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☆ Close US partners in the Middle East demand air defenses after Iranian drone attacks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US Congress has already asked DoD to develop a plan to equip the Peshmerga with air defenses. Iraqi Kurdistan expects the US to appreciate such stances and provide air defenses, given the high stakes for the autonomous region. Ceng Sagnic, chief of analysis of the geopolitical consultancy firm TAM-C Solutions, said “several considerations” are involved in supplying the Peshmerga air defenses. Turkey may not object to an American air defense provision to Iraqi Kurdistan under certain conditions. Advertisement“Using recent clashes as a reason to request additional US air defenses is likely to be viewed negatively in Ankara,” Ali Bakir, a Turkey expert and non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Middle East program, told BI.

Persons: —, America’s, Masrour Barzani, ” Mohammed Salih, ” Salih, Ceng Sagnic, ” Sagnic, Mazlum Kobane, ” Ali Bakir Organizations: DoD, Service, Kurdistan’s, NBC News, Foreign Policy Research Institute, TAM, C, ISIS, ”, Kurdistan Democratic Party, Patriotic Union of, Kurdistan Workers ’ Party, Syrian Democratic Forces, SDF, Reuters, US Locations: Kurdish, Syria, Turkey, Iraq’s Iran, United States, Iraqi Kurdistan, Jordan, Iran, Iraqi, Erbil, Jan, Washington, Iraq, American, Baghdad, Ankara, Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Kurdistan

☆ The White House Medical Unit operated a pharmacy that gave out controlled substances to ineligible Trump staffers, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The White House Medical Unit operated a pharmacy that distributed controlled substances, a new report says. AdvertisementThe White House Medical Unit gave out controlled substances to ineligible Trump staffers, according to a new report from the US Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. "The White House Medical Unit dispensed prescription medications, including controlled substances, to ineligible White House staff," the report says. Sample of the White House Medical Unit Controlled Substance Receipt Tracking Form. White House Medical Unit.

Persons: —, Trump, Walter Reed, General Organizations: White, Medical Unit, Service, Trump, US Department of Defense, White House, Medical, DoD

☆ 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

☆ Pentagon says it created more hoops to jump through on AI weapons to calm fears it was 'building killer robots in the basement'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The update was partially to assure people that DoD wasn't "building killer robots in the basement," a senior official said. The US and some of its adversaries are making rapid progress on AI weapons, with lots of controversy in the mix. Last year, DoD updated its directive on autonomy in weapons systems, which was originally published back in 2012. AdvertisementThe move reflects the US' growing interest and progress in developing AI weapons systems. Other nations, however, had hoped to use the UN as a platform to propose restrictions and limit how autonomous weapons operate.

Persons: —, Kathleen Kicks, Dominic Garcia, William Pugh, Michael C, Horowitz, isn't, Henry M, Jackson, Devin M, Langer, Tiffany Price, Khalil Hashmi, Hicks Organizations: Defense Department, DoD, Service, Pentagon, of Defense, Air Force, Barksdale Air Force Base, Defense for Force Development, Center for Strategic, International Studies, AI, Technologies, Strategic, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Tyndall Air Force Base, United Nations, New York Times, UN, The Times Locations: China, La, Ukraine, Fla, United, Russia, Australia, Israel, Pakistan

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to install two more groundwater treatment systems at a former Michigan military base to control contamination from so-called forever chemicals, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin's office announced Friday. The base closed in 1993 as part of a base realignment. Pentagon documents show at least 385 military bases nationwide are contaminated with PFAS, mostly from firefighting foam used during training. DOD records released in 2021 showed PFAS had been detected in groundwater around Wurtsmith at levels up to 213,000 parts per trillion. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe Department of Defense announced in August that it would install two groundwater treatment systems near the base.

Persons: Elissa Slotkin's, PFAS, ” Slotkin, “, Tony Spaniola Organizations: U.S . Department of Defense, . Rep, Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Pentagon, Clarks, Department of Defense, Action Locations: Michigan, Clarks, Oscoda, Lake Huron, Wurtsmith

☆ Investing in Space: Pentagon's satellite constellation awards near $10 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Now we're pushing $10 billion in awards, to build more than 400 satellites, with seven companies in the mix. York Space has been tapped to make more satellites than anyone but Northrop Grumman, to the tune of $1.3 billion. – The Wall Street Journal / Deere Hyperspectral satellite imagery company Pixxel opens Bengaluru facility, a 30,000-square-foot facility in India for satellite manufacturing. – KeyBancBoldly goingKurt Vogel named as NASA associate administrator for the agency's space technology directorate, effective immediately, previously having been the director of space architectures at the agency. – NASAfor the agency's space technology directorate, effective immediately, previously having been the director of space architectures at the agency.

Persons: Yasin Ozturk, CNBC's Michael Sheetz, – Northrop, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Northrop Grumman, you've, Momentus, John Plumb, –, Artemis, – SpacePolicyOnline, Tom Mueller's, Redwire, KeyBanc, Kurt Vogel, Chiara Pedersoli, Marco Fuchs, – OHB, – OHB Frank Di Pentino Organizations: SpaceX, . Space Force, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Space Force, Space Development Agency, – Northrop Grumman, Lockheed, York, Space, Lab, Sierra Space, CNBC, CNBC NASA, Boeing, NASA, NASA ESA, Science, Technology, Industry, ISS, – NASA SpaceX, Deere, Street, Deere Deere, KKR Locations: Cape, Florida, United States, U.S, Brazil, Bengaluru, India

☆ Pentagon inspector general announces review of Austin hospitalization, notification
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks to the press on August 18, 2021, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The Defense Department inspector general's office has launched a formal investigation into Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's failure to notify the White House and Congress of his emergency hospitalization. The inspector general's office will "assess whether the DoD's policies and procedures are sufficient" to ensure proper communication when senior leadership is unavailable for medical or other reasons. The inspector general's office is independent from the Pentagon. In a statement Jan. 5, Austin said that he "could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed."

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Lloyd Austin's, Austin, Jan, Joe Biden, Biden's, Jeff Zients, Walter Reed, Biden Organizations: US, Pentagon, The Defense, White House, Congress, Senate, Walter Reed National Military Medical, National Security Council Locations: Washington ,, Puerto Rico, Washington, Austin, Red, The U.S, Baghdad, Iranian

☆ Hospitalized defense secretary didn't tell the White House about his cancer for a month
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was quietly hospitalized without informing the White House. According to a new statement from officials, Lloyd hid his prostate cancer diagnosis for a month. AdvertisementDefense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been diagnosed with prostate cancer for a month before informing the White House, officials confirmed Tuesday. Prostate cancer is second to lung cancer as the most deadly form of cancer facing American men, per the American Cancer Society, with 1 in 43 men dying from the disease. However, when caught early, prostate cancer is treatable and has a 99% survival rate over five years, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Lloyd, —, Austin, Patrick S, Ryder, John Kirby, Kathleen Hicks, Walter Reed, Jake Sullivan, Biden Organizations: White, Service, Defense Department, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Defense, National Security, American Cancer Society, Prostate Cancer Foundation, Business, Critics, Pentagon, Department of Defense Locations: US, Israel, Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Air Force is expanding its study of whether service members who worked with nuclear missiles have had unusually high rates of cancer after a preliminary review determined that a deeper examination is needed. In response, medical teams went out to each nuclear missile base to conduct thousands of tests of the air, water, soil and surface areas inside and around each of its three nuclear missile bases; Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. For years the missileers were told in multiple Air Force reviews that there was not cause for concern. While the Air Force review is looking at a broader set of cancers, the number of self-reported NHL cases is striking because the community of missile launch officers is very small.

Persons: We’ve, Keith Beam, missileers, ”, Tory Woodard, ” Woodard, “, Barry Little, We’re Organizations: WASHINGTON, Air Force, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Minot Air Force Base, Warren Air Force Base, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S . Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, DOD, Veterans Affairs, The Air Force, Torchlight, NHL, National Cancer Institute, Torchlight Initiative, Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, 341st Missile Locations: Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ U.S. Destroyer, Commercial Vessels Attacked by Drones, Missiles in Red Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Nancy A. Youssef | Saleh Al-Batati | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The USS Carney and several commercial ships came under drone and ballistic missile attacks. Photo: Petty Officer 3rd Class Bill Dod/U.S. Navy/Associated PressA U.S. destroyer and several commercial ships operating in the Red Sea came under drone and ballistic missile attacks, a U.S. defense official said Sunday, marking the most significant escalation of a weekslong military attack on ships operating in those waters. The USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, struck a drone that was “in the direction of the ship” and launched from a Houthi-controlled part of Yemen, the official said.

Persons: Carney, Bill Dod, Arleigh Burke Organizations: U.S . Navy, Associated Press, U.S Locations: Red, U.S, Yemen

☆ Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Texas are major beneficiaries of US aid to Ukraine, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Biden Administration has circulated a map showing the states that have benefited from Ukraine aid. President Biden hopes to convince Congress to continue sending aid to Ukraine to help combat Russia's invasion. Three out of eight Republican members of Congress from Pennsylvania, three out of six from Arizona, and 18 out of 25 from Texas have been voting against sending aid to Ukraine, Reuters reported. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has recently become a surprise advocate for increasing aid to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported. AdvertisementDespite previously voting against sending more aid to combat Russian President Vladimir Putin's invading forces, Johnson has used his position as speaker to publicly label Ukraine aid a key priority.

Persons: Biden, —, Biden's, Joe Biden, JONATHAN ERNST, Getty, Mike Johnson, Vladimir Putin's, Johnson, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Biden Administration, Service, Capitol, Republicans, Reuters, Reuters . Pennsylvania, Street Journal, Congress, America, America . Patriot, Artillery, US Department of Defense, DoD Locations: Ukraine, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Israel, Gaza, Russia, Reuters ., Europe, America, Pennsylvania , Ohio , Texas

☆ Trump’s avalanche of dishonesty: Fact-checking 102 of his false claims from this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +111 min

Below is a fact check of 102 of Trump’s false claims from the 12 speeches. But contrary to Trump’s claim, it’s not true that people had been attempting for decades to create such an initiative. Trump’s aid to farmersIn speech after speech, Trump claimed that he had given US farmers $28 billion from China. Even if the poll result is off, it’s clear that Trump’s claim that “nobody wants them” is not true. He said he was an airline pilot.”Facts First: Trump made a false claim while mocking Biden for making false claims.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, “, ”, Mexico’s, ‘ Trump, Defense Department –, ” Theresa Cardinal Brown, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, ” Trump, I’ve, Todd Harrison, Harrison, It’s, Trump’s, ” Ben Cahill, Nobody, Jimmy Carter’s, Barack Obama, isn’t, El Salvador –, Obama, we’d, Obama’s, Webster, Covid, Wuhan ”, They’d, they’d, you’d, Scott Gottlieb, ” Gottlieb, Trump Trump, it’s, Abraham, Aaron David Miller, Miller, Dana El Kurd, Qasem Soleimani, they’ve, we’re, We’re, ’, Iran haven’t, ” Matt Smith, Biden’s, Smith, Ali Vaez, Kpler, Biden Trump, Iran “, Democrats ”, that’s, Jimmy Carter, Carter “, Carter, ‘, Hillary Clinton, Kari Lake, Bill Gates, Gates, ” Chris Wallace, Chris Wallace, Hunter Biden, “ Chris Wallace, ‘ He’s, ‘ ” Trump, Wallace, “ you’re, “ Biden, ‘ You’re, Wallace interjected, Rather, you’ve, ’ ” Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James &, ” Molchanov, Tim Woody, Woody, autoworkers, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, Joe Biden’s, Erin Mellon, Gavin Newsom, Mellon, ” Vonette Fontaine, Biden “, CNN’s Matt Egan, Egan, ” Biden, Europe Trump, United Kingdom “, Brent, Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James, Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy, De Haan, Matt Smith, Matt Egan, Afghanistan Trump, we’ve, Krista Wiegand, Wiegand, ” Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Qasem, Bibi, Netanyahu, Soleimani, Asad, Mark Milley, Hezbollah Trump, Steven Cheung, John Kirby, Cheung, Kirby, Iran’s, ” Ali Vaez, Joseph Amon, Washington –, Faiq Zidan, Zidan’s, Zidan, Abu Mahdi al, China Trump, Ukraine Trump, Letitia James, James, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, You’re, Bragg, Colangelo, Tanya Chutkan, I’m, Jack Smith, Bill Clinton, That’s, everybody’s, Letitia James –, Al Capone’s, Al Capone, Capone, Brad Schwartz, CNN couldn’t, Schwartz, Eliot Ness, MAGA, “ MAGA, …, White, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Inflation Trump, Bacon, Joe, PolitiFact, Trump . Howard Gleckman Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, Republican, Trump Trump, Republican Jewish Coalition, Department, ISIS, Trump’s, Democratic, Congress, Defense Department, former Defense Department, Center, US Customs, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Energy Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, IHS, Islamic, The State Department, Customs Enforcement, Policy Institute, ICE, El Salvador, ”, Merriam, The New York Times, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Abraham Accords, United Arab Emirates, West Bank, Hezbollah, State Department, Carnegie Endowment, International, Arab Center Washington DC, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, Obama, US International Trade Commission, Washington Post, U.S . International Trade Commission, New England lobstermen, England lobstermen, Americas, Crisis, government’s Energy, Administration, Washington Free Beacon, Energy Information Administration, Democrats, Biden, Electoral, Georgia, Michigan, Carter, Democrats can’t, Republicans, Alabama, Arizona, Fox News, ” Energy, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Wildlife, Alaska Industrial Development, Export Authority, Raymond James & Associates, Wilderness Society, Cox Automotive, Pew Research Center, New York Times, National Oceanic, California Gov, California, American Petroleum Institute, Union, West, Energy, American Automobile Association, AAA, GasBuddy, New Hampshire, Houston, Keystone XL, Obama administration’s State Department, –, Foreign, Military, DoD, Afghan, Defense, Policy, Taiwan News, “, University of Tennessee’s Center for National Security, Foreign Affairs, Israeli, NBC, Jerusalem Post, Yahoo, Pentagon, ” CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Post, National Security, Group, US government’s Defense Intelligence Agency, Narcotics Bureau, Global Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Justice Department, Washington, Judicial, Popular Mobilization Forces, Customs and, Middle East, Customs, Protection, CBP, Border Protection, Kiel Institute, European Union, New York, New, ExxonMobil, Trump University, Trump Foundation, Manhattan, Attorney, federal Justice Department, Department of Justice, Washington DC, Presidential Records, Presidential, Mar, Biden White, MAGA Republicans, Inflation, Heritage Foundation, Trump ., Brookings Tax, Urban Institute Locations: New Hampshire, New York City, Saudi, Florida, al Qaeda, New York, Texas, Iowa, Mexico, “, U.S, Houston, Iraq, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nord, Germany, Russian, Trump’s, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, El, Washington, ”, ” In Texas, Covid, China, Wuhan, Italy, France, Abraham, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, New England, England, Kpler, Malaysia, Oregon, Alabama, Maricopa County, Arizona, Arizona’s, Moscow, Alaska, East, South Carolina, California, “ California, West Virginia, Virginia, United Kingdom, West Texas, “ U.S, Los Angeles, Venezuela, Mississippi , Louisiana, Canada, United States, Paris, Taiwan, “ China, Iranian, that’s, –, Singapore, Iraqi, San Diego, Kiel, York, Manhattan, York’s, Chicago, Philadelphia, Georgia, Qaeda

In truth, negotiators have been working for months and hope to release the text of a final bill as soon as this week. The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, is one of the few major pieces of legislation Congress passes every year, a practice started in 1961. The Democratic-led Senate's version of the bill, which passed with broad support from both parties, did not address such issues. "The House bill includes several provisions to require accountability from this administration and to end the 'woke' policies being forced on service members by left-wing bureaucrats," Rogers said. Representative Adam Smith, the top House Armed Services Democrat, called for compromise, saying, "Threatening the ability of DoD to function as we force our way to get what we want is a dangerous game to play."

Persons: Leah Millis, Mike Rogers, Rogers, Adam Smith, Patricia Zengerle, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S . Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, House Armed Services Committee, National Defense, Ukraine, Republican, Democratic, Republicans, Armed Services Democrat, DoD, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S

☆ US-China military hotlines are reopening to prevent things like risky run-ins from triggering a full-blown crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US and China will resume military-to-military communications, Biden announced Wednesday. The US and Chinese militaries often operate in close proximity to one another, and there have been some risky run-ins. AdvertisementThe US and China are resuming military-to-military communications, the US and China said Wednesday after more than year of mostly radio silence. USINDOPACOMThe spike in risky and dangerous intercepts reported by US officials began before China officially cut off mil-to-mil comms. DoD officials, too, have said opening lines between the US and China would "ensure competition does not veer into conflict."

Persons: Biden, —, Joe Biden, People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, Nancy Pelosi's, USINDOPACOM, That's, Ely Ratner, China's Xi, Xi, he's, CNN's MJ Lee Organizations: Pentagon, Service, of Defense, PLA, U.S ., China Defense, China, Maritime, People's Liberation Army, US Air Force, US, DoD, Pacific Command, PRC, US Defense Department, Foreign Ministry Locations: China, People's Republic of China, San Francisco, Iran, U.S, Taiwan, United States, Hainan, South China, South, US

☆ The US is sending more Patriot defense systems to the Middle East. They cost $1.1 billion each.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Patriot is a missile air defense system that can reach aerial targets up to 66,000 feet. It's a highly sought-after defense system that costs $1.1 billion each. Still, people familiar with the matter told the Journal that the US had sent six, doubling the number of defense systems that were already deployed. According to the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, a nonprofit that promotes ballistic missile defense development, Israel currently operates three Patriot batteries. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe missile defense systems are produced by Raytheon, a contractee of the US government, and cost about $1.1 billion each.

Persons: —, Defense Lloyd J, Austin, It's Organizations: US, Service, Patriot, Street Journal, Pentagon, Associated Press, Defense, of Defense, Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, DOD, Raytheon, Congressional Research Service, CRS, Center for Strategic & International Studies Locations: Iraq, Syria, Iran, East, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Russian

☆ Risky intercepts show China's fighter pilots are 'willing to challenge' the US as their planes increasingly meet in the air, former aviator says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

US officials released a video of a Chinese fighter jet intercepting a US aircraft over the South China Sea. A former American aviator told Insider the incident highlights how Chinese pilots are "willing to challenge" the US in the area. "What we're witnessing is an increasingly competent and better trained Chinese flying cadre" that is "willing to challenge the US and allied flights occurring near the PRC air defense identification zone," retired Cmdr. The US says it documented more than 180 coercive or risky intercepts by Chinese aircraft since fall 2021. Two US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft sit parked on the flight line at MacDill Air Force Base in 2021.

Persons: —, Guy Snodgrass, INDOPACOM, Snodgrass, isn't, Qian Baihua, Lauren Cobin Organizations: Pentagon, Service, US, Pacific Command, US Air Force, People's Liberation Army Air Force, Changchun Air Show, Changchun Dafangshen, Getty, East China Seas, North, America, US Department of Defense, China, People's, Army, MacDill Air Force Base Locations: South China, American, China, People's Republic of China, US, Chinese, South, Changchun, Changchun Dafangshen Airport, Jilin Province, East, Russian, Russia

☆ Investing in Space: The military doled out $6 billion for rocket launches — and it's not done yet
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. The orders are in and we now finally know how the Space Force's most recent block buy of rocket launches shook out: In the end, the military dished out over $5.6 billion in contracts to SpaceX and ULA for 48 launches. The folks over at Space Force's Space Systems Command shared with me the full breakdown of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 contract awards. In total, Space Force assigned United Launch Alliance (ULA) with 26 missions worth $3.1 billion, while SpaceX got 22 missions worth $2.5 billion. One important thing to keep in mind: This discussion is entirely about ordering launches, not actually launching the rockets themselves.

Persons: CNBC's Michael Sheetz, SSC's, Doug Pentecost, ramped, Pentecost, it's, I've, we've Organizations: SpaceX, Space Force, Systems Command, National Security, United Launch, DOD, Space, SSC Locations: ULA, U.S

☆ Escalating Militia Attacks on U.S. Troops Risk Washington, Tehran Confrontation
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Nancy A. Youssef | Gordon Lubold | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder briefed reporters last week about a spate of militia attacks on U.S. forces. Photo: Sra Cesar Navarro/Dod/Zuma PressWhen a drone laden with explosives was found late last month lodged in the upper floors of U.S. barracks in Iraq, Pentagon officials quickly realized how close the suspected militia-launched weapon came to killing American personnel. In this case, the explosives failed to detonate, and there were no reports of injuries. But as the number of these attacks escalates, so too does the risk of a deadly incident that will demand a response from the U.S. military, edging it closer to direct confrontation with Iranian-backed groups it suspects are responsible.

Persons: Pat Ryder, Cesar Navarro, Dod Organizations: Pentagon, U.S . Locations: U.S, Iraq, Iranian

☆ Republicans clash for hours on the Senate floor as tempers flare over Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blockade of military promotions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Republican senators tore into their GOP colleague Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Wednesday night. They'd had enough of Tuberville's months-long blockade of military promotions. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementA handful of Senate Republicans on Wednesday evening tore into fellow Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville for hours, arguing that his blockade of more than 300 military promotions has damaged the US armed forces and risks serious long-term consequences. Historically speaking, military promotions have sailed through the Senate while lawmakers have used procedural hurdles to slow down political appointees.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, They'd, Lindsey Graham, —, Republican Sen, Lindsey Graham of, Tuberville, I've, Biden, Lloyd Austin, Dan Sullivan, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Ernst, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, Eric Smith, Smith's Organizations: GOP, Service, Republicans, Republican, Auburn, The Alabama Republican, Alaska Republican, US Marine Reserves, Marine Corps, DOD, Politico Locations: Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Alaska

Leading Senate Democrats are teasing a new path forward to bypass one senator’s blockade of military promotions, leaning on GOP frustrations that bubbled to the surface this week and culminated in a dramatic confrontation from members of the senator’s own party. A group of Republican senators took to the Senate floor late Wednesday to attempt to circumvent a dispute in which Sen. Tommy Tuberville has single-handedly held up more than 300 military promotions over a Pentagon abortion travel policy. The stunning scene comes nine months into the blockade and as Democrats – and more recently fellow Republicans – have grown anxious to move the military promotions forward. It would require the support of all Democrats and independents and at least nine Republicans. But they suggested that Tuberville should take his issue to the courts, rather than holding up the chamber and setting a dangerous precedent.

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville, –, Tuberville, Chuck Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Jack Reed, Kyrsten, Richard Blumenthal, servicewomen, ” Sen, Joni Ernst, I’m, Ernst, ”, Schumer, …, Biden, Mitt, Blumenthal, Joe Manchin, ” Manchin Organizations: Republicans, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Democratic, GOP, Pentagon, Tuberville, United States Senate, DOD, Iowa Republican, Utah Republican Locations: Alabama, Rhode Island, Arizona, Richard Blumenthal of, Israel, Mitt Romney, Utah, West Virginia

☆ Pentagon launches UFO reporting form
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Kyla Guilfoil | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Think you have evidence of a clandestine government UFO program? Now there's a form for that. "We are exploring methods for how the public can do so in the forthcoming third phase of the secure reporting mechanism," he said. Kirkpatrick told reporters that his office has been tasked with gathering information on UFO incidents going back to 1945, according to a Defense Department transcript. Sensitive or classified information should not be included in the form, Kirkpatrick said, explaining it's meant as an "initial point of contact" with his office.

Persons: Sean Kirkpatrick, Kirkpatrick, that's, I'd Organizations: Department of Defense, U.S . Government, Defense, UAP, DoD, U.S . Locations: U.S

☆ Fact Check: Video shows US soldiers arriving in Romania in 2022, not Israel in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Video showing U.S. soldiers land in Romania in June 2022 has been falsely shared online as showing U.S. Marines arriving in Israel during the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. “HAPPENING NOW: Thousands of U.S. Marines have just landed in Israel WW3 HIGH ALERT” read posts sharing the dated video on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Screenshots from the video were also shared on Facebook and TikTok as showing a scene from Israel. However, the low-resolution video contains flopped excerpts from a longer video uploaded to a media-distribution service funded by the United States Department of Defense (DOD) that shows soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) arriving in Mihail Kogainiceani, Romania in June 2022. Video shows U.S. army soldiers arrive in Romania in June 2022, not U.S. marines in Israel in October 2023.

Persons: Read Organizations: Marines, U.S, HIGH, Facebook, United States Department of Defense, DOD, 101st Airborne Division, Assault, Corps, United, Reuters, Pentagon, DoD, Thomson Locations: Romania, Israel, Mihail Kogainiceani, Europe, United States, Iran, U.S

☆ Video shows a Chinese fighter jet buzzing B-52 bomber that came as close as 10 feet, US says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A video from US Indo-Pacific Command shows a Chinese fighter jet buzzing a US B-52 aircraft. INDOPACOM said the "unsafe" intercept and excessive speed put both aircraft in danger. The US has reported a spike in aggressive behavior by Chinese pilots, reporting hundreds of cases in the past two years. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US military said a Chinese fighter jet pilot threatened the safety of a B-52 bomber in a dangerously close intercept over the South China Sea, publishing video of the flyby that officials claimed got their aircraft within as close as 10 feet.

Persons: INDOPACOM, — Organizations: Pacific Command, US, Service, US Air Force, PRC, US Department of Defense, People's, Army, Pentagon, DoD Locations: Chinese, South China, US, Republic of China, South, East China, China

☆ Raytheon's CEO said on an earnings call that the company stood to 'benefit' from DoD budget increases due to the war in Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Caroline Haskins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

President Biden requested an additional $106 billion to the DoD budget, citing the Israel-Hamas war and other global conflicts. The CEO of military contractor RTX said Tuesday the company could "benefit" from an increased DoD budget. RTX Corporation, formerly known as Raytheon, is a long-time US defense contractor which has worked on supplying Israel's Iron Dome since 2014. Liwag asked how quickly RTX Corporation, formerly known as Raytheon Corporation, could profit if Congress approves President Biden's request for a DoD budget increase in 2024. He called the budget request "a smart investment" in American security and emphasized the need to support Israel's Iron Dome.

Persons: Biden, RTX, —, Greg Hayes, Hayes, Kristine Liwag, Morgan Stanley, Liwag, Biden's, you've, Liwang, Israel, Kevin McCarthy's, Jake Sullivan, USA, Sam Deneke Organizations: RTX Corporation, Raytheon, Service, RTX, US Department, Raytheon Corporation, Israel, Raytheon Defense, CNBC, Israeli Defense Force, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, DoD, Republican Party, National, U.S . Department of Defense, Corporation Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Gaza, U.S, Egypt

☆ China roughly doubled the number of missiles it could use to go after US bases in Japan, new Pentagon report shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US Department of Defense released its annual China Military Power Report last week. The report says China's has increased in missile stockpiles, doubling its supply of the DF-21 missile. The increase in what an expert called "Japan Killers" gives China greater capability to threaten US bases. The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force's includes a significant increase in DF-21 medium-range ballistic missiles. The new figures were released last week in the Department of Defense's annual China Military Power Report.

Persons: China's, —, That's, GREG BAKER, Tom Shugart, who's, that's, Shugart, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Roosevelt, Mandel Ngan Organizations: US Department of Defense, China, Service, People's Liberation, Pentagon, Department, Taiwan . Military, Getty, NATO, US, Center, New, New American Security, DF, . Navy, Japan, Self, Defense Force, Reuters, US Navy, Defense, RAND, PLA, Artillery, White, American, DoD Locations: China, Japan, People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Beijing, AFP, Guam, New American, Korea, Soviet, Washington , DC

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