Editor’s Note
The Daily Report will not publish Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will be back in your inbox Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Future SOUTHCOM Boss Sees Need for More Resources
The Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy released in November made it clear that the Western Hemisphere is the new priority theater for the Pentagon. To put that into action, U.S. Southern Command needs to grow, the Marine Corps general nominated to lead SOUTHCOM told lawmakers.
US, Japanese Defense Chiefs Vow to Strength Alliance; USFJ Changes Proceed
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Jan. 15 as the two nations look to further solidify their ties in the face of growing Chinese and North Korean threats.
What to Watch as Lawmakers Race to Pass 2026 Defense Budget by Jan. 30
House and Senate lawmakers say they’re hopeful Congress will pass a defense appropriations bill in the coming weeks to avoid a repeat of last fall’s government shutdown, with only having a handful of working days remaining before the Jan. 30 deadline. Yet legislations still have to release a compromise version of defense spending legislation, which will have to sort through major differences between the House and Senate versions advanced last summer.
Operation Secret Squirrel
At 6:35 a.m. local time, B-52G crews from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., take off to begin what would be the longest bombing mission in history at the time. Carrying 39 AGM-86C Air Launched Cruise...
Radar Sweep
European Troops Arrive in Greenland as Talks with US Highlight ‘Disagreement’ over Island’s Future
The Associated Press
Troops from several European countries continued to arrive in Greenland on Jan. 15 in a show of support for Denmark as talks among representatives of Denmark, Greenland, and the U.S. highlighted “fundamental disagreement” over the future of the Arctic island.
Trump Was Told Attack on Iran Wouldn’t Guarantee Collapse of Regime
The Wall Street Journal
President Trump was advised that a large-scale strike against Iran was unlikely to make the government fall and could spark a wider conflict, U.S. officials said, and for now will monitor how Tehran handles protesters before deciding on the scope of a potential attack.
Pentagon Moving Carrier Strike Group Toward Middle East amid Tensions with Iran
The Hill
The Pentagon on Jan. 15 said it is moving a carrier strike group from the South China Sea toward the Middle East as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to rise.
DIU Offers $100M in Prizes for Voice-Controlled AI-Enabled Drone Swarm ‘Orchestrator’
Breaking Defense
The Pentagon’s embassy in Silicon Valley, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), is offering up to $100 million dollars in prizes for companies to prototype new user-friendly “orchestrator” control software for whole formations of unmanned air, ground, and water vehicles.
As Tensions Rise in the Pacific, US Partners Say They Are in for the Long Haul
Defense One
The military balance is “shifting dramatically and rapidly” in the Indo-Pacific, and “provocative military activities are intensifying” in the western and southern Pacific, Japan’s minister of defense said this week.
GDIT Tapped to Deliver Zero-Trust Security Solution at Nearly 200 Air Force Bases
DefenseScoop
General Dynamics Information Technology will upgrade the networks at 187 Air Force bases with a zero trust-based capability, the company announced Jan. 14.
Another 340 Firms Approved to Bid on Golden Dome Work Worth up to $151B
Defense One
Another 340 companies and schools have been added to the Golden Dome missile defense contract vehicle, leaving only a small handful of the original 2,400-plus applicants out of the running for a pool of work worth up to $151 billion.
Trump’s Cyber Chief Pick Tells Lawmakers He’ll Assess Efficacy of CYBERCOM-NSA Dual-Hat Role, If Confirmed
DefenseScoop
In a confirmation hearing with lawmakers on Jan. 15, President Donald Trump’s nominee for top uniformed cyber chief said he would evaluate the efficiency of the dual-hat leadership role between U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency if he’s confirmed to the job, touching on one of the community’s most heated policy debates.
Pentagon Officials Blame Government Shutdown for Delaying Annual Suicide Report
Task & Purpose
The Pentagon’s annual suicide report for 2024 is delayed because of the government shutdown, officials claimed. The annual report, which includes rates of suicides and attempts across the active duty, Reserve and National Guard forces, typically comes out in the fall and addresses numbers from the previous calendar year.
Space Force Taps Slingshot to Build AI Adversaries for Orbital Wargames
Breaking Defense
Slingshot Aerospace announced a $27 million contract to help modernize training of Space Force Guardians, including the use of the company’s TALOS AI to simulate an adversary’s actions during orbital warfare scenarios.
This Is the Greatest F-15EX Photo Yet
The War Zone
The image was taken at Portland International Airport, which also hosts Portland Air National Guard Base, whose prominent tenant is the 142nd Fighter Wing/123rd Fighter Squadron, better known as the Redhawks. This celebrated unit was chosen as the first F-15EX operator, rapidly transitioning the Eagle II from testing to operational status.
