Author: Michael

DOD

The first examples of a new special operations mini-submarine should be ready for real-world operations before the end of the month, according to U.S. Special Operations Command. The Dry Combat Submersible, or DCS, offers significant benefits over existing designs in U.S. Navy service, known as SEAL Delivery Vehicles, or SDVs, in which individuals have to ride underwater fully exposed to the elements.
Officials from U.S. Special Operations Command offered updates on the status of DCS this week at an annual special operations-focused conference now known as SOF Week.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, there has been a marked increase in aerial encounters between Russian and Western military aircraft. A dramatic game of cat and mouse has unfolded in the skies over the Black Sea, pitting Western surveillance planes against Russian fighters.
The meetings began around the time Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, and Ukraine increasingly relied on Western intelligence to counter the Russian threat.
US deploys F-22 fighters.
The tension between the United States and Russia has escalated further with the recent deployment of F-22 fighters near the Russian border.

The Kremlin reported that two drones attacked the Russian presidential headquarters. However, the Russian anti-aircraft defense system intercepted the attacks and did not cause any damage. Despite the security surrounding one of the most heavily fortified buildings in central Moscow, the drones managed to fly over the guarded area.
Capabilities of Pantsir
The Pantsir (or Pantsir-S) is a Russian air defense system designed to protect against aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters, drones, and missiles.

Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart. (U.S. Air Force photo).

The commander of the 19th Air Force, Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, was relieved on May 9, the Air Force announced Wednesday. 
Stewart was fired due to “a loss of confidence in his ability to lead, related to alleged misconduct which is currently under investigation,” according to the Air Force. 
Air Education and Training Command, which oversees all formal job training in the Air Force, from basic training to flight schools, provided no details on the alleged misconduct.

Modifications to Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) fleet of AC-130 gunships means that even if a planned August test of the new Airborne High Energy Laser (AHEL) system aboard an AC-130J Ghostrider this summer proves satisfactory, a whole new round of integration work and testing may be required after those trials should the system be transitioned to an operational capability, The War Zone has learned.
At the moment, the future of the AHEL program beyond this year remains murky.

 Recently, there has been debate about the effectiveness of the Patriot air defense system in shooting down this fearsome missile. Why doesn’t Ukraine really celebrate the “takedown” of the Kinzhal? We will explore the details behind this event.
Kinzhal hypersonic missile
The Kh-47 Kinzhal long-range hypersonic missile, known as the “Dagger,” has drawn attention and respect due to its unique characteristics. Developed to be fired from a MiG-31, it can reach speeds in excess of Mach 10 and cover distances of up to 2,000 kilometers, carrying conventional or nuclear payloads.

On an international tour this month, the Pentagon’s deputy technology chief met with U.S. allies abroad to jumpstart new and deeper cooperation around existing and emerging capabilities that are expected to be instrumental to ensuring military advantage in the future.
“I just got back from Europe last week, where we talked with our U.K. and NATO partners about this,” DOD Deputy Chief Technology Officer for Critical Technologies Maynard Holliday said Thursday at the annual DefenseTalks summit hosted by DefenseScoop.

U.S. Marines with 3d Reconnaissance Battalion conduct pre-jump inspections prior to Military Free Fall and Low-Level Static Line parachute operations over Ie Shima, Okinawa, Japan, May 10, 2023. (Cpl. Michael Taggart/U.S. Marine Corps).

Military pay would become collateral damage if the U.S. government defaults on its debt next month, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told lawmakers on Thursday.
Treasury Secretary Jessica Yellen has said the United States will exhaust its ability to pay its bills by June 1 unless Congress raises the nation’s debt ceiling.

Lt. Gen. Hal Moore and wife Julie Moore. (U.S. Army photo).

Fort Benning, Georgia was officially designated as Fort Moore on Thursday, becoming the fifth Army installation to change its namesake from that of a Confederate general. As the traditional home of the Army’s Infantry branch – and since 2011 the Armor branch, – as well as one of the Army’s largest Basic Combat Training centers, it’s one of the service’s most storied bases. 
Uniquely among US military bases, the name honors a married couple, Lt. Gen. Harold J. “Hal” Moore and Julie Moore.

Today marks 365 days since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Tomorrow marks one year of the war. Almost 12 months later, Russian forces continued to attack Ukraine, with most of the fighting occurring in Donbas and the east. Despite Russian pressure, the Ukrainian defenses hold. And soon, Ukraine will be able to launch its own full-scale counteroffensive.
Russian casualties in Ukraine
Russian forces continue to bleed into the Ukraine.