Defense & Military

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein recently told President Donald Trump to boost the service’s readiness so it can perform all the critical missions it is tasked. Goldfein said Friday that he had five minutes to discuss the Air Force when the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which includes the Air Force’s top officer, […]

One week into his term, President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum that calls for rebuilding the U.S. military and requires the development of a new Nuclear Posture Review. The Jan. 27 order directs the development of a National Defense Strategy, encompassing a new Nuclear Posture Review “to ensure that the United States nuclear deterrent is […]

President Donald Trump signed on Friday a national security memorandum that calls for rebuilding the U.S. military and requires the development of a new Nuclear Posture Review. The order directs the development of a National Defense Strategy, encompassing a new Nuclear Posture Review “to ensure that the United States nuclear deterrent is modern, robust, flexible, resilient, ready, […]

Pat Host Defense Daily The woman who President Donald Trump plans to nominate to serve as the next Air Force secretary was subject to an Energy Department inspector general (IG) probe in 2013 that found she earned $450,000 from facility contractors without providing evidence that work was performed. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) asked […]

Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump announced Monday his intention to nominate Heather Wilson for the position of Air Force secretary. “Her distinguished military service, high level of knowledge, and success in so many different fields gives me great confidence that she will lead our nation’s Air Force with the greatest competence and integrity,” Trump said […]

A U.S. senator from New Mexico is calling on President-elect Donald Trump to keep current National Nuclear Security Administration and Defense Department leadership in their positions until replacements are appointed. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D) said Wednesday in a letter to Trump that he is concerned about NNSA continuity of operations, as Administrator Frank Klotz and […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in December hosted a preproposal conference for interested bidders for the protective force services contract at the Nevada National Security Site. Contract incumbent Centerra Group was among several companies that sent representatives to the meeting at the NNSA’s Nevada Field Office and site visit on Dec. 12 and 13. The others participants were ADC, […]

Dan Parsons Defense Daily In a lengthy 11th-hour memo to President Barack Obama, outgoing Defense Secretary Ash Carter laid out an argument that the U.S. military is in better shape than it was eight years ago, but will require continued investment in modernization to maintain its superiority. “While the next Administration will continue to be […]

President Barack Obama on Dec. 23 signed the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) into law, following Congress’ approval of the conference version of the bill earlier in the month. The bill authorizes nearly $619 billion in spending through the end of the budget year on Sept. 30, though the actual funding the Defense […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in December hosted a preproposal conference for interested bidders for the protective force services contract at the Nevada National Security Site. Contract incumbent Centerra Group was among several companies that sent representatives to the meeting at the NNSA’s Nevada Field Office and site visit on Dec. 12 and 13. The others participants were ADC, […]

The Energy Department is still looking to restrict airborne drones from flying above the Savannah River Site and other “sensitive” facilities, but has not yet filed a request with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). From June 19 to July 22, SRS employees reported 12 drone sightings over key areas of the site. These included: the Mixed […]

The Energy Department is still looking to restrict airborne drones from flying above the Savannah River Site and other “sensitive” facilities, but has not yet filed a request with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). From June 19 to July 22, SRS employees reported 12 drone sightings over key areas of the site. These included: the Mixed […]

Calvin Biesecker Defense Daily Boeing on Tuesday said it plans to move the headquarters of its St. Louis-based Defense, Space & Security segment to the Washington, D.C., area in January to be closer to its customers. The initial move next month will involve about a dozen people, including Boeing’s Defense Chief Leanne Caret. Over time, the […]

Boeing on Tuesday said it plans to move the headquarters of its St. Louis-based Defense, Space & Security segment to the Washington, D.C., area in January to be closer to its customers. The initial move next month will involve about a dozen people, including Boeing’s Defense Chief Leanne Caret. Over time, the move could increase to […]

The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted 92-7 to approve the conference version of the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, sending it to the White House for President Barack Obama’s signature. The compromise bill authorizes nearly $619 billion in spending through the end of the budget year on Sept. 30, the vast majority at the […]

Calvin Biesecker Defense Daily With efficiencies in mind, Boeing on Tuesday said it will consolidate its defense operations over the next four years and create a new international group to put more emphasis on its growing worldwide military sales. A spokesman for Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security segment told Defense Daily that any cost savings and potential charges associated […]

Dan Parsons Defense Daily Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), whose name has been run through the rumor mill this week as a possible candidate for Secretary of Defense under President-elect Donald Trump, on Thursday emphasized the importance of nuclear modernization and the NATO alliance. Since his election, only Trump surrogates have reversed his campaign rhetoric that […]

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has completed its first large-scale field test of mobile radiation detectors in Washington, D.C. this fall. The field test involved hundreds of volunteers carrying the “low-cost, high-efficiency” devices the size of smartphones throughout the city in a test of DARPA’s SIGMA program, which involves networked sensors that […]

Defense Secretary Ashton Carter touted the nation’s nuclear modernization efforts and existing deterrence strategy during a trip this week to areas central to the U.S. nuclear enterprise. He spoke to troops at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota – which hosts B-52H bombers and Minuteman III ICBMs – and Kirtland Air Force Base in […]

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Air Force Gen. John Hyten to be commander of U.S. Strategic Command, replacing outgoing Adm. Cecil Haney. Hyten currently leads the Air Force Space Command, overseeing U.S. space and cyberspace forces since assuming the position in 2014. Hyten has served in space acquisition and operations positions, including as vice commander […]

By Pat Host Defense Daily NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.–The Air Force is considering declassifying further parts of the B-21 Raider program, but a key service official warned that the program would not be entirely declassified. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) Director and Program Executive Officer (PEO) Randall Walden said Monday the service is working with […]

By Marc Selinger Defense Daily NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The U.S. Air Force revealed Sept. 19 that the service’s new B-21 bomber will be named the “Raider” in honor of Jimmy Doolittle’s Raiders. The Air Force picked “Raider” after holding a service-wide contest and reviewing more than 2,100 unique name submissions. Months after the Japanese […]

The United States must maintain and modernize all three legs of the nuclear triad, including through deployment of a new air-launched cruise missile, the Air Force general nominated to lead U.S. Strategic Command said on Tuesday. “it’s essential that we always maintain a fully ready nuclear deterrent capability. There should be no doubt that the […]

All national security doctrine, policies, and plans must now consider potential climate change-related impacts, a presidential memorandum released by the White House on Wednesday dictates. “Climate change and its associated impacts affect economic prosperity, public health and safety, and international stability. Extended drought, more frequent and severe weather events, heat waves, warming and acidifying ocean […]

The United States must maintain and modernize all three legs of the nuclear triad, including through deployment of a new air-launched cruise missile, the Air Force general nominated to lead U.S. Strategic Command said on Tuesday. “it’s essential that we always maintain a fully ready nuclear deterrent capability. There should be no doubt that the […]

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The U.S. Air Force revealed Sept. 19 that the service’s new B-21 strategic bomber will be named the “Raider” in honor of Jimmy Doolittle’s Raiders. The Air Force picked “Raider” after holding a service-wide contest and reviewing more than 2,100 unique name submissions. Months after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Doolittle’s […]

The U.S. Navy and Air Force recently conducted two strategic missile tests to validate the reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, U.S. Strategic Command announced Monday. An Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, along with the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs and a crew from the USS Maryland, on Aug. 31 conducted a demonstration and shakedown operation, which is […]

Climate change is a threat not to only the environment, but to national security, a bipartisan group of 25 military and national security experts said Wednesday in a statement. “Climate change increases stress on water, food and energy security both in the U.S. and globally, resulting in unique and hard-to-predict security risks, based on a […]

The U.S. Navy and Air Force recently conducted two strategic missile tests to validate the reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, U.S. Strategic Command announced Monday. An Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, along with the Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs and a crew from the USS Maryland, on Aug. 31 conducted a demonstration and shakedown operation, which is […]

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is continuing testing of smartphone-sized nuclear material detectors with an eye toward deployment in 2018. The agency’s 2-year-old SIGMA program aims to develop more effective, less expensive devices for detecting even minute amounts of nuclear and radiological materials that might be used in a terrorist attack against the […]