Debt default would hurt troops, US military’s ‘reputation,’ US defense leaders warn

Debt default would hurt troops, US military’s ‘reputation,’ US defense leaders warn
Debt default would hurt troops, US military’s ‘reputation,’ US defense leaders warn

“China, right now describes us in their open speeches…as a declining power,” Gen. Mark Milley said “Defaulting on the debt will only reinforce that thought and embolden China and increase risk to the United States.”

White House greenlights Army plan for Patriot and GMLRS multi-year buys

White House greenlights Army plan for Patriot and GMLRS multi-year buys
White House greenlights Army plan for Patriot and GMLRS multi-year buys

The Office of Management and Budget has notified Congress this week with its FY24 budget request amendments.

How Space Force, NRO are sharing the ground-tracking mission, for now

How Space Force, NRO are sharing the ground-tracking mission, for now
How Space Force, NRO are sharing the ground-tracking mission, for now

“The good news about this approach is this really fits my priority of speed, speed and speed,” Frank Calvelli, space acquisition czar at the Department of the Air Force, said of the plan to have NRO take the lead with Space Force oversight and some funding.

National Guard leaders petition Biden, Harris for dedicated Space Force branch

National Guard leaders petition Biden, Harris for dedicated Space Force branch
National Guard leaders petition Biden, Harris for dedicated Space Force branch

“OMB’s opposition to establishing a SNG and directive to transfer current National Guard space missions to an unestablished ‘Space Component’ will create a 7–10 year gap in the capabilities Air National Guard Space Units provide today,” the 51 Guard adjutant generals argue in a letter to President Joe Biden.

Army poised to decide CH-47F Chinook Block II buy this year

Army poised to decide CH-47F Chinook Block II buy this year
Army poised to decide CH-47F Chinook Block II buy this year

It’s been roughly four years since the service put the brakes on buying the CH-47F Chinook Block II configuration, but a decision is expected this calendar year.

Here are 3 future missiles INDOPACOM says it needs to challenge China

Here are 3 future missiles INDOPACOM says it needs to challenge China
Here are 3 future missiles INDOPACOM says it needs to challenge China

“The bottom line is the entire joint force is required to help deliver effects to both deter and fight and win,” said US Indo-Pacific Command head Navy Admiral John Aquilino.

Pentagon asks Congress for right to launch new tech programs before it has a budget

Pentagon asks Congress for right to launch new tech programs before it has a budget
Pentagon asks Congress for right to launch new tech programs before it has a budget

“One of the reasons it hasn’t happened in the past is because Congress is reluctant to give up even this much authority,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said today. “I think it’s a minimal amount of authority to give up for a very high return.”

Not ‘inevitable’ that China invades Taiwan, but US needs to help prepare cross-strait fight: Officials

Not ‘inevitable’ that China invades Taiwan, but US needs to help prepare cross-strait fight: Officials
Not ‘inevitable’ that China invades Taiwan, but US needs to help prepare cross-strait fight: Officials

“Taiwan also certainly needs to be able to make sure that any invading force is caught dead in its tracks in the strait as it comes across [and] to be able to defend at the beaches and to be able to be resilient, in depth, on [the] island,” said Jedidiah Royal, the principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs.

GAO denies Sikorsky-Boeing FLRAA protest; Bell, Army clear to proceed

GAO denies Sikorsky-Boeing FLRAA protest; Bell, Army clear to proceed
GAO denies Sikorsky-Boeing FLRAA protest; Bell, Army clear to proceed

“In denying the protest, GAO concluded that the Army reasonably evaluated Sikorsky’s proposal as technically unacceptable because Sikorsky failed to provide the level of architectural detail required by the RFP,” the office wrote in a statement. 

‘No indication’ Biden will flip SPACECOM HQ to Colorado: Kendall

‘No indication’ Biden will flip SPACECOM HQ to Colorado: Kendall
‘No indication’ Biden will flip SPACECOM HQ to Colorado: Kendall

“I haven’t made a recommendation. I haven’t made a decision. We’re still in the process of doing some analysis,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told House lawmakers today.

NORTHCOM chief: Homeland defense could be imperiled by commercial spectrum sale

NORTHCOM chief: Homeland defense could be imperiled by commercial spectrum sale
NORTHCOM chief: Homeland defense could be imperiled by commercial spectrum sale

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on March 5 sent a letter to Congress endorsing a plan for sharing the disputed 3.1-3.45 spectrum band — but also opening the possibility that DoD could vacate it entirely, according to the Congressional Research Service.

In new JADC2 overhaul, Air Force pushes all-encompassing ‘DAF Battle Network’

In new JADC2 overhaul, Air Force pushes all-encompassing ‘DAF Battle Network’
In new JADC2 overhaul, Air Force pushes all-encompassing ‘DAF Battle Network’

The Department of the Air Force Battle Network represents “the physical architecture, the product architecture, that’s needed” to realize JADC2 capabilities, Brig. Gen. Luke Cropsey, the integrating program executive officer for Command, Control, Communications and Battle Management, said in an interview with Breaking Defense.

Missile Defense Agency details evolving, ‘incremental’ vision for Guam air defenses

Missile Defense Agency details evolving, ‘incremental’ vision for Guam air defenses
Missile Defense Agency details evolving, ‘incremental’ vision for Guam air defenses

“[It] is an incremental path. There is no end state,” according to MDA chief Vice Adm. Jon Hill, who noted the military would “beautify” incoming platforms to make them more palatable to locals.

Air Force’s FY24 request seeks to retire 310 older planes to invest in its future

Air Force’s FY24 request seeks to retire 310 older planes to invest in its future
Air Force’s FY24 request seeks to retire 310 older planes to invest in its future

Building off trends established by the fiscal 2023 budget, the service is asking for even more retirements in FY24 while seeking to launch new efforts like a program to field autonomous wingmen. “We’ve built a budget that we think has a reasonable balance between current-, midterm- and longer-term investments, if you will, or capabilities,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said.