Defense One
The U.S. is expected to announce the largest weapons and aid package yet for Ukraine on Aug. 23, a $3 billion package that would push total U.S. aid well past the annual budgets of at least eight federal programs, including the entire judicial branch. Timed for the 41st anniversary of Ukrainian independence, the announcement would arrive just five days after the previous one unveiled a $775 million package of advanced missiles, armored vehicles, and artillery.
FedScoop
A shakeup could be coming soon in the way the Pentagon manages its joint all-domain command and control efforts. A defense official close to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks confirmed that Hicks sees the need for “additional, high-level oversight for JADC2 coordination.” The JADC2 initiative aims to better connect the U.S. military’s many sensors, shooters, and networks across land, air, sea, space, cyberspace, and the electromagnetic spectrum—and ultimately enable battlefield commanders to make better data-driven decisions faster.
The Drive
The Air Force is looking to finally make real progress on acquiring a new aerial target drone that can act as a surrogate for stealthy fifth- and near-fifth-generation fighter jets operated by potential adversaries, such as China's J-20 and Russia's Su-57. This comes as the service appears to be moving toward winding up purchases of QF-16 Viper Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) drones, which are converted from retired F-16 fighters.
Air Force Magazine
The Air Force is transitioning to more virtual training to give pilots an edge, saying some higher-end maneuvers cannot be replicated in real-time training. Learn more on Air Force Magazine’s Live, Virtual & Constructive Training page.
Politico
The government keeps way too many secrets, the Biden administration asserts. The sprawling spy community—made up of 18 separate intelligence agencies—sees it quite differently. But despite differing worldviews, the White House is quietly gearing up to try to pierce the veil, according to eight government officials and secrecy experts and internal documents.
Defense News
The majority of U.S. consumers expect cyberattacks on uncrewed military vehicles but think the military should use them anyway, according to a poll. In an online poll conducted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International and Fortress Information Security Team, a cybersecurity company, 76 percent of respondents said they believe a cyberattack on uncrewed military vehicles would be a “big deal,” though 65 percent said such an attack should not stop their use.
Military.com
Army and Air Force maternity uniforms are expected to be back in stock at Exchange stores and online within about a month after demand that surpassed expectations left shelves empty for months. Stores at installations have struggled to keep camouflage uniforms for expectant mothers available.
Washington Technology
Five companies have won positions on a potential 11-year, $4.8 billion contract to help the Air Force develop and use technologies for intelligence production. The Air Force received 10 bids for the contract going by the NOVASTAR acronym that has a five-year base period followed by a six-year option period.
Via Satellite
Space Systems Command’s Wide Field of View (WFOV) Testbed is online, and the bus checkout is complete, Millennium Space Systems announced. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory’s Blossom Point tracking facility successfully acquired WFOV and is operating the satellite. The NRL said WFOV will now move to operational location and conduct checkout with the dedicated WFOV antenna located in Geraldton, Australia.
One More Thing
Military.com
The National WWII Museum is one of the greatest cultural assets we have in the United States, both memorializing the men and women who contributed to the war effort and educating new generations about the stakes of the conflict. The museum is set to premiere an outdoor multimedia experience called "Expressions of America" on Veterans Day 2022. Actor Gary Sinise hosts the program, which highlights the impact that individuals had during a time of war.
