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☆ The US military isn't ready for the coming drone war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

The Department of Defense is working on initiatives to face the drone threat, but the US military doesn't yet appear ready to confront this ever-evolving challenge, especially on the scale seen in Ukraine. AdvertisementA US military MQ-9 Reaper drone waits for take-off at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan on March 9, 2018. US military leaders have repeatedly stressed there's no silver bullet to defeat small drones in battle. Shellie HallStudents there spend several weeks learning how to identify, engage, and defeat small drones. The drone threat draws certain parallels to fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, where hidden bombs posed a tremendous threat.

Persons: GENYA SAVILOV, Mick Ryan, hasn't, you've, Franz J, Marty, Samuel Bendett, Paul Scharre, that's, Mike Parent, Mark Schauer, Parent, Paul Butcher, Cpl, Doug Bush, Amber Osei, Moseph Sauda, doesn't, Sauda, America's, Bram Janssen, Scharre, Justin Bronk, Jack Watling, Ryan Organizations: Business, Troops, of Defense, Department of Defense, Getty, Australian Army, Islamic State, Kandahar Air Base, Defense Ministry, Karabakh . Defense Ministry, Azerbaijan, AP, Pentagon, US Army, Aircraft Systems, Solutions, 71st Jaeger Brigade, US Army Yuma, Technology, Army, sUAS University, US Marine Corps, Force, Central Command, Shellie, National Training Center, US Army Air Defense Artillery, Center, New, New American Security, Base, London's Royal United Services Institute Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Ukraine, prowling, Jordan, Chasiv Yar, Donetsk, AFP, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Nagorno, Karabakh, Avdiivka, Yuma, East, Oklahoma's Fort Sill, California, Fort Sill, China, Luhansk Region, Europe, Iran, New American, Iraq, Washington, Bagram, Kabul, Australian

☆ US Pacific bases and aircraft are wildly vulnerable to Chinese missile barrages that could overwhelm defenses, lawmakers warn
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewUS bases and aircraft in the Pacific are facing intense threat from Chinese missiles, and the Pentagon isn't doing enough to counter that challenge, according to American lawmakers. In a Wednesday letter to Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, 13 members of Congress pointed out glaring vulnerabilities in the Pacific region and demanded "immediate changes." A U.S. Air Force Rockwell B-1B Lancer (L) and a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (R) sit on the tarmac at Andersen Air Force base on August 17, 2017, in Yigo, Guam. Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesIn the letter, lawmakers note that many of the US bases in the Pacific remain unhardened, leaving aircraft and assets vulnerable to missile strikes. Notably, none of the US shelters were in Guam — home to Andersen Air Force Base which routinely hosts American bombers.

Persons: —, Frank Kendall, Carlos Del Toro, John Moolenaar, Justin Sullivan, Tom Shugart, Timothy A, Walton, Andy Wong Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Air Force, Business, Department of Defense, Chinese Communist Party Rep, Commonwealth of, Pacific ., U.S . Air Force Rockwell, Boeing KC, Andersen Air Force, US, Center, New, New American Security, Hudson Institute, Andersen Air Force Base, American, People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, Lawmakers, Rocket Force, China's Locations: Pacific, China, Okinawa, Guam, Commonwealth, Northern Mariana, U.S, Yigo, New American, Shugart, Tiananmen, Beijing

☆ Russia's jamming of American weapons in Ukraine is showing the US what it needs to be ready for in a future fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Chris Panella | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Russia's electronic warfare has repeatedly foiled American precision weapons in Ukraine. Those could include different weapons, specific countermeasures, and the targeting of enemy jamming systems. Any fixes developed to effectively counter the challenge posed by electronic warfare won't just benefit Ukraine. Electronic warfare is a broad term that includes a variety of inexpensive options. Felicia JagdattEfforts to adapt precision weapons to the threat is just one facet of a multi-layered solution, Withington said.

Persons: —, Antonio Aguto, They'll, Mark Cancian, Denis Abramov, Thomas Withington, That's, JDAMs, Withington, Daniel Patt, Harry S, Cancian, it's, Doug Bush, that's, Bush, Felicia Jagdatt Organizations: Service, Systems, Attack Munitions, Security, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Business, DoD, Russian Defense Ministry, Royal United Services Institute, Getty, Hudson Institute, Truman, US, Intelligence, US Air Force, Army, US Army Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Russia, China, Withington, Bliss, Texas

☆ A Ukrainian tank crew said the Abrams tank is as easy to drive as a scooter and that they learned how to operate its weapons in 1 week
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA Ukrainian tank gunner and driver were filmed heaping praise on US-supplied Abrams tanks in a state-backed media report, boasting that they've been easy to learn to operate. "There's nothing so complicated here," he told Army TV. Alexey and Koka's commander, Dmytro, told Army TV that the Abrams' armor was effective against Russian anti-tank missiles like the Kornet. AdvertisementUkraine was promised 31 Abrams tanks by the US in January 2023, with the first batch arriving in September after crews trained for months in Germany to operate them. In late April, the Russian military displayed an abandoned Abrams M1A1 at an exhibition called the "Trophies of the Russian Army," which showcased NATO equipment seized during the war.

Persons: —, Abrams, Koka, Alexey, Yevhen Nazarenko, Dmytro, Zeus Organizations: Service, Mechanized Brigade, Army TV, Business, Abrams, Army, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, Pentagon, Associated Press, Business Insider, Russian, Capitol Hill, Republican, New York Times, Russian Army, NATO Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Germany, Soviet

☆ A Ukrainian tank crew says the Abrams is still being used on the front lines, but isn't finding 'tank-on-tank' battles where it has the edge
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Ukrainian tank crew told state media they're still using the Abrams tank on the front lines. A Ukrainian Abrams commander told Army TV that the tanks weren't withdrawn but are used situationally. AdvertisementA Ukrainian tank crew says the US-supplied Abrams is still viable on the front lines, but the tank-on-tank battles where it excels have been few and far between. Advertisement"WHERE IS UKRAINIAN ABRAMS: how the legendary American tank fights at the front," its title reads. At least five Abrams tanks have been reported lost in combat, with another three damaged.

Persons: Abrams, Ukrainian Abrams, —, Kyiv hadn't, Dmytro, Alexey, Biden Organizations: Pentagon, Abrams, Army, Service, Associated Press, Kyiv, Mechanized Brigade, Ukraine's Defense Ministry, YouTube, ABRAMS, Business Insider, Russian, AP, Russia, Congress Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Hill

☆ China has a lot more missiles — with US warships and bases in its sights
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

American warships and bases in the Pacific are within reach of an increasingly worrying threat, a missile force unlike anything the US has faced in combat. With these missiles, China is signaling that it could attack US bases and ships in the region with little to no warning, Clark said. TK Department of DefenseThere's a lot more to the Chinese Rocket Force than these weapons, though. AdvertisementThat said, the US and its allies can't afford to assume the Rocket Force won't be ready should conflict come. In other words, how the US prepares itself and adapts to the Chinese Rocket Force gives it the best shot at avoiding a fight altogether.

Persons: China's, Andersen, Thomas Shugart, Bryan Clark, John Aquilino, Kevin Frayer, Harry Harris, Harris, Clark, Shugart, Gerald R, Kendall Warner, Byrd, US Defense Department Harris, Robert Peters, Peters, Ronald Reagan, Andrea Rosembert, Cpl, Ryan Little, Charles Flynn, I'm, Flynn, it's, Andy Wong Organizations: Business, Army Rocket Force, Pentagon, China's Rocket Force, Department of Defense TK Department of Defense, Center, New, New American Security, US Navy, PLA, Hudson Institute, Pacific Command, People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, Eastern Theater Command, People's Liberation Army PLA, Getty, Rocket Force, Liberation, TK Department of Defense, Chinese Rocket Force, US Defense Department, Ford, Virginian, Tribune, Service, Japan, Self, Defense Force, Misawa Air Base, Pacific, US, Defense, Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense, Army, Heritage Foundation, Aegis, Guam, Area, Ronald, Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense, Department of Defense, US Air Force, Marine Corps, Andersen Air Force Base, Marine, Combat, US Army Pacific, Stealth, Force, Military Locations: Beijing, China, American, Guam, South, Washington, Japan, New American, People's Republic of China, South Korea, Taiwan, South China, AFP, U.S, Marshall, Pearl, Pacific, PLARF, Tiananmen

☆ Army National Guard hasn't paid out enlistment bonuses to thousands of soldiers, alarming House lawmakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Steve Beynon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

House lawmakers criticized the National Guard over enlistment bonuses owed to more than 13,000 soldiers. AdvertisementA bipartisan group of House lawmakers is demanding answers from the Army National Guard on its plans to pay delinquent enlistment bonuses to the thousands of soldiers who are owed. A US soldier with the Oklahoma National Guard stands watch along a perimeter fence near the US Capitol in Washington, DC. US Army National Guard photo by Sgt. AdvertisementThe backlog was particularly inflamed by two 10-month outages of the Army National Guard Incentive Management System, or GIMS, which manages bonuses.

Persons: —, Daniel Hokanson, Ruben Gallego, Mike Waltz, Trent Kelly, they're, Thomas Alvarez, It's, isn't, Anthony Jones, Kelly, Hanna Smith Organizations: National Guard, Service, Army National Guard, Guard's, Democrat, Florida Republican, Republican, Guard, Idaho National Guard, Operation Spartan, US, Oklahoma National Guard, US Army National Guard, National Guard Bureau, US Army, Air National Guardsmen, Civil Disturbance Unit, Capitol Police, US Air National Guard, Staff, Army National Guard Incentive Management Locations: Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, Asia, Washington , DC

☆ The US military's massive unmanned 'Manta Ray' submarine cleared its first sea test
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Drones like the Manta Ray can function like a torpedo, mine, or small submarine. AdvertisementA US military submarine that looks like a giant metal manta ray and is currently under development passed its first major test at sea. Related storiesOne photograph of the Manta Ray shows it sitting adjacent to a support boat, and another shows it with people standing on top of it. AdvertisementDARPA program manager Dr. Kyle Woerner (right) talks with a member of the Northrop Grumman team while standing atop the Manta Ray vehicle. AdvertisementUS Navy Sailors launch an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) from an 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat.

Persons: Manta Ray, —, Northrop Grumman, Ray, Kyle Woerner, Dr, Woerner, John Paul Kotara II, UUVs Organizations: Drones, Service, Defense, Research Projects Agency, DARPA, Manta, Northrop, Northrop Grumman, Research, Agency, US Navy, Navy, Navy Sailors, Force Locations: Southern California, Iran, Yemen, Ukraine, Kyiv, Moscow

☆ The Pentagon is 'not really' worried about China's new H-20 stealth bomber, defense official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A US defense official downplayed the threat of China's new Xi'an H-20 bomber. AdvertisementChina's new bomber, the Xi'an H-20, is intended to rival America's new stealth bomber, but a US defense official told reporters on Monday it's "not really" a concern. A B-2 Spirit takes off for Red Flag-Nellis 24-1 training at Nellis Air Force Base on Jan. 16. A former US Air Force commander said previously that it wasn't "anything to lose a lot of sleep over." The Pentagon unveiled a new stealth bomber in 2022 that is currently in production and will eventually replace B-1 and B-2 fleets.

Persons: —, it's, William Lewis, It's, Wang Wei, David Swanson, Northrop Grumman Organizations: Service, Breaking Defense, Flag, Nellis, Nellis Air Force Base, US Air Force, Liberation Army Air Force, Hong, Hong Kong Commercial Daily, China Aviation Industry Corporation, Northrop, Air Force, United States Air, REUTERS, Pentagon Locations: Xi'an, Jan, China, Hong Kong, Palmdale , California, U.S

☆ A US Navy transport ship deployed to help operate the floating port in Gaza returned home after an engine fire
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Konstantin Toropin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A US Navy ship deployed to help build a floating pier in Gaza returned home after an engine fire. USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo deployed to transport equipment to operate the temporary port. AdvertisementAn M1A1 Abrams tank is off-loaded from the USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo off the shore of Pohang, Republic of Korea. AdvertisementUSNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo and USNS Pililaau anchor off the coast of Pohang, Republic of Korea. Australian dock workers secure USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo while members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Australian Defence Force begin offloading.

Persons: John P, Bobo, —, Pat Ryder, Cpl, Mark W, Stroud, MV Roy P, Baldomero Lopez, Sal Mercogliano, Military.com, Frank S, Besson, Joshua Fulton, Mercogliano, horrendously, I've, You've, Scott Reel, Ryder Organizations: US Navy, USNS, Service, Navy, Pentagon, Army, MV, sealift, Naval Beach, USNI News, U.S . Navy, Marine Corps, Australian Defence Force, Defense Department Locations: Gaza, Jacksonville , Florida, Pohang , Republic of Korea, Tenerife, Africa, Azores, Souda, Greece

☆ The US Navy has fired off nearly $1 billion in weapons fighting threats from Iran and the Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US naval forces in the Middle East have been involved in shooting down malign threats for months. The cost of munition expenditure during this time is approaching $1 billion, the Navy secretary said. AdvertisementThe US Navy has fired nearly $1 billion in missiles to counter threats from Iran and its proxy forces over the past six months, the sea service's top civilian official revealed on Tuesday. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower conducts flight operations in response to the Houthis in the Red Sea. The Pentagon's Red Sea operations, however, have raised questions about sustainability, as the Houthis show no sign of letting up their attacks.

Persons: —, Navy Carlos Del Toro, Arleigh Burke, Aaron Lau Del Toro, Biden, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Kaitlin Watt Del Toro, Israel Organizations: Service, US Navy, US, Navy, Defense, Carney, Senate, House Republicans, Congress Locations: Iran, Yemen, Israel, Suez, Ukraine, Red, Gulf of Aden

☆ America's F-35 stealth fighters are going to be flying less as costs soar, watchdog finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Theodore BerganThe Pentagon's planned future use of the F-35, as well as the stealth aircraft's overall availability over the past few years, have both decreased. The GAO said it has consistently found that the F-35 fleet is not meeting availability and performance goals, even as projected costs for the program go up. The Pentagon "has pursued cost savings efforts and continues to look for new ways to reduce costs," the GAO explained in its report. However, it cautioned, "officials generally agree that these efforts are not likely to fundamentally change the estimated costs to operate the aircraft."

Persons: —, Theodore Bergan, Duncan Bevan, Lockheed Martin Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Office, Business, Department of Defense, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Air, US Marine Corps, Staff, GAO, Force, US Central Command, US Air Force, Lockheed Locations: Point , North Carolina, Israel, Iranian

☆ As China's navy grows, the US fleet is on a 'downward trajectory,' maritime expert says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"It's the end of the pacifist period on the seas," Dr Steven Wills of the Center for Maritime Strategy, told Business Insider. The US fleet is still widely considered the world's most powerful navy due to its 11 aircraft carriers and cutting-edge nuclear submarine capabilities. "They're scrapping more ships than they're building, which means the US Navy is on a downward trajectory, not an upward trajectory," said Dr Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime historian at Campbell University. Another piece of the puzzle is shipbuilding capacity. Expanding American shipbuilding capacity ought to start now, Wills said: "You don't make the arsenal of democracy overnight."

Persons: —, Dr Steven Wills, Gerald R, Ford, Nikos Libertas, Wills, Doug Livermore, Arleigh Burke, Salvatore Mercogliano, Tang Ke, Livermore, Defense Mark Esper, David Sacks, Mercogliano, That's, Xi Jinping, HECTOR RETAMAL, Sacks, I'm Organizations: Service, Center for Maritime Strategy, Business, Navy, US Navy, Campbell University, Naval, People's Liberation Army Navy, Defense, of Naval Intelligence, Council, Foreign Relations, Corpus Christi, Pearl, Naval Shipyard . US Navy, Pacific, of Foreign Relations, CSIS, US, South China, Australia Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Virginia, Yantai Port, Asia, America, Japan, South Korea, Los Angeles, Corpus, Taiwan, Beijing, Pingtan, China's, Pacific, Philippines, South

☆ A shadowy Russian assassination unit may be behind mysterious 'Havana syndrome' cases: investigation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A new investigation has linked a shadowy Russian unit to instances of 'Havana Syndrome.' Carrie's account of "Havana Syndrome" was reported in an investigation jointly published by 60 Minutes, German outlet Der Spiegel, and investigative outlet The Insider. The outlets link Unit 29155, a shadowy Russian assassination unit, to multiple incidences of the syndrome, which is formally known to the US government by the term "anomalous health incidents," or AHIs. The Insider traced the movements of several Unit 29155 operatives around the time of several instances of alleged Havana Syndrome. AdvertisementHowever, in 2021 unnamed US officials told Politico that the GRU was at least suspected in ongoing investigations into the syndrome.

Persons: Der Spiegel, —, Carrie, she's, Greg Edgreen, Joy, Albert Averyanov, Marc Polymeropoulos, Insider's Aylin Woodward, It's, Walter Reed Organizations: Service, FBI, Der, CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, The, National Intelligence, US, Politico Locations: Havana, Russian, Florida, Cuba, China, Russia, Tbilisi , Georgia, Moscow

☆ US 'Replicator' Drone Program to Cost $500 Million Per Year, Pentagon Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

By Mike StoneWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks on Monday said the Pentagon plans to spend about $500 million annually on the plan to network and task thousands of cheap, smart combat drones for any future conflict. The Pentagon's "Replicator" program, announced last year, is an ambitious effort to quickly muster and deploy large numbers of cheap drones within 18 to 24 months. Hicks told reporters at the Pentagon that in fiscal 2024 the Pentagon anticipated spending $500 million and in fiscal 2025 also "it's around $500 million. That's sort of the sum total of what we anticipate. (Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; editing by Susan Heavey and Sandra Maler)

Persons: Mike Stone WASHINGTON, Kathleen Hicks, Monday, Hicks, Mike Stone, Susan Heavey, Sandra Maler Organizations: . Deputy, Pentagon Locations: Washington

☆ Rocket Lab says contract backlog tops $1 billion, outlines Neutron progress toward first launch
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An Electron rocket launches the Baby Come Back mission from New Zealand on July 17, 2023. Rocket Lab is making steady progress on the development of its Neutron vehicle, as the company reported fourth-quarter results that saw its contract backlog soar above $1 billion. Year over year, Rocket Lab's fourth-quarter net loss widened by about 36% as the company continues to spend heavily to create its Neutron rocket. Shares of Rocket Lab slipped 5% in after-hours trading from its close at $4.71. Rocket Lab forecast first-quarter revenue between $92 million and $98 million.

Persons: Peter Beck Organizations: Revenue, LSEG, Space Development Agency, Rocket Locations: New Zealand

The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent a letter on Saturday to Elon Musk demanding that U.S. troops stationed in Taiwan get access to SpaceX's Starshield, a satellite communication network designed specifically for the military. The letter, obtained by CNBC and first reported by Forbes, claimed that by not making Starshield available to U.S. military forces in Taiwan, SpaceX could violate its Pentagon contract, which requires "global access" to Starshield technology. The letter requests that Musk provide the House committee with a briefing on its Taiwan operations by March 8. Taiwan has been governing itself independently of China since the island split from the mainland during the 1949 civil war. "I think I've got a pretty good understanding as an outsider of China," Musk said on the All-In Podcast.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Forbes, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, Tsai Ing, Lai Ching, Musk, I've, Jaushieh Joseph Wu Organizations: Fratelli, Chinese Communist Party, Elon, CNBC, SpaceX, Pentagon, U.S ., Rep, CCP, Starshield, Russia, U.S, Tesla, Foreign Locations: Italy, Rome, Taiwan, China, American, Shanghai, Hawaii

☆ The top US Army general in the Pacific is 'worried' about China's missiles but counting on his soldiers being a 'dilemma' for the Rocket Force
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. The commanding general of US Army Pacific told Business Insider during a large-scale training exercise in Alaska that while the growth has been "meteoric" and he is "always worried" about the missiles, the Army has many ways to create a "dilemma" that China may not be expecting. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. US Army forces and their allies across the Pacific have ramped up training in recent years to better prepare its troops for warfare across various difficult environments in the region. At JPMRC's Hawaii rotation last fall, Flynn emphasized that the Army "will play a key role" in solving the challenges facing the joint force in the Pacific.

Persons: —, Evangelos Wilson, Charles A, Flynn, USARPAC, Mark Milley, Patrick A, Albright, USINDOPACOM Organizations: Service, Force, US Army Pacific, Business, Army, Pentagon, Rocket Force, People's Liberation Army, Department of Defense, U.S . Army, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Dillingham Army, U.S, Spc, 3rd Infantry Brigade, US Army, U.S . Army Sniper School, Maneuver, Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs, Pacific Multinational Readiness Center Locations: Pacific, Alaska, China, America, Dillingham, Hawaii, Wainwright, Fairbanks , Alaska, Gen, U.S

☆ The GOP could be about to cost Ukraine the war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But House Republicans under Speaker Mike Johnson have no plans to take up the deal, effectively blocking the $60 billion in Ukraine aid it includes. AdvertisementThe war has reached a stalemate even with this support, and a sudden shortage as could come this year drastically weakens Ukraine’s war effort against Russia, analysts told Business Insider. Without US arms support, Ukraine will simply be outgunned and more of its troops will die, experts warn. Other aid will save Ukraine just for monthsA Ukrainian defeat would not be immediate, as Europe could step up its military aid, Herbst said. Losing Ukraine would come at a devastating cost for NATO and the USThese dynamics are perilous for Ukraine and its backers.

Persons: —, Mike Johnson, John Herbst, Herbst, Ukraine’s, Gustav Gressel, Stringer Mark Cancian, they'd, Cancian, Vladimir Putin, Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries Organizations: Service, Business, Patriot, Council’s Eurasia Center, Archer Artillery, Roman, Getty, American Enterprise Institute, Martens, European Council, Foreign Relations, REUTERS, US Marine Corps, Center for Strategic, International Studies, NATO, Russia, Democrats, House Republicans Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Russia, Ukrainian, Iran, North Korea, Donetsk Oblast, Europe, Zaporizhzhia region, Russian, Soviet Union, Belarus, Africa, Balkans, America

The 30-day review was submitted to Austin on Thursday. Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said portions of the review are classified but the department will release what it can of the review. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesIt took another four days before the reason for his hospitalization was disclosed. The review was directed on Jan. 8, by Austin's chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, and was done by Jennifer Walsh, the Pentagon's director of administration and management. She said it must examine the existing process for when a secretary transfers decision-making authorities and who should be notified, and make recommendations for improvement.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Pat Ryder, Austin, Ryder, Joe Biden, Kathleen Hicks, Kelly Magsamen, Jennifer Walsh, Magsamen Organizations: WASHINGTON, Pentagon, Austin, National Security Council, Joint Chiefs of Staff Locations: Maj

☆ Britain suffered an embarrassing aircraft carrier malfunction just as China started showing off its new carrier
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China touted the capabilities of its latest aircraft carrier just as a British vessel suffered an embarrassing malfunction that caused it to pull out of NATO exercises. Chinese state broadcasters recently devoted considerable airtime to discussing the Fujian, the aircraft carrier it launched in 2022, Newsweek reported. It came as the Royal Navy announced that its flagship aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, had issues with a propeller shaft, meaning it had to withdraw from NATO's upcoming exercises. It is also stretching its naval capabilities by providing protection to vessels in the Red Sea targeted by Houthi rebels . And, quite simply, the Royal Navy doesn't have enough ships, particularly destroyers and frigates, he said.

Persons: HMS, Elizabeth, —, Wu Qian, Cao Weidong, Gerald R, Ford, Lord West, Prince Organizations: NATO, Newsweek, Royal Navy, Liberation Army, Popular Mechanics, Elizabeth British Royal Navy, US Naval Institute, Business, UK's Royal Locations: China, British, Fujian, East Asia, —, Taiwan, Elizabeth British Royal Navy China, Wales

☆ China's defense budget was reported as 3 times smaller than America's, but 2 analysts say the Pentagon is underselling Beijing's true military strength
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewBeijing's military spending and threat are likely far higher than portrayed by the Pentagon, which recently reported figures that indicate China's defense budget was nearly four times smaller than America's, two US analysts said on Monday. Peters and Beaver wrote that the Pentagon's assessment failed to account for China's military research spending. "Confusingly, the report does not attempt to account for either of these significant considerations in its treatment of China's defense budget topline," Peters and Beaver wrote. China's reported GDP for 2023 was around $17.8 trillion. "We should avoid overreacting to what seems to be this more accurate data of China's military push," Stavridis wrote.

Persons: —, Robert Peters, Wilson Beaver, Peters, Beaver, Sen, Dan Sullivan, James Stavridis, Stavridis Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Business, Allison Center for National Security, Heritage Foundation, The Defense Department, Beaver, Beijing's, National Atlantic Treaty Organization, Bloomberg, China's Locations: China, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, Alaska

☆ SOCOM is after new tech to help special operations forces spot, track, and take out urban threats without being seen
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

US special operations forces on the island join their Taiwanese comrades in major urban centers, getting ready for intense urban combat. Looking toward potential future fights like this, US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is after new tech that would help its special operators survive and thrive in urban warfare. Modern Urban WarfareThe ongoing conflict in Ukraine has shown that urban warfare remains as deadly as ever. Advertisement"When I hear the words 'urban warfare' I think of buildings, close ranges, challenges in fires support, CAS [close air support], or MEDAVACs [medical evacuations]. During the industrial counterterrorism campaign against al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Iraqi insurgency, US special operations forces got a good taste of urban warfare and its complexities.

Persons: —, SOCOM, Justin Moeller, isn't Organizations: Service, Business, Operations Command, 5th Special Forces Group, US, Staff, Urban, Wagner Group, Delta Force, Green Berets, Islamic Locations: China, Taiwan, Pacific, Beijing, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Afghanistan, Qaeda, Iraq, Islamic State, Syria, Mosul

☆ Trump White House Pharmacy Improperly Provided Drugs and Misused Funds, Pentagon Report Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Ahmed AbouleneinWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House Medical Unit during the Trump administration provided prescription drugs, including controlled substances, to ineligible staff and spent tens of thousands of dollars more on brand-name drugs than what generic equivalents would have cost, a Pentagon report shows. The unit, part of the White House Military Office, did not comply with federal government and Department of Defense guidelines, the report, which was released on Jan. 8, found. Ineligible staffers received free specialty care and surgery at military medical facilities and were provided with prescription drugs including controlled substances, in violation of federal law, the report also found. "The White House Medical Unit's pharmaceutical management practices ineffectively used DoD funds by obtaining brand‑name medications instead of generic equivalents and increased the risk for the diversion of controlled substances," it said. Opioids and sleeping medications were not properly accounted for and were tracked using error-filled or unreadable handwritten records, the report said.

Persons: Ahmed Aboulenein WASHINGTON, Trump, ineffectively, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Lester Martinez, Lopez, Ahmed Aboulenein, Leslie Adler Organizations: White, Medical Unit, Pentagon, Military Office, Department of Defense, Medical, Military Health

☆ Powerful weapons the US sent to Ukraine are breaking down — but the Pentagon says it can't help fix them
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It means the US can't repair weapons it sent to Ukraine, the Pentagon's press secretary said. AdvertisementThe Pentagon said that US weapons are faltering in Ukraine because it can't help the Ukrainians repair them. Ryder explained that at this time, the US can't help Ukraine "sustain systems that we've previously provided to them." But repair assistance can't be provided without further aid from Congress, Ryder said. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby warned that without new approvals its ability to support Ukraine would dry up.

Persons: —, Patrick Ryder, Ryder, John Kirby, Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Ukraine, US, White, National Security, Business Locations: Ukraine, Poland, Ukrainian, Mexico, Russia

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