Defense
The Army is preparing to officially join the Pentagon’s “Air Sea Battle” operational concept, as the Defense Department shifts its focus from land operations in the Middle East and Europe to mostly naval and aerial activities in the Asia-Pacific region. – Washington Times
The 44th administration issued new guidance intended for defense contractors Friday afternoon, reiterating the administration’s position that the companies should not be issuing layoff notices over sequestration. – DEFCON Hill
A top U.S. Navy official is defending the service’s plans to replace its Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine fleet, saying the Navy has the right design and boat numbers to execute the mission for decades to come. – Aviation Week
The F-22 Raptor is renowned for its ability to sustain high-g forces at high altitudes. But keeping the aircraft safe from disaster in those extreme conditions has put a strain on the pilots, and the Air Force continues to struggle to strike the right balance. – Aviation Week
The U.S. military’s current fleet of drones will soon be overtaken by a new wave of robots that will be faster, stealthier and smarter — operating virtually without human intervention, experts say. – AFP
The War
The U.S. is preparing for a stepped-up counterterrorism campaign against al Qaeda’s affiliate in North Africa in response to the Sept. 11 attack on the American consulate in Libya, said current and former officials. – Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
Omar Khadr, the only Canadian citizen held at the Guantánamo Bay detention center in Cuba, was returned to Canada early Saturday morning, the Pentagon and the Canadian government announced. – New York Times
Cybersecurity
Six major American banks were hit in a wave of computer attacks last week, by a group claiming Middle Eastern ties, that caused Internet blackouts and delays in online banking. – New York Times
Hackers linked to China’s government broke into one of the U.S. government’s most sensitive computer networks, breaching a system used by the White House Military Office for nuclear commands, according to defense and intelligence officials familiar with the incident. – Washington Free Beacon
The looming threat of sequestration could short-circuit one of the few cybersecurity agreements between lawmakers and the White House: the need for a bigger budget to protect government and private computer systems. – Politico
