TODAY’S TOP 5
Arlington at 150
(Military Times) To commemorate Memorial Day and the 150th anniversary of Arlington National Cemetery, Military Times has created a moving digital tribute to America's most hallowed ground and the heroes interred there.
'Over My Dead Body': Spies Fight Obama Push to Downsize Terror War
(Daily Beast) The Obama administration concluded in 2012 that al Qaeda posed no direct threat to the U.S.-and has sought to scale back the fight ever since, over intel officials' rising objections.
A Blank Slate, Not a Blank Check
(Mieke Eoyang in US News & World Report) Sixty words have defined the last 13 years. In the days following the 9/11 attacks, Congress voted overwhelmingly to give the president broad authority to use force against those who had attacked us. But those 60 words, known as the Authorization for Use of Military Force, or AUMF, have been in effect for far longer, in more places, and invoked against more groups than anyone could have suspected in 2001. After bin Laden's death and with the war in Afghanistan drawing to a close, now it is time to revisit the AUMF.
Navy Braces For Backlash After PLA Cyber Indictments
(Breaking Defense) The Justice Department's indictment of five People's Liberation Army officers on charges of cyber-espionage may prove to be a double-edged sword for the US military.
Is military justice going soft? Why courts-martial, NJPs have hit historic lows
(Military Times) Across the force, the military is meting out far less punishment today than just a few years ago. It's a hard-to-explain trend that has many military justice experts wondering whether commanders have lowered expectations for keeping troops in line - or simply gone soft on some forms of misconduct.
INDUSTRY
Success for First Aegis Ashore Missile Launch
(Defense News) The first launch of an anti-ballistic missile from a new shore-based version of the classic Aegis missile system was successfully carried out Tuesday night in Hawaii.
U.S. Navy Looking to Boost CH-53K Helicopter Sales by 50% (Paywall)
(Wall Street Journal) The U.S. Navy is in talks with other governments to boost by 50% the planned purchase of CH-53K helicopters built by United Technologies Corp.'s UTX +1.54%Sikorsky unit.
Boeing sees strong continued commercial demand for satellites
(Reuters) Boeing Co (BA.N), the world's No. 1 commercial satellite producer, says strong demand in the commercial market will help its satellite division weather a downturn in U.S. defense spending and should continue to boost revenues in coming years.
BAE Systems, Airbus announce GEOINT partnership
(IHS Jane's 360) BAE Systems and Airbus Defence and Space announced on 20 May the formation of a partnership focussing on the development and marketing of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) products and services.
US Air Force Undersecretary: Public-Private Partnerships Among Alternatives on RD-180
(Defense News) The undersecretary of the US Air Force wants to see alternatives to a Russian-made engine, but that doesn't mean the service should immediately begin developing its own.
Navy Special Warfare Command picks Falcon III
(C4ISR & Networks) The U.S. Navy's Special Warfare Command has ordered Harris Corp.'s Falcon III multi-channel manpack radio.
USAF Commission Urges New Engine To Mitigate Atlas V Gap
(Aviation Week) An influential government commission is recommending the quick start of a new liquid oxygen (LOx)/hydrocarbon engine program not only as a measure to mitigate an Atlas V gap if Russia cuts off its supply of RD-180 engines to the U.S., but also to provide an alternative to the Delta IV in nearly a decade.
L-3 unveils small UAV
(C4ISR & Networks) L-3 has unveiled its new Airborne Pursuit and Exploitation (APEX) small UAV.
U.S. State Department stops Chinese delegations from attending Colorado Springs event
(Colorado Springs Gazette) On Friday, the State Department blocked three Chinese delegations totaling 16 people from attending the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Space Foundation CEO Elliot Pulham said Tuesday during a panel discussion at the event.
U.S. Air Force sees Space Fence choice soon: Lockheed or Raytheon
(Reuters) The U.S. Air Force on Wednesday said it is very close to choosing Lockheed Martin Corp or Raytheon Co to build a new ground-based radar to track satellites and other objects in space, a deal analysts value at nearly $2 billion.
Military comms market to grow
(C4ISR & Networks) The military communications market is expected to grow to $30.1 billion by 2019, according to a forecast by market research firm ASDReports. This reflects a compound annual growth rate of 7.2 percent from $18.46 billion in 2014.
Airbus seeks deal to supply Germany with Israel drones
(Reuters) Airbus (AIR.PA) signed a deal on Wednesday with Israel Aerospace Industries ISRAI.UL to team up on a bid for a bridging contract to supply the German armed forces with military drones until 2020.
Saudi Arabia, Spain sign security co-operation agreement
(IHS Jane's 360) Spain and Saudi Arabia have signed a security co-operation agreement, which covers any future defence sales between the two countries, the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.
Australia Raises their F-35 Commitment
(Defense Industry Daily) Australia's new Liberal Party government has announced that they'll buy up to 58 F-35s, raising the RAAF's approved fleet size to the 72 aircraft mentioned in the Labor Party's May 2013 White Paper. They're saying that the money has been reserved by successive governments, which isn't true. They did set a firm budget of A$ 12.4 billion to buy the fighters and spares, minus about A$ 1.6 billion for required support infrastructure at RAAFB Williamtown, NSW and RAAFB Tindal, Northern Territory.
BAE Systems launches UK Royal Navy's third Astute-class SSN
(IHS Jane's 360) The UK Royal Navy's (RN's) newest Astute-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) has entered the water for the first time, at prime contractor BAE Systems' Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, in Cumbria, United Kingdom.
Lockheed sees future for ground-based space situational awareness
(C4ISR & Networks) When the contract for the US Air Force's space fence program is finally awarded in the coming weeks, Lockheed Martin hopes to cash in big. But Lockheed is also developing a program known as SPOT (Space Object Tracking) that it believes could be the cornerstone of a new ground-based space situational awareness capability.
Turkey, PandW sign F-35 engine LOI
(IHS Jane's 360) Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) announced on 20 May that it had signed a letter of intent with aeroengine maker Pratt and Whitney (PandW) for the establishment of a capability for final assembly, check-out, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), and upgrades of PandW F135 engines.
CONGRESS
Senate panel approves 1 percent pay raise, BAH cuts
(Military Times) A Senate panel on Wednesday rejected Pentagon plans to cut commissary benefits and overhaul the Tricare system, all but ending defense officials' hope to make those changes next year.
More Funds for Weapon Systems, Benghazi Info Among Nearly 170 House NDAA Amendments
(Defense News) The US House on Wednesday will begin work on nearly 170 amendments to a Pentagon policy bill, including ones that would add funds to weapons accounts, require arms sales to allies, and kill the measure that authorized America's post-9/11 conflicts.
DHS: Lack of cyber law caused 'unnecessary delays' in Heartbleed response
(Federal Times) The U.S government was forced to act quickly to fix the Heartbleed vulnerability that compromised hundreds of thousands of websites last month, but Homeland Security Department officials say that Congress' failure to pass cybersecurity legislation slowed their ability to respond to the weakness.
House aims to trigger release of Pentagon misconduct reports
(The Hill) House lawmakers on Wednesday adopted legislation that would force the release of Defense Department Inspector General investigations on misconduct by senior military leaders.
Why No One Is Buying the Air Force's Argument To Ditch the A-10
(DefenseOne) One of the most controversial proposals by the Air Force this year is its plan to divest the A-10 jet aircraft. The "warthog," as it is known, is a slow moving, low-flying, ear-piercingly loud jet airplane built around a giant "Avenger" Gatling gun, which has provided intimidating fire power for troops in contact on the ground for nearly 40 years. By divesting an entire fleet, instead of just a few airplanes, the Air Force saves "billions, not millions" across the board in production and maintenance.
House adopts amendment targeting Benghazi attackers
(The Hill) The House passed by voice vote an amendment to the 2015 defense authorization bill that takes the Obama administration to task over the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
Levin's Final Act as SASC Chair Faces Hurdles
(Defense News) The White House's veto threat of a House GOP military policy bill highlights the wide foreign policy chasm between America's two major political parties. And that means retiring Sen. Carl Levin's final major legislative act as Armed Services Committee chairman may have to be his finest hour.
Amid VA scandals, House eases rules for firing top department executives
(Military Times) Spurred by allegations of mismanagement and scandal at numerous Veterans Affairs facilities, House members on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved a measure giving the department's secretary more power to fire underperforming employees.
House Democrats break with Obama, call for Shinseki's sacking
(The Hill) Two House Democrats broke ranks with the White House on Wednesday and called for Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to resign.
The Real Reason Lawmakers Don't Want to Buy Russian Helicopters
(National Journal) Pentagon commitments to purchase MI-17 transport helicopters from a Russian company for the Afghan military would be scrapped under legislation that is gaining attention this week, championed by lawmakers partial to their home-state helicopter manufacturers.
White House Opposes House Missile-Defense Moves
(Global Security Newswire) Several defensive and offensive missile-themed provisions that originated in the Republican-controlled House have drawn opposition from the White House.
Bill would reimburse veterans waiting for housing grants
(The Hill) Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) has introduced a bill that would reimburse veterans waiting for housing grants to be approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Bill to give DHS special cyber hiring authority advances in Senate
(Federal Times) The Department of Homeland Security would be given authority to pay cybersecurity professionals more and to hire them faster under legislation passed May 21 by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Here Are the Five Democrats Named to the Benghazi Select Committee
(National Journal) After weeks of internal debate, House Democrats will join the select committee to investigate the Benghazi attack after all and send a full delegation of five members, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi announced Wednesday.
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
US Special Ops Commander's Tenure Up in August. Will He Stay?
(Defense News) In August, the top US special operations officer, Adm. William McRaven, will mark the third anniversary of his taking the helm of the Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base here, the traditional amount of time a SOCOM leader serves.
Language Programs Needed For Special Operators
(National Defense) As Special Operations Command shifts to a more global focus, its personnel have an urgent need to learn new languages, particularly in African, European and Asian countries, officials said May 21.
DARPA's Wearable Display Augments Reality For Foot Troops
(Breaking Defense) After 20 years of unsuccessful efforts to produce a wearable display to provide foot troops digital data without blocking their view of the real world around them, DARPA has invented one called ULTRA-Vis.
ARMY
1st ID soldiers receive upgraded M4s
(Army Times) The first soldiers have begun receiving the upgraded M4 carbine, the M4A1 - the same weapon used for decades in special forces units.
Special Forces Command remembers fallen soldiers in ceremony
(Fayetteville Observer) Five Green Berets from Fort Bragg who died in combat in Afghanistan in the last year were among the men remembered today by the U.S. Army Special Forces Command.
The Army's ERP future
(Federal Times) The Army's highest-profile enterprise resource planning (ERP) programs each have distinctive purposes critical to the service's financial management. Over the years each ERP has seen an evolution in goals, strategy and execution as the Army looks to modernize its programs and centralize operations.
Fort Carson soldier Daniela Rojas remembered for 'huge smile,' friendly personality
(Colorado Springs Gazette) A handful of military pins, a pair of military boots and a helmet with ROJAS embroidered on it lay in the front of Fort Carson Soldiers' Memorial Chapel Wednesday afternoon, small mementos of the 4th Brigade Combat Team's recent loss.
Funeral service for Spc. Kelli Bordeaux to be held May 31 in St. Cloud, Florida
(Fayetteville Observer) A funeral service for slain Fort Bragg soldier Spc. Kelli Bordeaux has been set for May 31 in her hometown of St. Cloud, Florida.
NAVY
Navy Chief: We Will Lay Out Clear Plan for Littoral Combat Ship
(National Defense) The ship that was to revolutionize surface warfare has been controversial since its inception 12 years ago. But the firestorm over the littoral combat ship might have been avoided had the Navy better explained the rationale for the ship and answered critics' questions more clearly, said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert.
Navy's top admiral: Reducing carrier fleet would burn out sailors, ships
(Stars & Stripes) Extending deployments to compensate for a smaller carrier fleet would result in burnout of ships and sailors, the Navy's top officer said Wednesday.
Feds: Man falsely claimed to be SEAL, defrauded local charity
(Chicago Tribune) A man was indicted today for fraud on charges that he ripped off a Crystal Lake charity by posing as a Navy SEAL who could rescue aid workers kidnapped in Somalia, authorities said.
Navy's personnel chief addresses promotion issues while visiting Okinawa
(Stars & Stripes) Changes to the promotion system were necessary to ensure the Navy was taking care of its top sailors, Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Bill Moran told troops in Okinawa on Wednesday.
Five ships parade into New York's Fleet Week
(Navy Times) More than 1,500 sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen aboard three Navy ships and two Coast Guard cutters pulled into New York Harbor Wednesday morning for the Fleet Week. It was a welcome return to the Big Apple, even if it was also the smallest armada in at least a decade.
Navy jets train on Iwo Jima as Japan searches for better option
(Stars & Stripes) Japan is increasing its efforts to move critical flight training for U.S. Navy pilots off historic Iwo Jima - a relocation encouraged by military officials but opposed by residents of an island near the proposed replacement site.
Navy kickbacks leader wants sentence thrown out
(Navy Times) The leader of an $18 million kickback scheme targeting the Navy wants a federal appeals court to throw out his 10-year sentence, arguing prosecutors failed to honor promises they made when he signed a plea deal.
AIR FORCE
U.S. Sends Troops to Chad to Aid Hunt for Nigerian Schoolgirls
(New York Times) The American military personnel are not ground troops. They are mostly Air Force flight crew members, maintenance specialists and security officers for unarmed Predator surveillance drones that will help search for the more than 260 Nigerian girls seized by the group, Boko Haram.
AP Exclusive: Air Force nuke security failed test
(Associated Press) Armed security forces at a nuclear missile base failed a drill last summer that simulated the hostile takeover of a missile launch silo because they were unable to speedily regain control of the captured nuclear weapon, according to an internal Air Force review obtained by The Associated Press.
Next on the chopping block: generals?
(Air Force Times) At a time when tens of thousands of rank-and-file airmen are seeing their jobs endangered and facing voluntary and involuntary force reductions, one group has remained noticeably untouched: generals.
New rule directs commanders to 'engage' in airmen's lives
(Air Force Times) Air Force commanders must pay close attention to the morale and welfare of their subordinates, according to a new Air Force Instruction.
United Airlines settles suit brought by pilots called up for military service
(Spokesman-Review) A trio of Spokane attorneys claimed victory Tuesday in a $6.15 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit alleging United Airlines didn't properly compensate pilots called into military service.
MARINE CORPS
Maj. Gen. Berger nominated to command I MEF
(Marine Corps Times) Maj. Gen. David H. Berger, who led Marines in Haiti, Fallujah, Iraq, and Afghanistan, was tapped to become commander of I Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton, California.
Marine from Coal City dies in training accident
(The Herald News) A Marine from Coal City was found deceased Tuesday afternoon in North Carolina after apparently falling from an aircraft during a training flight.
Marine MoH recipient Kyle Carpenter discusses heroism, his recovery and plans for the future
(Battle Rattle blog) "I'm going to need $100 dollars from each of you," said medically retired Cpl. Kyle Carpenter with a chuckle. Humor is how the next Medal of Honor recipient opened a meeting with reporters last week at the Pentagon ahead of the White House's announcement that he will become the second of only two living Marines to receive the nation's highest valor award for fighting in Afghanistan.
VETERANS
Obama: Any VA misconduct will be punished
(Military Times) President Obama on Wednesday spoke publicly of the growing scandal over questionable scheduling practices at Veterans Affairs medical centers, saying the allegations, if true, are "dishonorable and distasteful" and pledging to punish those responsible.
Veterans to Obama: What took you so long?
(Stars & Stripes) When President Barack Obama spoke Wednesday about the growing scandals at the Department of Veterans Affairs, some veterans asked why it took so long for their commander in chief to speak up.
Carney doesn't know 'specifics' of concerns on House GOP veterans bill
(The Hill) White House press secretary Jay Carney on Wednesday said he didn't know the specific reasons why the administration is concerned about a House GOP bill that would make it easier to fire people at Veterans Affairs hospitals.
Veterans' claims for sleep apnea soar
(USA Today) Veterans' claims for sleep apnea - a common, treatable ailment often associated with obesity and aging - have spiked nearly 150% since 2009, driving compensation for the disorder likely over $1 billion per year, according to government data and interviews.
Tricare Prime still out of reach for thousands of beneficiaries
(Military Times) Retired Air Force Master Sgt. John Rytkonen was not happy last October when he was dropped from his Tricare Prime military health program.
Obama transition team was told about 3 audits showing VA misreported wait times
(Washington Times) President Obama's transition team was warned in 2008 that repeated audits showed the Veterans Affairs Department was misreporting wait times for medical treatment, including one audit revealing delays nearly 10 times worse than the department was officially acknowledging.
Family sues VA Puget Sound over slow response to skin cancer that killed Army veteran
(Tacoma News Tribune) Week after week, Cliff Douglass saw the cancerous spot on his forehead swell until it hurt to the touch.
VA clears doctor of wrongdoing in Temple (Paywall)
(San Antonio Express-News) The VA said Wednesday it could not substantiate a doctor's claim that a fellow physician manipulated waiting lists at a veterans' hospital in Temple, and that it had found no evidence of wrongdoing at clinics in Austin and San Antonio.
AFGHANISTAN/PAKISTAN
Withdrawal Forcing Afghan Partners to Ask for Help Now, Spec Ops Leader Says
(Defense News) Maj. Gen. Michael Nagata, who runs the US special operations mission in the Central Command area of responsibility, is a busy man: Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and other hot spots fall under his purview.
Police say Taliban kidnap 27 Afghan officers
(Associated Press) Taliban fighters kidnapped 27 police officers during an assault on a northeastern province in Afghanistan, authorities said Thursday, part of the extremist group's spring offensive ahead of the withdrawal of foreign troops at the end of this year.
Afghans Condemn Iran Over Recruiting Refugees to Fight in Syria
(Wall Street Journal) Some Afghan lawmakers condemned what they said was Iran's exploitation of Afghan refugees by sending them to fight for the regime in Syria and called on the government to investigate.
Pakistan Blitzes Taliban Hideouts Again, But Ground Assault Uncertain
(Defense News) Pakistan on Wednesday launched what appear to be its most punishing series of airstrikes against the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) this year. However, analysts are uncertain if this is a prelude to what they consider an inevitable ground operation to flush the TTP out their remaining Pakistani hideouts.
Pakistani military strikes anger 'good Taliban' commander
(Small Wars Journal) A series of military strikes in the tribal agency of North Waziristan has caused a Taliban commander who is favored by Pakistan's ruling class to reconsider his peace agreement with the military and the government.
MIDDLE EAST
Tensions remain between Iraqi government, religious authorities
(Al Monitor) Sheikh Ali Najafi, the son of Shiite cleric Bashir al-Najafi, announced May 19 on his Facebook page that police and intelligence forces were raiding the houses and schools of international students, mainly Pakistanis, and dragging scores of them to Iraqi police stations.
Egypt's break with Qatar could contribute to a scorching summer for country's residents
(Washington Post) When Egypt's military ousted President Mohamed Morsi last summer, it also broke political ties with the Islamist leader's chief financial patron and a key energy partner, the gas-rich Persian Gulf state of Qatar. Now the fallout from that diplomatic split is exacerbating authorities' struggle to run the country's power plants as temperatures begin to soar.
Iran president says nuclear talks at tough juncture, deal possible
(Reuters) Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday talks over Tehran's nuclear program had reached an important and tough juncture, but an agreement was still possible by a July deadline.
EUROPE
Russia returns more Ukraine Navy vessels
(IHS Jane's 360) Russia has now returned to Ukraine 28 warships and support vessels seized in Crimea, as part of moves apparently designed to reduce tension with the government in Kiev.
Russia, Ukraine Delegations Not Invited to Eurosatory
(Defense News) France has declined to invite Russian and Ukrainian official delegations, while Japanese firms have booked for the first time at the Eurosatory exhibition for land defense systems and security, according to the show's organizer.
Ukrainian leaders claim progress; Russian officials make conciliatory gestures
(Washington Post) Ukrainian leaders said Wednesday that their country was starting to stabilize, as the Kremlin repeated its assurances that it was pulling its military back from the border and pro-Russian separatists in the east continued to be on the defensive.
AFRICA
Effort to train Libyan troops 'still in the planning phase'
(Military Times) As Libya transitions from anarchy to civil war, a plan for U.S. soldiers to train Libyan troops remains on the drawing board.
Prominent Libyans Vow Support for General
(New York Times) A Libyan general who has led a violent campaign against Islamist militias and lawmakers drew prominent new supporters to his cause on Wednesday, including the country's air force commander and its ambassador to the United Nations.
Algeria considers Egypt alliance to confront Libyan terror threat
(Al Monitor) Earlier this month, the Algerian military said it was engaged in a sustained manhunt against terrorist elements that infiltrated Algerian territory across the desert in the regions of Tamanrasset, the capital of the Tuareg tribes, and in the nearby tourist town of Janet, which is close to the border with Libya.
Mubarak Gets 3 Years for Embezzlement, and His Sons Get 4
(New York Times) A criminal court here convicted former President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday of embezzling millions of dollars of public money for his personal use in private homes and palaces, in a case that rights advocates say could now implicate the current prime minister and spy chief.
ASIA-PACIFIC
Vietnam and Philippines agree to oppose China
(Associated Press) Vietnam and the Philippines will jointly oppose "illegal" Chinese actions in the South China Sea, Vietnam's prime minster said Wednesday in a rare show of public solidarity between two Southeast Asian nations wrestling with Beijing's determination to assert its sovereignty claims in the disputed waters.
Arms Industry Awaits New Orders From India
(Wall Street Journal) Arms makers in the U.S., France, Russia and elsewhere will be waiting to see if India's new government can make quick calls on tens of billions of dollars of pending defense purchases and move forward with the country's plans to modernize its armed forces.
China and Russia Kick Off Joint Naval Drills
(USNI News) The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the Russian Navy kicked off a week of naval exercises in near Shanghai on Tuesday, according to Chinese and Russian press reports.
Terrorist attack on market in China's restive Xinjiang region kills more than 30
(Washington Post) Two cars plowed through crowds of shoppers in a busy street market in the capital of China's restive western Xinjiang region Wednesday, setting off multiple explosives, killing 31 people and wounding more than 90, the government said, in what it called a vile act of terrorism.
Air Force F-16 forced to dump fuel tanks while flying over South Korea
(Stars & Stripes) A U.S. fighter jet dropped two fuel tanks over Gimje City on Wednesday during an in-flight emergency, according to the 8th Fighter Wing.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
The Limits of Armchair Warfare
(Jacob Wood and Ken Harbaugh in The New York Times) BOTH of us have a deep appreciation for the work of drone pilots. Whether patrolling the Helmand Valley with a sniper team or relying on drone-driven intelligence to plan manned aerial missions, we often prayed that the drone operators supporting us were cool, calm and collected.
Kirby: Man of valor stood tall with humility
( Bill Kirby in The Fayetteville Observer) Unless you knew, you never would have known.
FM 3-24, Social Science, and Security
(Adam Elkus in The Small Wars Journal) The relationship between American social science and national security dates back to World War II and hit a high point during the Cold War. The social sciences cut their teeth on the toughest political-military problems, and government patronage was also a key ingredient in the growth of the modern social sciences
Ukraine Needs Nonviolent Resistance to Beat Russia
(Maciej Bartkowski in War on the Rocks) The Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea, the continued destabilization of southern and eastern parts of Ukraine by separatists, and the Russian special operation forces and the approximately 40,000 Russian "peacekeepers" poised on the Russian-Ukrainian border raise the question of what, if anything, Ukrainians can do to effectively resist and defend themselves and their territory.
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