3 acting chiefs, 3 black boxes: Army, Navy to join Marines without confirmed chief

3 acting chiefs, 3 black boxes: Army, Navy to join Marines without confirmed chief
3 acting chiefs, 3 black boxes: Army, Navy to join Marines without confirmed chief

With the Senate in recess, three of the military branches are guaranteed to have acting chiefs of staff. And due to a political impasse, it’s unclear when the situation will be resolved.

Wary of budget cap, Army secretary hopes lawmakers pursue supplemental military funding

Wary of budget cap, Army secretary hopes lawmakers pursue supplemental military funding
Wary of budget cap, Army secretary hopes lawmakers pursue supplemental military funding

A savvy DC veteran, Sec. Christine Wormuth didn’t outright call for Congress to go above the budget caps, but, she said, “given that we want to make sure that we are not only able to support Ukraine but that we also replenish our own stocks …  a supplemental, I think, would be very helpful.”

Army orders aviation stand down in wake of fatal helo accidents

Army orders aviation stand down in wake of fatal helo accidents
Army orders aviation stand down in wake of fatal helo accidents

On Thursday, three soldiers were killed in a mid-air collision between two Apache attack helicopters in Alaska, weeks after nine died in a Black Hawk incident in Kentucky.

Russia ‘not done’: McConville warns West to invest in defense for long term, diversify supply

Russia ‘not done’: McConville warns West to invest in defense for long term, diversify supply
Russia ‘not done’: McConville warns West to invest in defense for long term, diversify supply

“We say ‘supply chain,’ we say ‘kill chain’; I like networks and fabrics, [because] chains are only as good as the weakest link,” said Gen. James McConville. “Many of these systems are going to need a long-term investment.”

[VIDEO] The big news from AUSA Day 2

[VIDEO] The big news from AUSA Day 2
[VIDEO] The big news from AUSA Day 2

Some late-breaking FLRAA news, and other nuggets from the second day of the country’s biggest defense conference.

Army’s next-gen FLRAA helicopter will be chosen in ‘next few months,’ McConville says

Army’s next-gen FLRAA helicopter will be chosen in ‘next few months,’ McConville says
Army’s next-gen FLRAA helicopter will be chosen in ‘next few months,’ McConville says

The timeline for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft award is unclear after senior leaders seemed to push it back from an expected October announcement.

How we fight: Army issues all-new handbook for multi-domain war

How we fight: Army issues all-new handbook for multi-domain war
How we fight: Army issues all-new handbook for multi-domain war

Now, “just like [new] weapons systems, we want to get it into the hands of our soldiers and commanders” to test it out, Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said of the new FM 3-0.

Firepower & people: Army chief on keys to future war (EXCLUSIVE)

Firepower & people: Army chief on keys to future war (EXCLUSIVE)
Firepower & people: Army chief on keys to future war (EXCLUSIVE)

The Ukraine war proves the US Army is right to focus on high-tech long-range weapons and old-school high-intensity training, Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville tells Breaking Defense.

Seeking morale boost in Alaska, Army formally re-activates 11th Airborne Division

Seeking morale boost in Alaska, Army formally re-activates 11th Airborne Division
Seeking morale boost in Alaska, Army formally re-activates 11th Airborne Division

Army leaders hope the renaming of US Army Alaska to unit with a historic identity will help after a rash of suicides.

Lawmakers worry Army doesn’t have basing agreements for long-range fires

Lawmakers worry Army doesn’t have basing agreements for long-range fires
Lawmakers worry Army doesn’t have basing agreements for long-range fires

“I don’t think it would be wise for us to wait to develop the kinds of weapons systems, we need for a future conflict until we had the diplomatic agreements signed,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said.

With robo-choppers on the horizon, Army leaders envision ‘minimally manned’ missions

With robo-choppers on the horizon, Army leaders envision ‘minimally manned’ missions
With robo-choppers on the horizon, Army leaders envision ‘minimally manned’ missions

“I have a hard time believing we’re going to have 35 Rangers in the back of an aircraft and they’re going to go up and knock on the door of the cockpit and there’s no one in there,” said Gen. James McConville.

Army’s next Multi-Domain Task Force will be ‘tied’ to Indo-Pacific

Army’s next Multi-Domain Task Force will be ‘tied’ to Indo-Pacific
Army’s next Multi-Domain Task Force will be ‘tied’ to Indo-Pacific

A commander for the task force as been chosen, but no final basing decision has been made.

Top American generals on three key lessons learned from Ukraine

Top American generals on three key lessons learned from Ukraine
Top American generals on three key lessons learned from Ukraine

“The computer models would have said Russia wins in 72 to 96 hours,” said Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger. They “cannot explain why Ukraine is still hanging on. Why is that?”

For the Army, looming budgets and multi-domain everything: 2022 Preview

For the Army, looming budgets and multi-domain everything: 2022 Preview
For the Army, looming budgets and multi-domain everything: 2022 Preview

Here’s the key Army storylines we’ll be tracking at Breaking Defense next year.