Many Pentagon Top Jobs Still Unfilled
Four months into his presidency, Donald Trump has filled only five of the 53 top jobs at the Pentagon, the slowest pace for nominations in more than half a century. Several high-profile picks have withdrawn because of business entanglements and the vetting process has prevented many from placement in positions.
Thunderbolt, F-15E Lead Fight Against ISIS
Older US Air Force jets — the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the F-15E Strike Eagle — are leading the air war against the Islamic State. Military fighter-attack jets, bombers, and drones have dropped more than 67,000 bombs since the 2014 start of Operation Inherent Resolve.
Spencer Is Trump’s Nominee for NavSec
Richard Spencer, Trump’s new choice for Navy Secretary is a Former financial industry executive and Marine Corps captain.
Navy Sends Congress Its $5.3B Wish List
The Navy wants an extra $5.3B and the Air Force wants an extra $10.7B for planes, ships, missiles, and other smaller projects that did not make it into their 2018 budget requests.
Work Asks: “How Does Fear Play Out … Between Unmanned Systems?”
Artificial intelligence changes conflict, says DepDefSec Robert Work about the nature of war, which is.a collision of will, fear, uncertainty, and chance.
China Invited to Rim of the Pacific Exercises
Despite tensions in the South China Sea & tense aerial confrontations, China has been invited to attend next year’s US-hosted Rim of the Pacific exercises.
F-35 or Hornet? Which Makes Cut for ‘Top Gun’ Sequel?
So which plane will get top billing in the “Top Gun”sequel? Since the Navy F-14 Tomcat is no longer in service, will it be the F/A-18 Super Hornet or the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter?
Trump’s FY18 Budget Cuts Hit DoD, Also
The Pentagon is a winner in Trump’s proposed FY18 budget, but some cuts will impact the military as well.
Trump Budget Calls for BRAC in 2021
Trump’s FY18 budget seeks $1.5 trillion in non-defense discretionary cuts and $1.4 trillion in Medicaid cuts over the course of a decade, adds nearly half a trillion dollars to defense spending and calls for a BRAC in 2021.
