The U.S. is gearing up to announce a major new weapons package for Ukraine on Jan. 20, as top military leaders from around the world gather in Germany to discuss how to help Kyiv in its fight against Russia, according to three U.S. officials and another person familiar with the discussions. While the next tranche will include additional artillery, ammunition and armor—likely Stryker armored combat vehicles—the U.S. is not expected to sign off on American M1 Abrams tanks, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks ahead of an announcement.
South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have signed two memorandums of understanding to improve bilateral defense ties, during a visit by the South Korean president to the Gulf kingdom. The first memorandum called for both countries to continue efforts in joint investment, research and technological development to further develop bilateral cooperation in the arms industry, according to a news release. The second memorandum would see the UAE join a South Korean development program for the next generation of multimission cargo aircraft.
With the Kremlin doubling down on plans to build 1.5 million-man military by 2026, it’s clear that “Russia is not done” as a threat, warned the U.S. Army Chief of Staff. So, Gen. James McConville said, the US and its European allies must invest in their defense industries for the long term. That means more than just scaling up production of key munitions such as guided missiles and 155 mm howitzer shells, McConville made clear this morning.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has moved into the next phase of its Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors program, or CRANE. The project is centered on an experimental uncrewed aircraft, which Aurora Flight Sciences is developing, that does not have traditional moving surfaces to control the aircraft in flight. Aurora Flight Sciences' CRANE design, which does not yet have an official X-plane designation or nickname, instead uses an active flow control (AFC) system to maneuver the aircraft using bursts of highly pressurized air.
In late September, the Air Force and Space Force announced a new pilot program that would grant certain applicants who test positive for THC, the main psychoactive component in marijuana, a chance to retest and possibly join the ranks. Air Force recruiting officials told Military.com that they anticipated 50 cases annually, based on previous years. But in the first three months the program was in place—between Sept. 30 and Dec. 31, 2022—the Air Force Recruiting Service granted waivers to 43 applicants who tested positive for THC.
Turkey’s F-16 fighter jet request from the United States and the possibility of another operation by Turkish military in northern Syria likely topped the agenda during talks in Washington when Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu met Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Jan. 18. Analysts say any F-16 deal would be tied to Turkey’s timely support for NATO’s expansion and no military action in northern Syria. Turkey made an official request to purchase 40 F-16 jets and nearly 80 modernization kits from the United States in 2021. Biden administration officials have expressed support for the proposed sale, subject to approval by Congress.
Enlisted personnel generally earn more money than their civilian counterparts, but have a higher rate of food insecurity, according to a new Rand Corp. Report. That is just one of the findings that puzzled researchers who conducted the congressionally mandated study of military food insecurity for the Defense Department.
Every time someone buys a Super Soaker, it's an investment in the future. An Air Force veteran and inventor of the Super Soaker, Lonnie Johnson receives a residual from the sale of the toy squirt guns, which he uses to develop new ideas at his facility in Atlanta. So far, he's developed a ceramic battery with three times the charge of a lithium ion battery and an efficient hydrogen engine with no moving parts.