Osprey Flying Again, Yet Its Safety Still in Question
After being grounded for months following a crash last year that killed eight US service members in Japan, the V-22 Osprey is back in the air. Many question whether it should be. The military says it mitigated the problem with the aircraft, but the families of those killed are not convinced.
Women in Combat Debate Reignites
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has reignited a debate that many thought had been long settled: Should women be allowed to serve their country by fighting on the front lines?
Report Outlines State Defense Spending
In the Pentagon’s defense spending by state report for fiscal 2023, Maryland ranked among the top 10 on the list with total, statewide defense contractor spending at $18.3 billion.
Interns Tackle Challenges in the UAS Field
University of Maryland UAS Research and Operations Center interns have spent the summer fleshing out solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in the UAS field, such as Counter UAS, Navigation without GPS, and Vertical Takeoff and Landing.
Foreign Hackers Targeting US Computer Systems
The top US intelligence official warns of an alarming rise in cyberattacks. The number of ransomware attacks worldwide grew as much as 74% in the past year, and US entities were the most heavily targeted in 2023. The Biden administration has updated the policy for how agencies oversee and manage critical infrastructure sectors.
Army Corps Leads Effort on Bridge Cleanup
The US Army Corps of Engineers is deploying more than 1,100 personnel to Baltimore, following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge into the Patapsco River on Tuesday. Naval Sea Systems Command is contracting out a variety of vessels to the harbor to help with clearing and reopening of the channel after a tanker struck the bridge.
Cyber Lab Ceremony Honors Barbara Ives
The Barbara Ives Cyber Lab at the College of Southern Maryland’s Leonardtown campus was recently dedicated. The lab is named in honor of Ives, a longtime Southern Maryland resident and retired US Navy Reserve captain, known for her service to the country, the region, and academia.
Biden Wants to Scale Back F-35 Orders
The Biden administration wants to scale back on Lockheed Martin F-35s. DoD’s order for F-35 fighter jets will drop to below 70, down from an expected 83 – an estimated $1.6 billion drop in spending on jets.
US Foreign Military Sales Hit All-Time High in FY23
US foreign military sales and deliveries hit $80.9 billion last year. The fiscal 2023 total was 55% higher than the previous year. FY22 saw $51.9 billion in foreign arms sales.
Navy Lowers 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.
