Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Tony Bertuca is chief editor of Inside the Pentagon, the flagship publication of InsideDefense, where he focuses on defense budget and acquisition policy. He previously worked for the Sun-Times News Group in his hometown of Chicago, IL, and at the New Hampshire Union Leader in Manchester, NH. Tony has also served as managing editor of Inside the Army. He has a master's degree in journalism from Boston University.
The Pentagon comptroller has been charged with building a team to reform the Defense Department's 1960s-era planning, programming, budgeting and execution (PPBE) process, according to a new memo from Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.
Several senior defense officials speak at a number of industry events this week.
The latest U.S. military aid package to Ukraine includes a variety of weapon systems, according to the Defense Department and State Department.
The senior Pentagon official who oversees U.S. military special operations forces said today that the Replicator program is likely to become a key enabler in the Indo-Pacific region for SOF operators, who, in some cases, are working and training in small enough groups to serve as a "proof of concept" for what is being envisioned for the new arsenal of rapidly procured, autonomous drones.
Pentagon technology chief Heidi Shyu is directing the Defense Science Board to provide her with all of its key findings and recommendations from the past decade to help guide the Defense Department's investments in the coming years.
The Pentagon and State Department need to do a better job of tracking foreign transfers of U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.
The Senate Appropriations Committee wants to know what actions the Pentagon has taken to mitigate concerns that U.S. defense research and development funding is being exploited by China.
The State Department has approved a possible $3.5 billion foreign military sale of AH-64E Apache helicopters to South Korea, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notice.
Congress provided $22.7 billion in unrequested funding to the Defense Department in fiscal year 2024, with most of the additional cash going toward weapons procurement and development, according to a new report from the Pentagon comptroller.
The State Department has approved a potential $5 billion foreign military sale of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors to Germany, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency announcement.
The United States has announced new export licensing exemptions for Australia and the U.K. meant to allow the AUKUS partners to substantially increase their flow of weapons sales and transfer some classified military technologies.
The Senate Appropriations Committee says it is concerned the Defense Department might move to consolidate or "supplant" the budgetary liaisons who traditionally assist lawmakers in crafting annual spending legislation.
The State Department has approved a nearly $19 billion proposed foreign military sale of up to 50 F-15IA and F-15I+ aircraft to Israel, along with a host of other weapon systems, according to a recent Defense Security Cooperation Agency announcement.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events this week.
The Defense Department has announced a $125 million transfer of U.S. weapons to Ukraine, including air defense capabilities, multimission radars and anti-tank weapons.
Pentagon acquisition chief Bill LaPlante said yesterday he is planning to travel to the Indo-Pacific region soon to help establish a defense industrial forum with the national armaments directors of U.S. allies, much like his regular engagements with NATO nations in Europe, which have been focused on increasing weapons production and bolstering supply chains.
Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said the fledgling Replicator program represents a breakthrough in Pentagon acquisition that could herald a "golden age" of defense innovation and production if Congress is willing to extend greater trust.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is clear in its version of the fiscal year 2025 defense spending bill that it does not support the kind of broad overhaul recommended by a key reform commission to update the Pentagon's sprawling, 1960s-era budgeting system.
Senior defense officials are scheduled to speak at several events this week.
The Senate Appropriations Committee wants the Pentagon to provide Congress with future "surge capacity" costs for critical munitions as well as estimate how much industry cost-sharing or co-investment can be expected to support potential increases in production.