Radar Sweep
Israel Says It Has Killed Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year’s attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Oct. 17. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel’s most-wanted man.
US Had No Role in Israel Operation That Killed Hamas Leader: Pentagon
U.S. forces were not involved in the Israeli operation that killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar on Oct. 17, though American intelligence has aided Israel’s search for the group’s leaders, according to the Pentagon. “This was an Israeli operation. U.S. forces were not directly involved,” press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters.
How to Wield Better Data in Defense
Whether it’s perfecting supply chain logistics, sorting out the intricacies of a complex wargame, or planning key operational moves in a campaign, data holds the key to better decisions for the U.S. Air Force. Learn more about how industry and the military are better using data to improve outcomes.
Zelensky Tries to Sell His ‘Victory Plan’ to European Leaders
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine told leaders of the European Union’s 27 member states in Brussels on Oct. 17 that his country desperately needed their support for his plan to end the war, which he maintains could happen no later than next year, but which it is unclear how much Ukraine’s allies will embrace.
Lawmakers Ask Armed Services Committees to Keep Governors’ Authority over National Guard
A bipartisan group of senators and congressmen are asking the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to keep language in the annual defense bill that would give governors’ the final say over transferring National Guard forces to the federal government.
No Pilots, All Cargo: Airbus Tests Loading of Autonomous Helicopter
Airbus U.S. Space and Defense has conducted its first demonstration as part of a program to build an autonomous, uncrewed version of the UH-72 Lakota transportation helicopter for the U.S. Marine Corps.
Valkyrie Drone Links with F-35s as Marines Pursue ‘Autonomous Collaborative Killer’ Capability
The Marine Corps’ latest flight testing of its jet-powered XQ-58A Valkyrie drone saw the system use common tactical data links to share targeting information with F-35 stealth fighters, according to the service. The event, which occurred earlier this month during the annual Emerald Flag joint exercise at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, comes as the Corps is conducting research, development, test and evaluation for its Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer-Portfolio (PAACK-P) program.
Northrop Aims to Double GMLRS Rocket-Motor Output
Northrop Grumman is preparing to pump out 14,000 rocket motors per year, roughly doubling production as the Pentagon works to replace weapons sent to Ukraine and rebuild stockpiles against future wars. Over the last four years, the defense giant delivered 5,000 to 6,000 solid rocket motors per year to power Lockheed Martin’s Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System.
As Ukraine Builds Better Drones, Do American Firms Still Have a Role?
In mid-September, massive explosions erupted in Toropets, a city in eastern Russia near the border with Belarus. Ukraine had struck a military warehouse, igniting bombs and missiles in what Pentagon officials later said was Russia’s largest loss of Russian ammunition during the war — hundreds of thousands of rounds destroyed. Almost as important, though, was how Ukraine conducted the strike.
The Army’s ‘Most Challenging’ Unmanned Threat? Group 3 Drones
As drone warfare proliferates in conflicts like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Army official tasked with forging plans to fend off drone attacks on troops sees mid-side uncrewed platforms as perhaps the biggest threat.
Secretive Phoenix Ghost Kamikaze Drones Rushed to Ukraine Finally Come Out of the Shadows
The secretive Phoenix Ghost kamikaze drone, first developed for the U.S. Air Force and supplied to Ukraine in its ongoing fight against Russia, has finally emerged publicly. We now know for sure that Phoenix Ghost is not a single design, but a family of increasingly larger and longer-ranged one-way attack munitions from AEVEX Aerospace.
Firefly to Launch True Anomaly’s Jackal Vehicle for US Space Force Mission
Space technology firm True Anomaly has selected Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha rocket to launch its autonomous Jackal orbital vehicle for a U.S. Space Force rapid-response demonstration mission, the companies announced Oct. 17.
A-10 Demo Team Commander Reflects on Final Months Flying the Warthog
U.S. Air Force Maj. Lindsay “MAD” Johnson is the first female pilot to command the Air Force’s A-10 demo team. In an interview with Business Insider, Johnson recounted her time at the helm of the A-10 demo team as they showcased the Warthog’s combat capabilities at airshows around the world.