May 18, 2025

MD Guard Divests Its A-10Cs, But White House Nixes F-16 Deal

Maryland Air National Guard LT COL Steven Montalvo gestures farewell to fellow guardsmen while taxiing in an A-10C Thunderbolt II at Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport, MD, on March 26. The aircraft was the first to be sent from the 175th Wing to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, AZ, as part of the initial process of divesting the Maryland Guard’s A-10C fleet. (Photo by Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Sarah Hoover) Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community….

Report: US Naval Supremacy Under Threat from China

Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff. A Center for Strategic and International Studies’ report issued last week found that China has grown to be the world’s dominant player in shipbuilding over the past two decades, reports The Associated Press. This poses economic and national security challenges for the US and its allies, according to the report released March 11. China claims to have more than half of the world’s commercial…

Disaster Relief Puts Military AI to the Test

Relief

Hurricane relief efforts are offering the US military an opportunity to put its artificial intelligence to work. The Maven Smart System provides responders with the data analytics and picture tools needed to make quick, on-the-ground decisions.

House Defense Spending Bill Includes More F-35s, One Attack Sub

The US House on Friday narrowly passed its version of the $833 billion defense spending bill for fiscal 2025. The legislation would buy eight more F-35s beyond the Pentagon’s budget request of 68, while only procuring one Virginia-class attack submarine instead of the usual two vessels the bill usually provides.

Congress Considers Slashing F-35 Orders

F-35

A proposed House policy bill would slash the number of F-35s the Pentagon would buy in fiscal 2025 as lawmakers’ patience with the program and Lockheed Martin wears thin.

Sky Watchers Await Rare Celestial Event

Sky

A total solar eclipse will sweep across North America today, April 8, blocking out the sun momentarily for millions of viewers along a path stretching from northern Mexico to Maine. 2017 was the last time the US experienced a total solar eclipse, and there will not be another until 2044.

It’s Show Time for the Navy’s Elite Pilots

Pilots

The US Navy’s Blue Angels in a flyover across the Navy-Marine Stadium in Annapolis, MD, in 2020. (DoD photo) Morning Coffee is a robust blend of links to news around the internet concerning the Naval Air Station Patuxent River economic community. The opinions expressed here do not reflect opinions of the Leader’s owners or staff. The US Navy’s elite pilots are headed for the big screen again. “The Blue Angels,” a new documentary, will make its way to Amazon Prime and IMAX theaters, reports NBC News. The film follows the service’s flight demonstration squadron as it enters its 78th year….

Navy Settles Lawsuit Over Potomac Testing

Weapons Tests Dahlgren

A lawsuit against the US Navy regarding weapons testing on the Potomac River has been settled. The Navy will be required to obtain a Clean Water Act permit to minimize the pollution impacts from its weapons testing at Dahlgren, VA.

Uptick in Attacks on US Troops in Middle East

Attacks

As the US continues to move its assets around the Middle East to support Israel in its war against Hamas, the number of attacks on US troops nearby has increased.

DoD Funds 8 New Microelectronics Commons Hubs

Microelectronics

The US Defense Department will award $238 million to eight regional “innovation hubs” around the country which will be a part of the new Microelectronics Commons. The hubs are expected to spur development of a domestic microelectronics manufacturing industry. Three of the hubs are located on the East Coast in Massachusetts, North Carolina, and New York.