The nominee to lead U.S. Indo-Pacific Command says the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) is “foundational” for filling gaps in the region such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, long-range joint integrated fires and logistics under attack, but would not commit to the Guam Defense System as his top priority. 

The future of the ground-based air defense system formerly known as Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) appears fragile after procurement of the system by the German government was put on ice. 

The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee believes Democrats will try to kill the U.S. Air Force’s Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program to replace the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in the upcoming budget cycle, but is confident there is not enough support for the strategy to be successful.

The UK will invest another £2 billion ($2.77 billion) in the development of its Tempest Future Combat Air System and will purchase more F-35 Joint Strike Fighters beyond the 48 currently planned, a review of the country’s defense posture has determined. 

The U.S. Navy may expand the mission set of the MQ-25 carrier-based tanker to include electronic attack and strike, according to a service official.

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps released a new plan rounding up the services’ various aircraft, surface, and undersea unmanned systems efforts, but missed an opportunity to provide Congress and other stakeholders with details on the way ahead and other unanswered questions, analysts say.

In the ongoing thorny negotiations with Dassault Aviation on the Future Combat Air System program, Airbus appears to be willing to make concessions in governance, intellectual property and work sharing for the program to remain on track.

In an era of likely declining or stagnate defense budgets, the U.S. Army believes it is a “false choice” to choose between its vertical lift modernization efforts, although a service official acknowledged the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft is the top priority.