DefenseNews

Give the Defense Innovation Unit a slice of Ukraine funds

Calls to make Ukraine a laboratory and a testing ground for our own weapons and platforms are the right ones. Its conflict with Russia presents a tremendous opportunity for the Pentagon, industry and our allies to learn how the West’s weapons fare under real-world, high-intensity combat conditions. But Ukraine shouldn’t just be a laboratory for our own equipment; it should also be an…
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DefenseNews

Army evaluating first ‘launched effects’ prototype

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army is evaluating an initial launched effects prototype as it continues to experiment with requirements and capabilities for a future program. The service now plans to launch these small, uncrewed aircraft not only from air platforms, but from…
DefenseNews

US Air Force wants drone wingmen to bring ‘mass’ airpower on a budget

WASHINGTON — If the Air Force has to fight a major adversary such as China in years to come, a top general said, it must bring “mass” in its airpower — without breaking the bank. But piloted fighters alone won’t be enough to maintain the United States’ prized air superiority, Lt. Gen. Richard Moore, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, said in an interview with Defense News.
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DefenseNews

Navy links uncrewed air, sea tech to solve Integrated Battle Problem

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy tested what one commander described as a combination of “unmanned and unmanned” sea and air capabilities in a Pacific Fleet demonstration known as Integrated Battle Problem 23.1. During the exercise, which began May 1 off the coast of California and runs through Friday, a V-BAT drone made by Shield AI was launched from a Leidos Seahawk medium displacement unmanned…
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DefenseNews

Navy eyes private capital to modernize dated facilities

NORFOLK, Va. — U.S. Fleet Forces Command, facing major infrastructure spending shortfalls, is weighing alternative funding sources to fix them. Adm. Daryl Caudle told Defense News the military construction budget isn’t sufficient to address some issues at the bases and…
DefenseNews

Defense budget bill hit with delay over debt ceiling fight

WASHINGTON — The partisan fight over raising the debt ceiling has temporarily derailed Congress’ work on the annual defense authorization bill. The House’s markup of the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act — initially scheduled to begin this Thursday — is now postponed until Republicans and Democrats can reach a spending agreement as part of the gridlocked debt ceiling…
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