Radar Sweep
Austin, Blinken Head to South Korea Amid Fresh Warnings from Pyongyang
The threats from North Korea are reminiscent of the fiery rhetoric Pyongyang leveled at Washington in the early months of the Trump administration.
Checking DOD’s Homework on Acquisition Reforms Top of Mind for Sen. Kaine
Changes to the defense acquisition systems are likely to be at the top of the list for things the Senate Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee will investigate in the coming year. Subcommittee Chairman Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who is taking hold of the gavel for the first time, says he wants an update on where the Defense Department is on implementing the hundreds of reforms Congress sent the Pentagon over the past five years.
Aerospace Nation: Airborne Augmented Reality
Watch the Air Force Association’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies’ “Aerospace Nation” virtual panel discussion on Airborne Augmented Reality with long-time SASC staffer Robert “Otis” Winkler and Red 6’s retired USAF Gen. James M. “Mike” Holmes and Dan Robinson. This discussion examines how augmented reality and artificial intelligence can help transform the way the Air Force prepares pilots for future conflicts and ultimately enhance our national security.
In a Cyberattack Disaster, DOD Needs Backup Squad to Fix Networks, Restart Critical Systems
With a growing number of cyber breaches, lawmakers and outside experts are pushing to increase the role of the National Guard and National Reserve if a catastrophic cyberattack were to occur. The idea is to create a special cyber reserve force for crises, and to do a better job of using the cyber expertise of Guard members.
Veteran Scientist Stefanie Tompkins Takes the Helm at DARPA
Tompkins is a former military intelligence officer in the U.S. Army and previously worked at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency for nearly a decade. From 2007 until 2017 Tompkins served as program manager and deputy director of the agency’s Strategic Technology Office, DARPA chief of staff, as director of the Defense Sciences Office, and as the acting deputy director of the agency.
DARPA Explores Tech to Boost 5G Signals
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking novel ways to boost the strength of radio signals to help DOD expand 5G wireless connectivity around the globe, without just pumping out more electrical power, says Tim Hancock, program manager for the effort.
Guard Officials Say Troops’ March on Republican Congresswoman’s Office Wasn’t a Political Statement
National Guard officials are insisting that a march on a controversial congresswoman’s office by a large group of uniformed members wasn’t a political statement but instead an effort to raise awareness about their operations. But the stunt is once again raising questions about the politicization of military members by advocates and elected officials, at a time when tensions over the military’s continued role on Capitol Hill remain high.
ISIS Affiliate in Mozambique Riding a ‘Wave of Momentum’
A violent Islamic extremist group is “riding a wave of momentum” in sub-Saharan Africa, cementing ties with the Islamic State group and posing a greater challenge to governments there, say analysts and U.S. officials.
2 Men Charged with Assaulting Federal Officers with Dangerous Weapon on January 6
The defendants sprayed two U.S. Capitol Police officers—including Air National Guard veteran Brian D. Sicknick—and a Metropolitan Police Department officer with a chemical substance.
The Pentagon Finally Wants to Make Jetpack Soldiers a Reality
Forget hypersonic missiles and AI drones, the Pentagon is finally looking into the real future tech we’ve always wanted: jetpacks! In a bid for research proposals released earlier this month, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency requested ideas for a “portable personal air mobility system” that could be used for special operations, search and rescue, urban combat, maritime interdiction, and even logistics missions.