March 19, 2024

Navy Lowers Requirements for Enlistees

Requirements for Enlistees

The US Navy will now allow those without a high school diploma or GED to enlist as long as they reach a certain score on the Armed Forces Qualification Test. The service hopes these new standards will attract more prospects during its recruiting crisis.

Prepare for Air Taxis in ’24

A new GIS-based program has been created for urban areas to begin planning for the arrival of air taxis as early as next year within their jurisdictions. The eVTOLs are already on tap for transportation needs during the summer of 2024 at the Paris Olympics.

14th Pax Defense Forum 9/29/22

“NATO’s Expansion and the Implications for Global Security”  is the title of the 14th Annual Patuxent Defense Forum — sponsored by Pax Partnership and Center for Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. 

Lights, Camera, Action at NAS Pax

Camera

When “Top Gun: Maverick” technical crew members needed expert advice, they consulted engineers at NAVAIR. The command provided filmmakers with two F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets to modify for photography and a decommissioned Grumman F-14 Tomcat for on-the-ground scenes, as well as wind tunnel testing for the cameras.

US Ups Its Investment in Cyber Technology

Ransomware cyber

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is pushing the US to invest more in cybersecurity. Federal agencies have spent millions for new technology, seized hacking forums, charged foreign cyber criminals, and issued regular warnings on threat risks. Congress also has been quick to move on some cyber-related legislation.

ONR Touts ‘Historic’ 1st Test of Laser Defense System

Laser

The US Navy has conducted a test of a new Layered Laser Defense system, which the Office of Naval Research is calling “historic.” The all-electric, high-energy laser weapon built by Lockheed Martin was used to defeat a target representing a subsonic cruise missile in flight.

Navy Conducts Shock Trials for New Carrier

Shock Trials

During full ship shock trials Friday in the Atlantic Ocean , the US Navy triggered an explosion near the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier with a 40,000-pound bomb. The blast registered as a 3.9 magnitude earthquake.

IG Report: P-8A Readiness Rates Drop

P-8A

An evaluation of the readiness of the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon says the aircraft’s mission capable rates have fallen below the targets set by Naval Air Forces. The May 19 report was released by the DoD’s Office of the Inspector General.

Timeline on Vote for New DefSec Unclear

Timeline

The Senate Armed Services Committee is planning a confirmation hearing at 3 pm Jan. 19 for GEN Lloyd Austin, the Biden administration’s choice for secretary of defense. A timeline for any vote has not yet been established.

Trump Tweets DefSec Esper Is ‘Terminated’

Esper

DefSec Mark Esper got the boot on Monday. President Donald Trump made the announcement in a Tweet. Christopher Miller, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, will be the acting secretary.