Like in its formal budget, the submarine industrial base is the top item in the Navy’s annual unfunded wishlist, which also aims to replace missiles used recently in the Red Sea.
By Justin Katz and Valerie InsinnaUS Indo-Pacific Command’s $11 billion unfunded priority list includes 44 programs, from missiles to maritime mines.
By Ashley Roque and Valerie Insinna“The opportunity for our Navy personnel to learn from our AUKUS partners demonstrates meaningful progress along Australia’s pathway to acquiring nuclear-powered submarines,” Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said.
By Colin ClarkChina wants “to create tense, uncomfortable situations in the hope that US and partner forces will vacate the space that every force has a right to be in,” Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo said.
By Colin ClarkThe investment by Australia and the United States into funding the new Google internet cables means the Pacific islands can avoid becoming integral parts of China’s global data collection.
By Colin ClarkWhile the company says a prototype launcher is “nearly complete,” in the meantime the Army is receiving Raytheon’s AIM-9X interceptor with plans to confirm that thermal management problems have been solved.
By Ashley RoqueThe service anticipates fielding its first Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) in 2024, a C2 system that will be a centerpiece for the air defense effort.
By Ashley Roque“They worked basically until the end of their duty day, got up early the next morning to finish it off, ran the engine and had it ready to go within about 12 hours of the C-130 touching down.”
By Colin Clark“The PRC’s goal is developing capabilities to disrupt critical infrastructure in the event of a future conflict,” NSA Cybersecurity Director Rob Joyce told Breaking Defense in a statement.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.“I think about the value of training forces that never previously had a capability like that and then we provide that capability to them. And they’re able to conduct an intercept in that way,” Gen. Charles Flynn said. “To me that’s that’s the bigger issue.”
By Colin Clark“[It] is an incremental path. There is no end state,” according to MDA chief Vice Adm. Jon Hill, who noted the military would “beautify” incoming platforms to make them more palatable to locals.
By Ashley RoqueOne of MDA’s biggest investments in FY24 is for the Next Generation Interceptor, with $2.1 billion requested.
By Theresa Hitchens