Breaking Defense
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on May 29 heaped praise on U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific for stepping up defense spending and improving their capabilities, saying that peace and prosperity in the region must be underwritten through strength from the U.S. and its regional allies.
Breaking Defense
Developing capabilities for operations in cislunar space, including offensive space control, is among the top new science and technology priorities for U.S. Space Command, according to the command’s top scientist.
Forbes
“President Trump has an opportunity to accelerate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Drawing on the logic of his pressure campaign against Iran, he could initiate a Baltic air and maritime pressure campaign that incentivizes Vladimir Putin to move to the bargaining table,” writes retired Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
Defense One
A new cyber-focused military service branch would sit under the Army if one senator’s proposal comes to fruition. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., is spearheading a markup amendment to the Senate’s 2027 National Defense Authorization Act that would create a “Cyber Force” as the next armed service branch.
The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
In this episode of the Aerospace Advantage, our team assesses Congress’ response to the FY 2027 defense budget request. We also discuss SDA’s new leadership, as well as Space Force’s requirement for a third heavy launch site. When it comes to airpower, we explain the importance of the MQ-9 in current ops, plus the significance of E-7, EA-37B, and B-21 program developments. Our team wraps up exploring the latest trends in the Ukraine conflict.
Reuters
The United States, Britain and Australia are working together to develop unmanned undersea vehicles as part of their trilateral AUKUS defence pact, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters on May 30. AUKUS said in a joint statement that delivery of the vehicles will start in 2027.
Defense One
Until recently, Gen. Frank Donovan ran the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, the white-hot center of the Pentagon’s drive for affordable mass and battlefield robots. Now he’s in charge of U.S. Southern Command, which is working hard to put the DAWG’s products to use.
DefenseScoop
Known as “Operation Jailbreak,” an initial swarm of engineers from roughly 20 defense companies descended on Fort Carson earlier this month with the overall goal of getting the Army’s vast stable of disparate military systems to talk to each other.
The Associated Press
The U.S. military said it carried out another strike May 30 on a boat accused of smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three men in the fourth attack this week and putting the total death toll at 205.
CBS News
New intelligence shows that nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since Vladimir Putin launched his country's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to Anne Keast-Butler, the new head of the United Kingdom's communications and cyber spy agency.
POLITICO
Romania will ask NATO to fast-track air defense deliveries and will also shutter its only Russian consulate after a Russian drone crashed into an apartment building. ... Toiu said NATO’s top commander, U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, has “agreed” to previous proposals by Bucharest asking the alliance to shift military equipment to the country.
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The Wall Street Journal
On a ridge overlooking the South China Sea, a group of U.S. Marines in tactical vehicles took aim at a fixed-wing drone soaring toward them. The cannons on the vehicles fired, puffs of smoke wafting from the weapons. After a few tries, the Marines hit their target and the drone tumbled toward the sea.
The Hill
U.S. Central Command announced on May 30 that it had prevented another vessel from docking at an Iranian port amid a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
One More Thing
Military.com
Hundreds of people turned out in the community of Mooresville, Ind., for a memorial service in honor of fallen Air Force Capt. Seth Koval. The 38-year-old was among six airmen killed in a plane crash in March in Iraq, and his death has left his hometown in suburban Indianapolis in mourning over the local military hero.
