Saturday, August 13, 2022
Key Issues AETP China-Taiwan scenarios E-7 Wedgetail
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.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA), who in the past has been critical of Congress' willingness to increase the U.S. defense budget, said today the Russian invasion of Ukraine has provided a new moment of "clarity" for the Washington national security establishment that will likely lead to increased defense spending.
The Biden administration is proposing a $10 billion aid package to assist Ukraine in its fight against Russia -- including an immediate $4.8 billion increase to the Pentagon's budget for munition stock replenishment, cyber security operations, and NATO response forces support.
The Defense Department announced today it is canceling a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test previously scheduled for this weekend, citing heightened tensions with Russia, which recently put its nuclear forces on "special alert" during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
House and Senate lawmakers today voiced bipartisan support for the White House's $6.4 billion Ukraine emergency spending request that could be attached to an upcoming omnibus appropriations bill next week, though the details have become the subject of debate.
The Defense Information Systems Agency has awarded Leidos a contract to provide Defense Enclave Services worth potentially $11 billion, according to a Pentagon notice.
President Biden has officially nominated former Air Force acquisition chief Bill LaPlante to be under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, according to an announcement from the White House.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has named Peter Levine and Lisa Disbrow to serve on the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution Reform Commission, according to a Pentagon announcement.
The Defense Department is nearing completion of a new National Defense Strategy that is expected to keep its focus on China as the "pacing challenge," despite Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, said a senior defense official, who stressed the strategy would also prioritize Russia, but to a lesser extent.
Senior defense officials and defense lawmakers are scheduled to speak at a slew of public events this week, including at the Air Force Association's Warfare Symposium in Orlando, FL. President Biden is also slated to make his State of the Union address.
The White House has told Congress it needs $6.4 billion in emergency spending to assist Ukraine and NATO allies amid the ongoing Russian invasion, with $3.5 billion pegged for the Defense Department and $2.9 billion for the State Department, according to a Biden administration official.
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), the ranking Republican and former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced today he will retire next January.
The Defense Department is interested in possibly pursuing public-private partnerships to create regional hubs of microelectronics innovation, according to a Pentagon announcement.
The Defense Department in a new report has identified four supply chain "focus areas" in which "critical vulnerabilities pose the most pressing threat to national security," including hypersonic missile technology.
President Biden has ordered 7,000 U.S.-based troops be deployed to Germany to reassure NATO allies in the region amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to a senior defense official.
The Pentagon currently assesses that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a full-scale invasion into Ukraine so he can "decapitate" the government in Kyiv and install a new regime under his control, according to a senior defense official.
Russia now has 80% of the forces it has massed outside Ukraine "uncoiled" and ready to further invade beyond the two breakaway territories it currently occupies, according to a senior defense official.
At this time the Pentagon says it has no plans to request emergency supplemental funding from Congress to pay for U.S. operations related to the crisis unfolding in Ukraine, but the issue is poised to be decided on Capitol Hill and analysts say much could change in the coming weeks.
President Biden has ordered a host of U.S. military assets in Germany and Italy, including F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, be redeployed to bolster NATO nations in Eastern Europe amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to a senior defense official.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met today with Ukrainian Defense Minister Dmytro Kuleba, pledging the United States' support in the wake of Russia's "invasion" of Ukraine.
The United States announced today it is joining Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom in the joint release of the "Combined Space Operations Vision 2031."