Aerospace & Defense
The latest coverage of the Defense Department, State Department and aerospace industry.
As threats from North Korean and Chinese rise, U.S. looks for defense partnerships with Asian allies
The United States wrapped up its first multidomain exercise with Japan and South Korea in the East China Sea on Saturday, a step forward in Washington’s efforts to strengthen and lock in its security partnerships with key Asian allies in the face of growing threats from North Korea and China.
As Iran braces for vote, regime foes plan major ‘free Iran’ rally Saturday in Berlin
Iranian voters will go to the polls Friday to choose their next president, with anti-U.S. hard-liners dominating the list of major candidates.
Biden pardons service members convicted under military law banning gay sex
President Biden on Wednesday pardoned U.S. service members who were convicted under a military law that banned gay sex, allowing them to access military benefits, including pensions and home loans.
Suspected North Korean hypersonic missile exploded in flight, South Korea says
A suspected hypersonic missile launched by North Korea exploded in flight on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, as North Korea protests the regional deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier for a military drill with South Korea and Japan.
GOP defense bill draft targets ‘woke’ Pentagon policies, spurs Biden veto threat
The Republican-drafted House version of the fiscal 2025 defense appropriations bill would ban the Pentagon from spending any funds on what critics say are woke Biden administration military policies, including climate initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
NASA astronauts ‘stranded’ in space due to malfunctioning Boeing Starliner
NASA has postponed the return of two astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS) for the third time, sparking fears that the crew might face an extended stay in space.
International court seeks arrest of Russian officials over attacks on Ukrainian civilian targets
The International Criminal Court said Tuesday it has issued arrest warrants for Russia’s former defense minister and its military chief of staff for attacks on civilian targets in Ukraine, the third time the global court has issued warrants for senior Russian leaders.
In world’s first, China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe brings back samples from dark side of Moon
China’s robotic Chang’e-6 lunar probe safely landed on Tuesday afternoon after a 53-day mission, carrying to Earth the first-ever rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon.
Israel’s high court orders the army to draft ultra-Orthodox men, rattling Netanyahu’s government
Israel’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled unanimously that the military must begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men for compulsory service, a landmark decision that could lead to the collapse of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition as Israel continues to wage war in Gaza.
White House says Beijing rejects call to restrict AI use in nuclear weapons use
China’s government does not accept a Biden administration policy that restricts the use of artificial intelligence for using nuclear weapons, a senior White House official disclosed Monday.
U.S. protested China’s latest clash with the Philippines in South China Sea, State official reveals
The Philippine government has adopted a cautious approach to recent aggressive Chinese coast guard actions in the South China Sea, and the Biden administration filed formal diplomatic protests with Beijing of the incident, a senior State Department official said on Monday.
U.S. struggles with shaky relations and troop cuts in African nations as military leaders meet
The forced U.S. troop withdrawals from bases in Niger and Chad and the potential to shift some troops to other nations in West Africa will be key issues as the top U.S. military officer meets with his counterparts this week at a chiefs of defense conference.
U.S. aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as a show of force against nuclear-armed North Korea
A nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier arrived Saturday in South Korea for a three-way exercise involving Japan as they step up military training to cope with North Korean threats, which have escalated following a security pact with Russia.
Likely Yemen Houthi rebel attack targets ship in Gulf of Aden as Eisenhower reportedly heads home
A commercial ship traveling through the Gulf of Aden saw explosions near the vessel, authorities said Saturday, likely the latest attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels attempting to target the shipping lane.
Russia-North Korea pact could dent China’s influence, but Beijing still holds sway over both
China appears to be keeping its distance as Russia and North Korea move closer to each other with a new defense pact that could tilt the balance of power among the three authoritarian states.
South Korea summons Russian ambassador as tensions rise with North Korea
South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador to protest the country’s new defense pact with North Korea on Friday, as border tensions continued to rise with vague threats and brief, seemingly accidental incursions by North Korean troops.
New Cuban Missile Crisis? Potential Russian nukes in space threaten U.S., House Intel chair warns
The U.S. is facing a new Cuban Missile Crisis. But instead of Russian nuclear warheads parked just 90 miles from Florida, the Kremlin now wants to put them in low-earth orbit, where they could threaten critical American satellites.
Xi echoes Mao in urging communist political control over PLA ‘guns’
China’s supreme leader this week urged the People’s Liberation Army to maintain Chinese Communist Party political control over the “guns” of the nation, an echo of the country’s late ruler, Mao Zedong.
Senators want to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terror after Putin’s pact with North Korea
Two senators announced legislation Thursday that would designate Russia as a state sponsor of terror, a move that would put Moscow in a small and notorious group that includes North Korea and Iran, in the wake of Russia’s mutual defense pact with Pyongyang.
‘Vexing’ and ‘perplexing’: White House chastises Netanyahu over video
The White House criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday for blindsiding it with a video that accuses the U.S. of withholding weapons from his country.
Kim-Putin agreement: Real military alliance or paper partnership?
The flag-waving optics of this week’s historic meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have given way to a key question: Is the “comprehensive strategic partnership” signed by the two men the start of a true bilateral military partnership?
U.S. redirects interceptor missile deliveries to Ukraine
The U.S. has made the “difficult but necessary” decision to prioritize the delivery of certain air-defense missiles to Ukraine, meaning other countries expecting shipments must wait, the White House said Thursday.
South Korea blasts Russia-North Korea deal, says it will consider possible arms supplies to Ukraine
South Korea’s presidential office on Thursday condemned an agreement reached by Russia and North Korea that vowed mutual defense assistance in the event of war and said it will reconsider its policy of limiting its support to Ukraine to non-lethal supplies.
Putin signs deals with Vietnam in bid to shore up ties in Asia
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a series of deals with his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam on Thursday, during a state visit that comes as Moscow is seeking to bolster ties in Asia to offset growing international isolation over its military actions in Ukraine.
Putin in Vietnam, seeking to strengthen ties in Southeast Asia while Russia’s isolation deepens
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to strengthen ties with longtime partner Vietnam on a state visit Thursday that comes as Moscow faces growing international isolation because of its military actions in Ukraine.
Russia and North Korea sign partnership deal that appears to be the strongest since Cold War
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a new partnership that includes a vow of mutual aid if either country is attacked, during a Wednesday summit that came as both face escalating standoffs with the West.
U.S. soldier convicted of theft in Russia and sentenced to nearly 4 years in prison
A court in Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok on Wednesday convicted a visiting American soldier of stealing and making threats of murder, and it sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison.
NASA’s Perseverance Rover discovers bizarre boulders on Mars
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover, on a mission to explore the Red Planet, recently made an unexpected discovery: While navigating through a rocky path to avoid boulders, the rover stumbled upon a unique field of stones that scientists had not seen before.
Houthis prove a tough fight as the U.S. military tries to secure critical waterway
The Iran-backed Houthis have launched almost 200 attacks, and they are showing no signs of going away despite efforts from the U.S. and its allies.
Kim, Putin have much to discuss at summit as tired old relationship gets new legs
Call them “foul weather friends.” The leaders of two heavily sanctioned states postured against the U.S. and its allies, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, had much to discuss after Mr. Putin landed in Pyongyang early Wednesday for a much-anticipated two-day summit.
NATO’s Stoltenberg: More than 20 allies to hit 2% GDP defense target this year
More than 20 of NATO’s 32 members will spend at least 2% of their GDP on the military by the end of 2024, a sharp increase from 2014 when only the U.S., Great Britain and Greece hit that benchmark, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday.
Israel joins China and Russia in deploying jet-launched ballistic missile
Israel unveiled a new air-launched ballistic missile capable of defeating advanced air defenses and delivering precision strikes, the state aerospace company has revealed.
