“We don’t take an oath to a religion. We don’t take an oath to a king, or queen, or tyrant, or dictator. And we don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator,” Gen. Mark Milley said today.
By Ashley RoqueBill LaPlante, the Pentagon’s top weapons buyer, noted that China doesn’t have to deal with this kind of budget chaos. “We can teach them how to do that. That would be helpful,” he said.
By Breaking Defense StaffGen. Randy George and Gen. Eric Smith will now formally take over leadership of the Army and Marine Corps, respectively.
By Michael Marrow and Ashley RoqueThe unclassified strategy communicates “our commitment to protect the Joint Force from adversary hostile uses of space,” said DoD Space Policy czar John Plumb.
By Theresa Hitchens“The objective of this audit is to determine the extent and impact of the March 2023 estimation change for valuing assets provided under Presidential Drawdown Authority,” the Defense Department Inspector General’s office wrote in a memo.
By Ashley RoqueThe Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Wing on Aug. 10-11 hosted the annual Vulcan Guard space exercise, that this year included personnel from US Space Command, the Brazilian military and all seven National Guard states conducting space operations.
By Theresa Hitchens“I think that there’s a demand signal for change given what we’ve seen in Ukraine… and then obviously, everyone has eyes on China,” said commission vice chair Ellen Lord.
By Michael Marrow“The most significant factor the President considered was the impact a move would have to operational readiness to confront space-enabled threats during a critical time in this dynamic security environment,” a senior administration told Breaking Defense in a statement.
By Theresa HitchensThe funds in question essentially are monies that the Defense Department wants to move around from one program to another deemed more urgent — something that happens every year because DoD budget requests happen nearly a year before funds can be spent.
By Theresa Hitchens“We intend to support India in the creation of logistics, repair, and maintenance infrastructure for aircraft and ships… that is obviously something that will be important as we work together to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.
By Ashley RoqueOne Republican-backed amendment funds a special inspector general for Ukraine spending, while a Democrat-backed add-on targets “excessive contractor payments.”
By Ashley RoqueWhen the House Appropriations Committee marks up the FY24 defense spending bill this week, social issues and a roadblock for multi-year munition deals appear to be on the table.
By Ashley Roque and Jaspreet GillThe DoD topline is a 3.6% increase over last year and roughly $285 million more than the White House sought.
By Justin Katz and Michael Marrow“We agree that there is urgency to make sure that Taiwan is prepared as part of deterrence to keep China from moving forward,” said State Department’s Assistant Secretary Bureau of Political-Military Affairs Jessica Lewis.
By Ashley Roque