An MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, assigned to the “Dragons” of Marine Medium-Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, prepares to land on the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) Feb. 15, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas V. Huynh) WASHINGTON — Navy and Marine Corps officials told House lawmakers that a prospective multi-ship buy of three San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks and one America-class amphibious assault ship could net the service around $900 million in savings. That number came out ..read more

Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery, 25th Infantry Division work with M119 Howitzers to enhance their basic artillery skills on Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, June 14, 2020. (US Army/1st Lt. Stephanie Snyder) WASHINGTON — To better understand the risks repetitive blasts from weapons are having on a soldiers’ brains and help stem that damage, the US Army is taking a three-pronged approach: get a baseline of recruits’ brains, survey the market for wearable technology that can track what is happening to them and beef up protective gear. “Starting this June, we will be doing a cogniti ..read more

T-45 Goshawk trainers on the carrier USS Washington. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Michael E. Wiese) WASHINGTON — The US Navy said today it is continuing to assess its trainer aircraft fleet nearly a week after one plane had an “in-flight engine malfunction,” prompting the service to pause “all T-45C Goshawk” operations. The aircraft, assigned to Training Air Wing One, executed a “precautionary landing” in Mississippi on April 12 following the engine malfunction. None of the crew reported injuries and damage to the aircraft is still being assessed. “Out of an abund ..read more

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner, director of Defense Information System Agency and the commander of the Joint Force Headquarters, delivers remarks during the DISA Central Field Command change of command ceremony at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, July 7, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Foster) WASHINGTON — As the Defense Information Systems Agency beefs up its role in “combat support,” agency chief Lt. Gen. Robert Skinner previewed a “hot off the presses” five-year strategy — due out this Monday — that puts new emphasis on keeping commanders connected, from th ..read more

The M-346, produced by Leonardo, showed off some of its weapons options at the 2023 Paris Air Show. (Aaron Mehta/Breaking Defense) WASHINGTON — Executives from Textron and Leonardo are hopeful that the real-world experience of the Italian firm’s M-346 aircraft will help them land the right to supply the US Navy with its next-gen trainer, executives told Breaking Defense in a recent interview. The two announced in September that they would go after the upcoming training program, which would likely put them up against Boeing’s T-7A and the Lockheed Martin-KAI T-50. In its effort to replace the ..read more

Undersecretary of the Navy Erik Raven testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on military recruiting challenges, Washington, D.C., March 22, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich) In the exclusive op-ed below, Navy Undersecretary Erik K. Raven makes the case for why Congress needs to support the service’s fiscal 2025 budget request. Our nation is at an inflection point. How we respond to the tremendous challenges and unprecedented opportunities we face today will determine the direction of our world and impact the security and prosperity of the American people for generat ..read more

The National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, firing a missile. The system, jointly produced by the US and Norway, is a critical part of Ukraine’s air defense. (Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace) WASHINGTON — Earlier this month, Norway’s government announced plans for a dramatic increase in defense spending over the next 12 years, with a long list of weapon acquisitions it plans to make. Among the key priorities outlined was an increase in air defense capabilities at all levels. But even as Oslo looks into its options for a new long-range, high-end missile defense system, the ..read more

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer Michael J. McCord provide testimony at a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing on the Department of Defense fiscal 2025 budget request, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. March 17, 2024. (DoD photo by Chad J. McNeeley) WASHINGTON — With House lawmakers poised to consider a series of supplemental spending bills this weekend, Pentagon Comptroller Mike McCord disclosed today that the depar ..read more

United States Representative Mike Rogers speaks during a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington DC, United States on February 29, 2024. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images) WASHINGTON — House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers is backing an Air Force proposal to transfer Guard units tasked with space missions into the Space Force, warning that the Guard advocates should not “waste their time” lobbying against the move, he told Breaking Defense today. “I’m fully supportive,” of the proposal, said Rogers, R-Ala., following a ..read more

A truck is carrying Iranian-made Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) past Iranian flags during a military parade marking the anniversary of Iran’s Army Day at an Army military base in Tehran, Iran, on April 17, 2024. (Photo by Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images) DUBAI — Iran’s massive retaliatory strike against Israel may have failed to do any significant damage, but analysts tell Breaking Defense that the attack sent a clear message through the region: that Iran has a formidable arsenal, one capable of providing deterrence against any aggressive action. The April 13 late night attack a ..read more