Radar Sweep
Former Air Force Acquisition Boss Joins Drone Maker Volansi
Former Air Force acquisition chief Will Roper will join the board of directors of Volansi, a commercial drone delivery company looking to expand its defense revenue, the company announced March 3. As assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology, and logistics, Roper oversaw an annual budget of $60 billion in funding for research and development, testing, procurement and modernization of all Air Force and Space Force acquisition programs.
AFRL, NORTHCOM Eye Commercial Internet Sats for Arctic
U.S. Northern Command is working with Air Force Research Laboratory to test commercial SATCOM capabilities in the Arctic, Air Force officials say—a key part of NORTHCOM head Gen. Glen D. VanHerck’s new strategy for beefing up joint operations in the ever-more contested far north.
Biden Secretly Limits Counterterrorism Drone Strikes Away from War Zones
Requiring higher-level approval is a stopgap measure as officials review whether to tighten Trump-era targeting rules and civilian safeguards.
AI Commission Sees ‘Extraordinary’ Support to Stand Up Tech-focused Service Academy
Artificial intelligence tools will soon become the “weapons of first resort,” and will accelerate the damage caused by cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns, former Deputy Defense Secretary Robert O. Work said March 1.
Don’t Worry, Your Saved-Up Leave Won’t Disappear Before You Can Use It
Normally, service members are permitted to carry over just 60 days of leave from one fiscal year to the next, but the Department of Defense doubled that in April due to COVID-19-induced travel restrictions.
DC Guard Chief Agrees ‘Optics’ Slowed Deployment During Capitol Riot
Army officials on a call with law enforcement officials Jan. 6 expressed concerns about the optics of deploying the National Guard to the U.S. Capitol, the commander of the D.C. National Guard said March 3. “The Army senior leaders did not think that it looked good, it would be a good optic. They further stated that it could incite the crowd,” Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, commanding general of the D.C. Guard testified to a pair of Senate committees.
OPINION: America’s Forever Wars Have Come Back Home
“It’s no coincidence that, after years of fighting abroad, the United States is beset with paranoia, loss of trust, and increasingly bitter divisions,” writes Stephen M. Walt, the Robert and Renée Belfer professor of international relations at Harvard University.
Watch Russia’s Su-57 Felon Advanced Combat Jet Let Its 30mm Cannon Rip
Huge flames leap out of the side of the jet fighter as it fires its 30mm internal gun on the ground.