service towards a new Large Surface Combatant that can comfortably accommodate the same high-powered radars, as well as future weapons such as lasers, on…

Focus On What You Do For NATO, Europe, Not The $$

Focus On What You Do For NATO, Europe, Not The $$
Focus On What You Do For NATO, Europe, Not The $$

As feared, President Donald Trump came out swinging at the NATO summit. He castigated Germany for being subservient to Russia (guess he forgot about his idea to welcome Russia back to the G-7) and continued his focus on getting Europe to spend more on defense. Given the political environment, we welcome these constructive suggestions for how Europe…

Eyeing China, Australia Busily Buys Up Frigates, Drones, and Sub-Hunting Planes

Eyeing China, Australia Busily Buys Up Frigates, Drones, and Sub-Hunting Planes
Eyeing China, Australia Busily Buys Up Frigates, Drones, and Sub-Hunting Planes

Australia looking to protect its home waters, while sending a signal to Washington that it is one of the allies that is trying to pull its weight in defending itself.

Navy Needs Plan To Update Old Ships’ Weapons: Hill Staff

Navy Needs Plan To Update Old Ships’ Weapons: Hill Staff
Navy Needs Plan To Update Old Ships’ Weapons: Hill Staff

“What’s missing at this point is what the Navy’s modernization strategy is,” the staffer said. The ships in question have enough margin for growth that they could accommodate upgrades, but how much does it cost to keep upgrading old ships? How does the cost:benefit ratio of such upgrades compare to spending the same amount on new vessels? The Navy’s plan is appealing “philosophically,” the staffer said, “but the devil’s in the details.”

The Navy’s Potential New Frigate Connects Crew, Lots of Space for Commandos

The Navy’s Potential New Frigate Connects Crew, Lots of Space for Commandos
The Navy’s Potential New Frigate Connects Crew, Lots of Space for Commandos

Five shipbuilders are fighting it out to build 20 of the U.S. Navy’s new frigates, and one competitor is sailing though a whirlwind East Coast tour.

New Admiral In The Pacific, And He’s Got His Eye On China

New Admiral In The Pacific, And He’s Got His Eye On China
New Admiral In The Pacific, And He’s Got His Eye On China

The incoming commander of US Pacific Fleet issues a warning about growing Chinese ambitions while taking charge of the world’s largest fleet.

Rep. Gabbard Pushes For Heftier Hawaiian Missile Defenses

Rep. Gabbard Pushes For Heftier Hawaiian Missile Defenses
Rep. Gabbard Pushes For Heftier Hawaiian Missile Defenses

Pentagon planners aren’t only worried about North Korean ICBMs, but Chinese hypersonics and medium-range missiles. That means, according to analysts, that an array of distributed systems are needed to meet a wide range of potential threats.

Poland Struggles With HIMARS Buy

Poland Struggles With HIMARS Buy
Poland Struggles With HIMARS Buy

The $250 million package for the rocket launcher along with guided warheads and other tactical missiles was seen as a way for Poland and NATO to push back against the Russian military buildup in neighboring Kaliningrad, which gives Moscow the ability to track and knock down Polish aircraft over Polish airspace.

US, Israel Begin Joint Anti-Missile Operations In Juniper Cobra

US, Israel Begin Joint Anti-Missile Operations In Juniper Cobra
US, Israel Begin Joint Anti-Missile Operations In Juniper Cobra

Israel has long been threatened by Hezbollah’s short-ranged missiles, but now Iran is stepping up the threat, both from its own long-range ballistic missiles and from its proxies in Syria. In response, Israel is pressing to build a multi-layered missile defense with its Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, Iron Dome and David’s Sling anti-missile systems.…

First Combat Laser For Navy Warship: Lockheed HELIOS

First Combat Laser For Navy Warship: Lockheed HELIOS
First Combat Laser For Navy Warship: Lockheed HELIOS

WASHINGTON: By 2020, for the first time, the US Navy will put a lethal laser on a warship. “This is a very big deal,” said Mark Gunzinger of the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments, a longtime advocate of lasers. “It is clear evidence of the progress that has been made over the last several years…