DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ 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

☆ Middle East Crisis Senior Israeli Military Official Offers to Resign After Oct. 7 Intelligence Failures
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Mr. Netanyahu said in a social media post that his government would “act by all means” against any such move. The sanctions, if imposed, would not hold up the military aid that was just approved in Congress. The Israeli military disciplined three of the unit’s commanders after the investigation. Human rights organizations have long accused the Israeli military justice system of whitewashing wrongdoing and the military of acting with impunity. More than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed during the six months of war, according to Gazan health officials.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr, Netanyahu, Axios, Netzah Yehuda, Leahy, Yehuda, Omar Abdelmajed Assad, “, Assad’s, Biden, Benny Gantz, Yoav Gallant, Antony J, Blinken, Jacob J, Lew, Gallant, Mick Mulroy, ”, ” Natan Odenheimer, Gabby Sobelman Organizations: West Bank, Biden, Netzah, Jewish, Israel, Pentagon, State Locations: States, Gaza, Israel, Israel’s, Iran, U.S, United States

☆ Top of Kharkiv’s giant TV tower crashes to ground after Russian missile strike
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Maria Kostenko | Andrew Carey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Kyiv CNN —The top section of a giant television tower in Kharkiv has crashed to the ground after the structure was hit by a Russian missile, a Ukrainian official says. Video circulating on social media shows the moment the top of the mast broke, rotated through 180 degrees, and fell to earth. Subsequent videos also posted on social media show the mast lying where it fell, surrounded by trees at the foot of the tower. The television tower in Kharkiv, Ukraine, after its top crashed to the ground following a Russian missile strike on April 22, 2024. A month ago, the city’s main power plant was destroyed in a Russian strike, along with all electricity substations in the city, according to the mayor.

Persons: Oleh Syniehubov, Sofiia Gatilova, Russia –, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Kharkiv, Reuters, US, Pentagon Locations: Kharkiv, Russian, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Reuters Kharkiv –, Russia

☆ ‘Our artillery is starving:’ Ukraine holds its breath as US set to approve $60bn of military aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Andy Carey | Tim Lister | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The Ukraine aid bill, passed in the United States’ House of Representatives on Saturday, is now due to go to the Senate on Tuesday. At the top: artillery shells and air defense systems. “To win, we need ammunition… our artillery is starving,” an artillery reconnaissance commander with the 110th mechanized brigade, callsign “Teren,” told CNN after the vote on Saturday. While Ocheretyne itself is of no strategic value, it sits on a ridge, making it a desirable military target. “We need front-line air defense as much as we need protection for our cities and villages,” Zelensky said.

Persons: Joe Biden, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Teren, Velyka, Patrick Ryder, we’ve, Mark Warner, Chasiv Yar, Rob Lee, Russian Su, Anatolii Stepanov, ” Zelensky, Dmytro Kuleba, ” Kuleba, CNN’s Andy Carey, Victoria Butenko, Daria Tarasova, Svitlana Vlasova Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, United States ’, 110th, CNN, Ukraine’s Eastern Command, Pentagon, US Department of Defense, Senate Intelligence, CBS News, Sunday, –, Kremlin, Nazi, Getty, Patriot, Tactical Missile Systems, Warner, US, Ukrainian Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, United, Russian, Avdiivka, Donetsk, Germany, Poland, Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk, Chasiv, Nazi Germany, AFP

Ukraine’s Race to Hold the Line The days of lightning battlefield breakthroughs may be over. N Anti-tank ditch 1 2 Dragon’s teeth 1 mile 3 Trenches This defensive line in southern Ukraine runs a staggering 27 miles. 25 miles KHERSON N Anti-tank ditch 1 Dragon’s teeth 2 1 mile 3 Trenches This defensive line in southern Ukraine runs a staggering 27 miles. 10 miles Anti-tank ditch 1 Dragon’s teeth 2 3 Trenches 15 miles Ditches. 25 miles N 1 Anti-tank ditch 2 Dragon’s teeth 1 mile 3 Trenches This defensive line in southern Ukraine runs a staggering 27 miles.

Persons: Copernicus, Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy, Christopher G, Cavoli, Chasiv Yar, James Rands, Janes, Rands, ” Organizations: U.S . House, Analysts, Infantry, Reuters, LUHANSK UKRAINE New, Institute for, American, Pentagon, Kurakhove, Defenses, “ Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, KHERSON, Wiesbaden, Germany, Kherson, Zaporizhia, LUHANSK UKRAINE, DONETSK ZAPORIZHIA, Russia KHERSON CRIMEA, ZAPORIZHIA, Russia KHERSON, CRIMEA, Avdiivka, Europe, Marinka, UKRAINE, London, “ Ukraine

☆ Ukraine is given a reprieve by the U.S., but faces race against the clock over weapons supplies
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Ukrainian servicemen monitor the situation along the front via drones in the direction of Kreminna, Ukraine as Russia-Ukraine war continues on 31 March 2024. Defense analysts argue that while the funding could help breathe new life and morale into Ukraine's beleaguered military campaign, aid and supplies must be sent to Ukraine immediately. "It's unlikely this will create immediate parity with the Russian volume of fire, but it will help close the gap," Savill said. They point out that further U.S. aid is not guaranteed, particularly given the uncertain outcome of the presidential election later this year. One top U.S. general told Congress earlier in April that Russia was firing five artillery shells for every one fired by Ukrainian forces, and that this disparity could double in the coming weeks.

Persons: it's, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, DANA, Matthew Savill, Savill, tranche, RUSI's Savill, Chasiv Yar, Roman Pilipey, Donald Trump, Timothy Ash, Ash, — Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, Ukraine, Republicans, Democratic, U.S, Senate, Defense, London, Pentagon, Kyiv, Spartan, Afp, Chatham House, RBC BlueBay Asset Management Locations: Kreminna, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Israel, Taiwan, Ukrainian, Washington, Russian, Czech, Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Roman, British, Chasiv, Donetsk, Eurasia, Western, Luhansk, Ocheretyne, Avdiivka

☆ US considers deploying extra military advisors to Ukraine as Russia looks set to ramp up offensives
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe US is considering sending additional military advisors to its Kyiv embassy as Russia continues its offensive operations in Ukraine, Politico reported. They would also assist the Ukrainian military with weapons maintenance, one of the officials and the person familiar with the plans said. Currently, we are considering sending several additional advisors to augment the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) at the Embassy." Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the West against sending troops to Ukraine. "The Russian military command will likely intensify offensive operations and missile and drone strikes to pursue operationally significant effects that will certainly become harder to achieve against well-provisioned Ukrainian forces."

Persons: —, Patrick Ryder, Vladimir Putin, Emmanuel Macron, Putin, Chasiv Yar — Organizations: Service, Politico, US, Business, Pentagon, DOD, of Defense Cooperation, Embassy, DoD, U.S . Embassy, NATO, for, Anadolu Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Getty, Chasiv, Donetsk

☆ Vital US arms and ammo could reach Ukraine in days once Senate passes military aid bill as expected, Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Pentagon is expediting preparation for a military aid package, awaiting Senate approval. The $95 billion aid bill, expected to pass next week, designates $60 billion for Ukraine. AdvertisementThe Pentagon could rush vital air defense weapons and artillery shells to Ukraine within days if the military aid bill clears the Senate as expected and receives President Joe Biden's signature, said the Department of Defense. The bill is widely expected to pass the Senate in the coming days. Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesThe new aid package addresses critical shortages of Ukrainian units, including 155 mm ammunition for NATO-standard artillery systems and medium-range rocket artillery.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, Biden, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Pat Ryder, Jens Stoltenberg Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Department of Defense, Washington Post, Republican Party, Anadolu Agency, Getty, NATO, Guardian, Officials, Pentagon Press, Air Force Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Asia, Russia, Ukrainian, Donetsk Oblast, Washington, Avdiivka, Russian

☆ Do Tanks Have a Place in 21st-Century Warfare?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Lara Jakes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The drone combat in Ukraine that is transforming modern warfare has begun taking a deadly toll on one of the most powerful symbols of American military might — the tank — and threatening to rewrite how it will be used in future conflicts. Over the last two months, Russian forces have taken out five of the 31 American-made M1 Abrams tanks that the Pentagon sent to Ukraine last fall, a senior U.S. official said. A vast majority of those are Soviet-era, Russian or Ukrainian-made tanks; only about 140 of those taken out in battle were given to Ukraine by NATO states. And Russia has so far lost more than 2,900 tanks, the Oryx data show, although Ukraine claims that the number exceeds 7,000. German Leopard tanks have also been targeted in Ukraine, with at least 30 having been destroyed, Oryx says.

Persons: Markus Reisner, Abrams, ” Organizations: Abrams, Pentagon, NATO, Leopard, Hudson Institute Locations: Ukraine, U.S, Austrian, Russia, Washington

☆ Kevin McCarthy is haunting Mike Johnson
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson can blame his problems on his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Anyone may have struggled to wrangle this slim Republican majority. He offered three seats on the powerful House Rules Committee to more conservative members. The Rules Committee keeps the House moving, but Johnson has been forced to maneuver around it in the face of likely opposition to major bills. AdvertisementFormer House Speaker Newt Gingrich summed up Johnson's reality rather grimly.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Johnson, Matt Gaetz, McCarthy's, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tom Cole, Cole, We've, George Santos, Santos, Newt Gingrich, it's, he's, Gingrich Organizations: Republican, California Republican, Caucus, Florida Republican, Georgia Republican, Speaker's, Democrats, Pentagon, Oklahoma Republican, Politico, GOP, CNN, Republicans, Rep Locations: California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma

☆ U.S. Military Aid for Ukraine Could Soon Flow Again
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( John Ismay | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Shipments of American weapons could begin flowing to Ukraine again soon after House approval of a long-stalled aid package, U.S. officials say, with goods from the Pentagon’s stockpiles in Germany shipped quickly by rail to the Ukrainian border. The measure would provide the Ukraine war effort with about $60 billion. A sizable amount is set aside to replenish U.S. defense stockpiles, and billions more would be used to purchase U.S. defense systems, which Ukrainian officials say are badly needed. For months, Ukrainian military officials have complained that political paralysis in the U.S. Congress had created critical munitions shortages in the war against Russia. Ukrainian troops on the front lines have had to ration shells, and morale has suffered.

Persons: Biden Organizations: U.S . Congress Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Ukrainian, Russia

☆ Ukraine's facing a perfect storm of problems, and a vote in Congress could make or break its war with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

The House is expected to soon vote on a long-awaited aid package including support for Ukraine and Israel. If the stalled aid package is approved, it remains to seen how the rollout of aid will go. Wojciech Grzedzinski/Anadolu via Getty ImagesWhile US lawmakers have spent months debating Ukraine aid, Russia has been given a golden opportunity. As the Russian war machine fires up, the army is putting pressure on Ukraine's defenses, seeing where it can potentially break through and seize territory. AdvertisementJohnson's planned foreign aid package comes in at a similar cost and includes about $61 billion for Ukraine.

Persons: —, Frederick Kagan, Kostiantyn, It's, Kagan, GENYA SAVILOV, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine's, Mick Ryan, 2S3, Wojciech Grzedzinski, it's, Franz, Stefan Gady, Gady, Ryan, Mike Johnson, Republican opposers, Johnson, Johnson's, Scott Peterson, Jose Colon, William Burns, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Lev Radin Organizations: Service, Washington DC, American Enterprise Institute, Business, Armed Forces, Getty Images, Australian Army, Ukrainian 63rd Brigade, Getty, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russian, Ukraine, NATO, Archer Artillery, Roman, Republican, Democrats, Republicans, Pentagon, Anadolu, CIA, Russia, UNITED STATES, Pacific Press, Ukrainian Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Washington, Chernigiv, AFP, Getty Images Ukraine, Russian, Lyman, Donetsk Oblast, Anadolu, Europe, Taiwan, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Izyum, China, North Korea, Poland, American

☆ Washington wrestles with ‘new equation’ of direct attacks between Iran and Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Alex Marquardt | Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Throughout the week, US officials had urged Israel not to retaliate for Iran’s unprecedented attack five days prior, when hundreds of missiles and drones were fired from inside Iran at Israel. US intelligence has long assessed that neither Iran nor Israel has any appetite for an outright war. Iranian officials have stated publicly that Iran’s policy toward Israel has changed. Then, on April 1, an Israeli strike on what Iran claims was an embassy in Syria killed seven officials, including two senior Iranian commanders. “Israel and Iran are going to be starting higher on the escalatory ladder for every future moment of conflict and that is incredibly dangerous,” said Panikoff.

Persons: Biden, ”, Hossein, Israel’s, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Israel, Bill Burns, George W, “, Frank McKenzie, ” McKenzie, Maher Al Mounes, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Jonathan Panikoff, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Karim Sadjadpour, Qassem Soleimani, Iran —, Iran messaged, Donald Trump, stridently, —, McKenzie Organizations: CNN, Israel, Iran, US, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, CIA, Bush Presidential Center, Iranian, US Central Command, Getty, Lebanese Hezbollah, Iran’s, Carnegie Endowmernt Locations: Washington, Israel, Iran, Tehran, ” Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran, Dallas, Syria, Syria's, Damascus, AFP, Lebanese, Iran’s, Iraq

☆ Israel’s Strike on Iran: A Limited Attack but a Potentially Big Signal
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( David E. Sanger | Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For more than a decade, Israel has rehearsed, time and again, bombing and missile campaigns that would take out Iran’s nuclear production capability, much of it based around the city of Isfahan and the Natanz nuclear enrichment complex 75 miles to the north. That is not what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war cabinet chose to do in the predawn hours of Friday, and in interviews, analysts and nuclear experts said the decision was telling. Israel said almost nothing about the limited strike, which appeared to do little damage in Iran. U.S. officials noted that the Iranian decision to downplay the explosions in Isfahan — and the suggestions by Iranian officials that Israel may not have been responsible — was a clear effort by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to avoid another round of escalation. Inside the White House, officials asked the Pentagon, State Department and intelligence agencies to stay quiet about the operation, hoping to ease Iran’s efforts to calm the tensions in the region.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, — Organizations: Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Pentagon, State Department Locations: Isfahan, Iran, U.S, Isfahan —, Israel

☆ Why was Iran struck by drones?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Israel carried out the strike inside Iran Friday morning, a US official told CNN. There were no reports of a missile attack, Iran’s National Cyberspace Center spokesperson Hossein Dalirian said on social platform X. The US “didn’t green light” an Israeli response, another senior US official told CNN. Video Ad Feedback Iranian journalist on how Iranian media reported the Israeli attack 02:19 - Source: CNNWhy is this happening now? Israel last week pledged, however, that it would “exact a price” from Iran in response to that aerial barrage.

Persons: Hossein Dalirian, ”, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, “, Mohammed Reza Zahedi, Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Israel, Beshara, ’, Yemen’s, Joe Biden, What’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir, ” Amir, Maha Yahya Organizations: CNN, National Cyberspace Center, United Nations, Islamic, Palestinian, Hamas, Israel, Iranian, Revolutionary Guards, Pentagon, Getty, Wednesday, Carnegie Middle East Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Isfahan, Iranian, Syria, Islamic Republic, United States, Gaza, Israeli, Damascus, Quds, AFP, Red Sea, Tabriz

☆ 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

☆ Atlas, a Humanoid Robot From Boston Dynamics, Is Leaping Into Retirement
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Johnny Diaz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Atlas, the humanoid robot that dazzled followers for more than a decade with its outdoor running, awkward dancing and acrobatic back flips, has powered down. On Wednesday, Boston Dynamics, the company that created it, announced the arrival of the next generation of humanoid robots — a fully electric robot (also named Atlas) for real-world commercial and industrial applications. For anyone worried about what would happen to the hydraulic bipedal machine (a robot home? A spokesman, Nikolas Noel, said that retirement would mean that the Atlas would move to its “robot retirement home,” which is to say that it would be “sitting in our office lobby museum” with other decommissioned robots. The old Atlas was used to research full-body mobility and to explore what was possible in robotics, Mr. Noel said.

Persons: Nikolas Noel, Noel Organizations: Boston Dynamics, Defense, Research Projects Agency, Pentagon

☆ Iran and Israel dragged their shadow war out of the dark, and it's much more dangerous now
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Iran and Israel have fought a deadly shadow war for decades. The two enemies have relied on proxy forces, assassinations, and strikes abroad to hit each other. AdvertisementA decades-long shadow war between Iran and Israel has been thrust into broad daylight. Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel last weekend has notably changed the dynamics of this conflict, and it's now more dangerous. Any Israeli military response to the attack risks an all-out confrontation with Iran and could plunge the region into even more violence.

Persons: —, Alma al, KAWNAT HAJU, Jonathan Lord, Israel, MAHER, MOUNES, Israel —, Joseph Votel, Votel, Christophe Van Der Perre Israel, Josep Borrell, Maj, Hossein, Lord Organizations: Service, Hezbollah, Getty Images Israel, Pentagon, Business, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Getty, US Central Command, REUTERS Locations: Iran, Israel, Tehran, Lebanon, Hamas, Gaza, Lebanese, Alma, AFP, Iraq, Syria, Israel's, Hormuz, Iranian, Damascus, Syria's, Arad, Spanish

☆ Live updates: Israel weighs response to Iran attack, delays Gaza city offensive
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani at the Pentagon on Monday. Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant discussed the aftermath of Iran’s unprecedented attack on Israel over the weekend, the readout said. The secretary also reiterated “steadfast” US support for Israel’s defense. Austin previously asked Gallant to notify the US ahead of any potential response to the Iranian attack, according to a US official. The two had spoken hours after Iran had launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Mohammed Shia, Chris Kleponis, Defense Lloyd Austin, “, Yoav Gallant, Austin, Gallant Organizations: US, Iraqi, Pentagon, Getty, Defense, Austin Locations: AFP, Israel, Iran

☆ 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

☆ Lockheed wins U.S. missile defense contract worth $17 billion, sources tell Reuters
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $17 billion contract to develop the next generation of interceptors that would guard the United States against an intercontinental ballistic missile attack, two industry sources briefed on the matter told Reuters. Both Lockheed and the Missile Defense Agency declined to comment. The sources did not indicate the length of the contract, but the first interceptor is expected to be operational in 2028. The NGI is currently in its technology development phase and will transition to its product development phase in May, according to written testimony submitted by the head of the Missile Defense Agency, Lieutenant General Heath Collins, last week. The United States then decided to restart the contract process to gather bids on designing the whole interceptor including the "kill vehicle."

Persons: Lockheed Martin, Walter E, General Heath Collins, Collins, Northrop Grumman Organizations: Lockheed, Astronautical, Washington Convention Center, Reuters, Army, Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, U.S . Missile Defense Agency, Defense, Missile Defense Agency, Pentagon, Boeing Locations: Washington , DC, United States, North Korea, Iran, U.S

☆ Pentagon Reviews Events Before Attack That Killed 13 U.S. Troops in Kabul
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Eric Schmitt | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A new Pentagon review of the events leading up to the bombing that killed 13 American service members at the airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, in August 2021, has reaffirmed earlier findings that U.S. troops could not have prevented the deadly violence. The review’s conclusions focus on the final days and hours at Abbey Gate before the attack, which also killed as many as 170 civilians. Some Marines who were at the gate have said they identified the suspected bomber — who became known to investigators as “Bald Man in Black” — in the crowds hours before the attack but were twice denied permission by their superiors to shoot him. But the review, building on a previous investigation made public in February 2022, rejected those accusations. The narrative of missed opportunities to avert tragedy has gained momentum over the past year among conservatives and has contributed to broader Republican criticisms of the Biden administration’s troop withdrawal and evacuation from Kabul in August 2021.

Organizations: Islamic State, Marines, Biden Locations: Kabul, Afghanistan

In the middle of the last century, as the United States and Russia rapidly amassed thousands of nuclear weapons, China stayed out of the arms race, focusing its energy on growing its economy and broadening its regional influence. Beijing did build hundreds of nuclear weapons during those years, but the nation’s leaders insisted their modest arsenal was merely for self-defense. Since China’s first nuclear weapons test, in 1964, the country has pledged loudly to never go first in a nuclear conflict — no matter what. Now there is increasing unease in Washington about China’s nuclear ambitions. China’s transformation from a small nuclear power into an exponentially larger one is a historic shift, upending the delicate two-peer balance of the world’s nuclear weapons for the entirety of the atomic age.

Organizations: Pentagon Locations: United States, Russia, China, Beijing, Washington

☆ How Israel and allied defenses intercepted more than 300 Iranian missiles and drones
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Israel’s military said Sunday that “99%” of projectiles fired by Iran were intercepted by Israel and its partners, with only “a small number” of ballistic missiles reaching Israel. In total, around 170 drones, more than 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel by Iran overnight Saturday, the military said. US officials said more than 70 drones and three ballistic missiles were intercepted by US Navy ships and military aircraft, without giving details of exactly what defenses were used to bring down the projectiles. The Iron Dome is the bottom layer of Israel’s missile defense, according to the country’s Missile Defense Organization (IMDO). The ballistic missiles that did reach Israel fell on the Netavim Air Base in southern Israel, Israel’s military spokesman said, adding that they caused only light structural damage.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, John Bolton, CNN’s Oren Liebermann, Biden, ” Biden, Menahem Kahana, Israel’s Rafael, CNN’s Irene Nasser, Eugenia Yosef, Benjamin Brown Organizations: CNN, Saturday, Israeli, Israel, US Navy, Aegis, Pentagon, Royal Air Force, Defense, US, country’s Missile Defense Organization, Getty, Defense System, Raytheon, Missile, Center for International, Strategic Studies, CSIS, Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, Netavim, Base, Israeli Air Force Locations: Iran, Israel, Britain, Israeli, France, Gaza, Sderot, AFP, United States, Iraq, Yemen

Search resuls for: "Pentagon"

25 mentions found