Trump: ‘Discombobulator’ Mystery Weapon Used in Raid
President Donald Trump said a secret weapon was a key part of Operation Absolute Resolve, the strike to capture former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. Trump said the mystery weapon, which he called “The Discombobulator,” “made [enemy] equipment not work” during the Jan. 3 raid in Caracas.
FY26 Budget Proposal Exceeds Pentagon Request
A bipartisan compromise to fund the federal government ahead of the Jan. 30 shutdown deadline would boost defense funding to more than $839 billion, which includes $972 million for the Navy’s next-generation F/A-XX fighter and $3 billion for the Air Force’s F-47.
Several Fall Ill After Suspicious Package Opened at Andrews
Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs, MD, received a “suspicious package” Thursday prompting two buildings to be evacuated after several people became ill.
Pentagon’s Goal: US Drone Dominance
The Pentagon is directing every US Army squad to be armed with small, one-way attack drones by the end of fiscal 2026. That and other sweeping policy changes are aimed at what the White House calls “Unleashing American Drone Domination.”
Admission to Academies Will Be Based Exclusively on Merit
US military academies have been ordered to end consideration of race, gender, and ethnicity in their admissions processes. Acceptance will be based “exclusively on merit.”
Proposals Sought for Blue UAS Refresh Challenge
The Defense Innovation Unit’s prize challenge is underway for vendors to potentially have their unmanned aircraft systems and related capabilities added to a list of systems that can be purchased by the Defense Department.
Morning Coffee: Pentagon Cyber Budget Gets Boost
Increased spending will be aimed at improving cyber capabilities including cyber security, intelligence gathering, and reconnaissance.
