Ashley Roque covers land warfare for Breaking Defense. Over the past two decades, she’s reported on defense, US politics, and foreign policy for publications inside and outside of the United States including Janes, Roll Call, Inside Defense and Shephard Media. Ashley holds a BA in English with a minor in journalism from Florida State University, and a master's degree in conflict transformation from the University of Basel.
“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.
“The quantities provided will significantly enhance the effectiveness of Ukraine’s M1 Abrams tank capability that will be delivered in the coming weeks,” a Pentagon spokesman told Breaking Defense.
“If it requires contractors or back support in person, even if it’s government, that’s less desirable because you have their lives to worry about,” said Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante.
“The system functioned for approximately three months before becoming inoperative because of factors such as insufficient battery life, damage to ground wiring by local fauna, and sensor failures in extreme temperatures,” the GAO wrote about one $7.6 million project with a partner nation for a ground sensor system.
“Where we’re headed is co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment with our partners,” said Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante.
Although the State Department did not disclose the timeline for next steps or when those helicopters might be ready for delivery, earlier this year Warsaw said it had reached a deal with Washington to receive eight AH-64E Apache attack helicopters sooner than the rest.
“We’re not opening up on the champagne bottle right here on the stage but we’re going to get there,” Lt. Gen. Robert Rasch said about Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon fielding.
The service anticipates fielding its first Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) in 2024, a C2 system that will be a centerpiece for the air defense effort.
“What we don’t know yet from directed energy systems, necessarily, is… how to fight [with] lasers on the battlefield, how to integrate kinetic and non-kinetic effectors,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Rasch.
