Crooked Bough News Round-up

— Send private-security contractors into Gaza? That’s a terrible idea

 

at 7/26/24 2:00pm

Here are some basic questions to ask before this not-even-half-baked notion becomes a policy failure.

[Category: Ideas]

— Memo on AI's national-security implications heads for Biden's desk

 

at 7/26/24 10:00am

The classified memo is expected to propose rules against using AI in certain scenarios.

[Category: Threats]

— The D Brief: Russian strike leaves blackouts; SecDef heads to Asia; Earth’s hot streak; Olympians in uniform; And a bit more.

 

at 7/26/24 9:20am

[Category: Threats]

— Austin heads to Asia with $500M for the Philippines

 

at 7/26/24 1:00am

DOD officials said the SecDef's multi-country swing will be the administration's most important visit for "U.S. defense ties in the Indo-Pacific."

[Category: Policy]

— Austin heads to Asia with $500 mil for the Philippines

 

at 7/26/24 1:00am

Trip described as most important Asia visit of the Biden administration.

[Category: Policy]

— A boom in space-based intelligence is coming. Can ground networks keep up?

 

at 7/25/24 5:30pm

Companies that used to sell pictures and pixels are selling analysis—and looking for ways to move faster.

[Category: Science & Tech]

— F-35’s price might rise, Lockheed warns

 

at 7/25/24 10:42am

After years of declines, the jet’s cost is being pushed by upgrades, inflation, and a proposal to buy fewer of them.

[Category: Business]

— Navy still picking winner for F/A-XX next year, Northrop CEO says

 

at 7/25/24 10:07am

Despite the service’s proposal to cut funding, “we have not received” word that 6th-gen plans have changed.

[Category: Threats]

— The D Brief: Chinese-Russian flight near Alaska; Warships chased from Azov?; B-2 tests cheap shipkiller; France’s big deployment; And a bit more.

 

at 7/25/24 9:50am

[Category: Threats]

— As Hamas war drags on, Israeli democracy weakens

 

at 7/24/24 8:23pm

Israel is not alone; a recent report finds that the global state of democracy has been declining for the past six years.

[Category: Ideas]

— Unpacking Harris' record on defense civilians and workforce

 

at 7/24/24 6:00pm

The vice president has fought discriminatory pay practices, helped guide how the government uses AI, and championed public-sector unions.

[Category: Policy]

— Air Force to miss its data-linking goal for cargo aircraft, commander says

 

at 7/24/24 4:32pm

But even if just 20% of the planes get the networking gear by next year, it's already proving its value, mobility chief says.

[Category: Defense Systems]

— The D Brief: Harris’ record; Netanyahu in DC; Missile-making bottleneck; Rheinmetall rakes it in; And a bit more.

 

at 7/24/24 9:47am

[Category: Threats]

— Boeing might put a drone operator in the F-15EX’s back seat

 

at 7/23/24 7:28pm

The company is mulling options as it pitches the modernized Eagle to international customers.

[Category: Business]

— Every squad will get anti-drone gear, Marine Corps says

 

at 7/23/24 1:46pm

With “zero decision space” to deal with incoming UAVs, troops need tools to take them down.

[Category: Policy]

— Raytheon hunting for another US supplier of solid rocket motors

 

at 7/23/24 12:19pm

As missile orders soar, a lack of engines is bottlenecking production.

[Category: Business]

— The D Brief: Secret Service chief resigns; Biden’s allied focus; B-52s to Romania; The wrong drone lessons?; And a bit more.

 

at 7/23/24 9:30am

[Category: Threats]

— Can AI speed up the discovery of new materials? Army aims to find out

 

at 7/23/24 4:00am

Two contracts to a Google spinoff seek innovations in vehicles, electrical systems.

[Category: Science & Tech]

— Pentagon’s new Arctic strategy focuses on adversaries, new tech

 

at 7/22/24 8:35pm

China and Russia and working more closely in the Arctic, DOD says. That’s forcing more research into unmanned systems.

[Category: Science & Tech]

— New design for next-gen UK-Italy-Japan fighter unveiled

 

at 7/22/24 3:35pm

But it’s no longer clear that Britain wants to prioritize a sixth-generation jet, much like the U.S. Air Force.

[Category: Defense Systems]

— US shouldn't learn the wrong lessons about Ukraine’s drones, expert says

 

at 7/22/24 3:14pm

Unmanned strikes get the attention in reports and social media, but Ukrainian forces are increasingly using drones to sow mines and haul supplies.

[Category: Threats]

As of 7/26/24 10:57pm. Last new 7/26/24 2:48pm.