General: U.S. to deploy land-based Tomahawks in Asia
The commander of Army forces in the Indo-Pacific region recently announced that the Army will soon deploy long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles on ground launchers in the region.
Aerospace & Defense
The latest coverage of the Defense Department, State Department and aerospace industry.
Senate Republicans grudgingly warm to Democrats’ plan to end Tuberville’s military holds
A handful of Republican senators reluctantly concluded they may have to side with Democrats to end Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s blockade against confirming hundreds of military promotions.
South Korea says Russian support likely enabled North Korea to successfully launch a spy satellite
South Korea has concluded that Russian support likely enabled North Korea to put a spy satellite into orbit for the first time this week, and it should be clear in several days whether it is functioning properly, officials said Thursday.
Conservative lawmakers erupt over Air Force base telling airmen to avoid pro-Trump rally
Republicans, including MAGA supporters, are livid that service members on an Air Force base in North Dakota were warned not to attend a rally that featured a speaker from a pro-Trump organization.
Pentagon asks for another $114 million for its diversity and inclusion mission
The Defense Department requested $114 million this week for its diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility or DEIA programs.
Defense Secretary Austin urges continuing support for Ukraine as another winter approaches
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday urged other nations in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to increase the supply of air defense weapons for Kyiv as it prepares to face another winter of war against Russian invaders.
Russia’s Wagner group may provide Hezbollah with anti-aircraft weapons: White House
Russia’s Wagner Group mercenary force is considering providing air defense weapon systems to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon as part of a growing defense cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, U.S. officials said.
Air Force gunship kills militants who attacked base used by U.S. personnel in Iraq
An Air Force gunship struck a vehicle in Iraq on Monday, killing a group of Iran-backed militants who had just targeted an air base used by Americans to train and assist Iraqi soldiers in the fight against ISIS.
The U.S. and the Philippines conduct joint air, sea patrols in South China Sea not far from Taiwan
The United States and the Philippines are conducting joint air and maritime patrols in the South China Sea, which come as the two countries step up cooperation in the face of growingly aggressive Chinese activity in the area.
South Korea partially suspends inter-Korean agreement after North says it put spy satellite in orbit
South Korea decided to partially suspend an inter-Korean agreement and restart front-line aerial surveillance of North Korea, hours after the North claimed to have put its first military spy satellite into orbit in violation of U.N. resolutions, officials in Seoul said.
New North Korean try at launching military satellite rattles a tense region
North Korea said Tuesday that it had successfully put its first military spy satellite into orbit after two recent failures, on the same day a U.S. carrier strike group docked in South Korea. The two developments underscored evolving tensions in Northeast Asia.
In surprise Kyiv stop, Austin offers Ukraine support, $100 million in military hardware
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin did not come empty-handed during his unannounced visit to Kyiv on Monday, where he sought to bolster Ukrainian resolve as its counteroffensive against Russian invaders appears to have stalled.
Israel Defense Forces say captured Israeli soldier killed by Hamas, not friendly fire
Israel on Sunday accused Hamas of killing an abducted soldier after she was injured in an Israel Defense Forces attack on Nov. 9 that killed the terrorist holding her hostage.
Defense Secretary Austin arrives in Kyiv to express solidarity with Ukraine as war rages on
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived Monday in Kyiv for an unannounced visit with Ukrainian officials to relay a message of solidarity and reinforce U.S. commitment to their struggle against Russian invaders.
Questions surround Chinese vessel’s sonar blast that injured Australian navy divers
A Chinese destroyer has injured divers operating off an Australian frigate in a highly unusual incident in international waters off Japan’s coast.
SpaceX launches its giant new rocket but a pair of explosions ends the second test flight
SpaceX launched its mega rocket Starship but lost both the booster and the spacecraft in a pair of explosions minutes into Saturday’s test flight.
Taiwanese opposition figures fail to unite against ruling party
A potentially game-changing linkup between two Taiwanese opposition parties to challenge the ruling Democratic Progressive Party has foundered — for now. The alliance could have instantly made the forces favoring improved ties with China the front-runner in the coming vote, significantly impacting Taiwan’s future.
Pentagon turns to press flacks and academics to help fight information wars
A new U.S. approach to waging information warfare operations states that military and civilian defense organizations will rely on Pentagon public affairs officials with support from academics and non-government organizations to counter Chinese and Russian disinformation.
Pentagon chief Austin affirms U.S. defense commitment to Taiwan in wake of Xi-Biden summit
The United States is not dialing back its defensive support for Taiwan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday, a day after President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the future of the island democracy at a summit of Pacific Rim nations in San Francisco.
Israel tests new warfare approach fusing military capacities
It’s a fight Israel didn’t want, but it’s one that will test Jerusalem’s new approach to war in the 21st century.
Lindsey Graham threatens to side with Senate Democrats to break Tommy Tuberville’s military logjam
Sen. Lindsey Graham appears to be at his wit’s end with fellow Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville.
Boot is on the other foot for U.S. Marine regiment in Japan; littoral unit sets eyes on China
In a tactical U-turn, U.S. Marines in Japan are reversing their traditional mission — from assaulting beaches to defending them.
ASEAN defense chiefs call for immediate truce, aid corridor in Israel-Hamas war
Southeast Asian defense ministers expressed “profound concern” on Thursday over the loss of civilian lives in the Israel-Hamas war and called for an immediate truce and creation of a humanitarian corridor to deliver aid.
Iran’s uranium stockpile has increased to 22 times larger than levels set by 2015 accord
Iran is accelerating its nuclear program by stockpiling enriched uranium — the material needed to create atomic bombs — in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.
Biden, Xi stress communication to thaw tensions between U.S., China
President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping met face-to-face Wednesday after a year of silence between them in a bid to reduce tensions and improve lines of communication after months of friction between the two superpowers.
Mess around and find out: Intense video shows U.S. military obliterating Iranian training sites
The Pentagon has released dramatic footage of recent U.S. airstrikes on training facilities and safe houses used by the Iranian military and its affiliated militias.
Talking to Biden, preparing for war — U.S. panel sees Xi bracing China for conflict to come
Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing his military forces for war and directing the rest of the country to prepare for economic hardships that conflict would bring, according to the latest annual report from a congressional commission on China.
Senate Democrats advance measure to circumvent Sen. Tuberville’s military holds
A Senate panel on Tuesday a p proved a rule change to allow the Democratic-led chamber to confirm hundreds of military promotions at once, an unprecedented step taken to end Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s confirmation blockade to challenge the Pentagon’s abortion policies.
NATO to increase naval patrols around critical undersea pipelines, cables
NATO officials on Tuesday will address the need to defend undersea infrastructure following recent incidents in the Baltic Sea region that led to damaged pipelines and communication cables.
South Korea and members of the U.S.-led U.N. command warn North Korea over its nuclear threat
Senior defense officials from South Korea, the United States and other nations on Tuesday warned North Korea over its nuclear ambitions and threats, vowing an unspecified collective response to any war-like aggression by the North toward its rival.
Defense to call witnesses in trial of man accused of attacking Nancy Pelosi’s husband with hammer
Defense attorneys for David DePape, the man on trial for the attack of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband in the couple’s San Francisco home, will call witnesses Tuesday as they argue DePape is not guilty of the crimes he’s been charged with.
China hires U.S. scientists for technology; Westerners paid well to shift global innovation power
China is investing more than $1.4 billion in a new institute run by former scientists at the Los Alamos nuclear weapons laboratory, part of an ambitious program to hire top U.S. scientists and obtain advanced American technology, according to an investigation by The Washington Times.
Romania opens F-16 training center for Ukraine, NATO members
Romania on Monday opened the European F-16 Training Center, which will allow neighboring Ukraine to train pilots in the U.S.-made fighter jets it has asked for since the start of its war with Russia.
Pentagon identifies five soldiers killed in Black Hawk helicopter crash in Mediterranean
The Defense Department on Monday identified five Army soldiers who were killed when their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed in the eastern Mediterranean Sea while practicing refueling operations.
U.S. conducts airstrikes in Syria against Iran-backed groups
The U.S. military conducted airstrikes on two locations in eastern Syria involving Iranian-backed groups, hitting a training location and a weapons facility, according to the Pentagon and U.S. officials. It marks the third time in a bit more than two weeks that the U.S. has retaliated against the militants for what has been a growing number of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria.
U.S., South Korea and Japan to counter N. Korea with new missile data sharing system
Defense chiefs from the United States, South Korea and Japan announced Sunday that they will establish a warning data sharing system in December to more detect ballistic missile launches from North Korea.
Astronaut Frank Borman, commander of the first Apollo mission to the moon, has died at age 95
Astronaut Frank Borman, who commanded Apollo 8’s historic Christmas 1968 flight that circled the moon 10 times and paved the way for the lunar landing the next year, has died. He was 95.
Asian democracies reluctant to freeze out China while embracing U.S.
U.S. efforts to unite partners and allies across Asia in a strong anti-China alliance is itself proving divisive.
