From Russia with nukes? Sifting facts from speculation about space weapon threat

From Russia with nukes? Sifting facts from speculation about space weapon threat
From Russia with nukes? Sifting facts from speculation about space weapon threat

“Nuclear weapons in space are a really, really dumb idea,” said Jessica West of Canadian non-profit Ploughshares, but experts note that with Russia, nothing can ever be fully ruled out.

White House official urges more ‘real’ Pentagon investment in space mobility

White House official urges more ‘real’ Pentagon investment in space mobility
White House official urges more ‘real’ Pentagon investment in space mobility

“We can’t expect to bridge the valley of death through S&T programs, and industry accelerator programs. … We need to identify and prioritize resources, funding and personnel,” said Diane Howard, National Space Council head of commercial space policy.

New Biden space rules framework: ‘Expedited’ license review, ‘sustainability’ goals

New Biden space rules framework: ‘Expedited’ license review, ‘sustainability’ goals
New Biden space rules framework: ‘Expedited’ license review, ‘sustainability’ goals

“This oversight regime will balance economic competitiveness together with safety, security, sustainability, and responsibility,” states the new United States Novel Space Activities Authorization and Supervision Framework.

White House plan for ‘novel’ space activities faces industry, Hill skepticism

White House plan for ‘novel’ space activities faces industry, Hill skepticism
White House plan for ‘novel’ space activities faces industry, Hill skepticism

“Telling me: ‘I’m creating a monster, but putting it in your closet,’ still means I have a monster in my closet. And I’d really rather not have a monster in my closet,” an industry representative told Breaking Defense.

White House AI exec order raises questions on future of DoD innovation

White House AI exec order raises questions on future of DoD innovation
White House AI exec order raises questions on future of DoD innovation

“What’s really going to matter is how these various departments and agencies actually start building the rules and interpreting the guidance that they received in the executive order,” Klon Kitchen of Beacon Global Strategies told Breaking Defense.

As Albanese visits Biden, Navy tells lawmakers 4 AUKUS legislative proposals are ‘critical’

As Albanese visits Biden, Navy tells lawmakers 4 AUKUS legislative proposals are ‘critical’
As Albanese visits Biden, Navy tells lawmakers 4 AUKUS legislative proposals are ‘critical’

President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will only hold general discussions about AUKUS today, administration officials told reporters.

Biden says Camp David trilateral will usher in ‘new era’ between US-ROK-Japan

Biden says Camp David trilateral will usher in ‘new era’ between US-ROK-Japan
Biden says Camp David trilateral will usher in ‘new era’ between US-ROK-Japan

Advancements in joint military exercises as well as efforts to counter missile threats from North Korea came out of the Camp David meetings.

Ex-NSA, CIA official Harry Coker in line to be next National Cyber Director: White House

Ex-NSA, CIA official Harry Coker in line to be next National Cyber Director: White House
Ex-NSA, CIA official Harry Coker in line to be next National Cyber Director: White House

If confirmed, Coker will fill a critical role left open months after the departure of Chris Inglis, who was appointed as the first-ever national cyber director in 2021. 

White House weighing controversial cluster munitions deliveries to Ukraine

White House weighing controversial cluster munitions deliveries to Ukraine
White House weighing controversial cluster munitions deliveries to Ukraine

“We will […] continue to work with allies and partners to identify and provide Ukraine with additional capabilities,” said a US State Department spokesperson.

Debris from ASAT tests creating ‘bad neighborhood’ in low Earth orbit: Analyst

Debris from ASAT tests creating ‘bad neighborhood’ in low Earth orbit: Analyst
Debris from ASAT tests creating ‘bad neighborhood’ in low Earth orbit: Analyst

Russian and Chinese anti-satellite tests are responsible for “pretty much 20 percent” of “conjunction” warnings, that is predictions that two space objects are likely to collide, in 2022, said the State Department’s Eric Desautels.

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.

White House taps DoD, State to ensure US access to low Earth orbit

White House taps DoD, State to ensure US access to low Earth orbit
White House taps DoD, State to ensure US access to low Earth orbit

“As the United States leads the world in the exploration of the Moon and Mars, maintaining U.S. preeminence in space research is important as the use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) grows and the development of space enters a new era,” states the new national strategy for LEO R&D.

Pentagon seeks to jumpstart ‘nascent’ biomanufacturing industry with new strategy

Pentagon seeks to jumpstart ‘nascent’ biomanufacturing industry with new strategy
Pentagon seeks to jumpstart ‘nascent’ biomanufacturing industry with new strategy

DoD’s new Biomanufacturing Strategy and an accompanying RFI from industry both aim to help companies using biological processes to make potentially revolutionary materials — and to keep them from moving offshore like semiconductors.

Industry squabbles on need for novel space regulation as White House deliberates

Industry squabbles on need for novel space regulation as White House deliberates
Industry squabbles on need for novel space regulation as White House deliberates

“And as weird as that sounds, you know, from an industry guy, I absolutely need regulation and enforcement,” said Tory Bruno, CEO of rocket maker ULA. “Because one bad actor can ruin that entire common environment for all of us.”