Author Archives: Courtney Messerschmidt

The total price tag for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program fell $4.5 billion in 2012, according to a new government report. – Defense News Just nine months after hosting the biggest multinational mine-warfare exercises “ever” to be held in … Continue reading →

Legislation approved Wednesday by a US House subcommittee fully supports the  administration’s plan to budget special operations forces for more than $12 billion in 2014. – Defense News House Armed Services lawmakers are capping spending for the Pentagon’s new clandestine … Continue reading →

House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a revised bill that would replace the automatic sequestration cuts that took effect in March and avoid further cuts in 2014. – The Hill’s On the Money In its first swipe at the 2013 defense … Continue reading →

The U.S. Army’s 101st Combat Aviation Brigade started a new training program at Bagram Air Field for Afghan helicopter pilots to learn how to perform air assault missions. – Associated Press U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flies to Oman … Continue reading →

44 has tapped Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Curtis “Mike” Scaparrotti to become the next top U.S. officer in Korea. – DEFCON Hill The administration on Friday condemned Russia’s delivery of advanced antiship missiles to Syria and its buildup of … Continue reading →

The Pentagon will ask Congress to approve about $79.5 billion for combat operations, the least since 2005, as U.S. troops withdraw from Afghanistan, according to administration officials. – Bloomberg 44 on Thursday ruled out unilateral U.S. military action in Syria … Continue reading →

The U.S. military is exploring the idea of using the Pacific island of Pagan to practice dropping bombs and other training maneuvers. – Associated Press Hopefully we will never again have to send American ground forces to assist a friendly … Continue reading →

The Defense Department plans to furlough at least 600,000 civilian employees for up to 11 days by the end of September as the result of sequester-related budget cuts. – Military Times Tracking the winners and losers of this year’s House … Continue reading →

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel praised the “cooperative defense network” being constructed by the Pentagon across the Middle East as a way to keep Iran’s nuclear ambitions in check. – Defense News Pentagon contracts tumbled 52 percent in April from … Continue reading →

As it prepares for peacetime budget cuts, the Army must shrink. But Pentagon officials say reducing ground forces too much would leave the U.S. vulnerable to threats by such countries as North Korea or Iran. That means continuing to train … Continue reading →