DefenceTalkThe United States is facing five global strategic challenges, while at home sequestration poses a great risk to the funding of critical investments, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told lawmakers here today. “Today’s security environment is dramatically different from the last 25 years, requiring new ways of investing and operating,” Carter said at a hearing of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/carter-outlines-security-challenges-warns-against-sequestration-67111/

DefenceTalkThe Philippines on Sunday hailed a new accord giving the US military access to five of its bases, saying this would strengthen its defensive capabilities and maritime security. The agreement between the two close allies comes as the Philippines and other countries are embroiled in a tense dispute with China over conflicting territorial claims in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/philippines-says-defense-strengthened-under-us-rotational-deal-67100/

DefenceTalkU.S. military forces are facing demands that were not anticipated in the development of current strategy and budgets, according to a new RAND Corporation report. As a result, the posture and capability of U.S. forces are not keeping pace with the challenges posed by America’s most-capable adversaries, researchers say. If policymakers wish to maintain the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-boost-defense-funding-or-limit-military-commitments-65666/

DefenceTalkThe first full exercise of NATO’s new rapid reaction force is taking place in eastern Europe. The Organization’s chief said the alliance was implementing its biggest defense reinforcement since the Cold War. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) created the rapid reaction force to deter Russia from taking any action against its eastern European allies […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-implementing-biggest-defense-reinforcement-since-cold-war-64561/

DefenceTalkThe Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on June 9 approved its FY16 Defense Appropriations Bill, which recommends funding increases to improve the readiness of the Armed Forces and makes significant investments to sustain U.S. force structure. The measure, which is scheduled to be considered by the full Committee on Thursday, June 11, recommends $489.1 billion […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fy16-us-defense-appropriations-bill-cleared-by-senate-subcommittee-64455/

DefenceTalkThe Army is analyzing cyberspace requirements and outlining potential technical investments based on its Cyber Materiel Development Strategy, released in February 2015. Doctrinal, operational, acquisition and research and development communities, for Army materiel development, worked together for more than two years on the comprehensive strategy, which looks at where Army cyberspace capabilities are and what […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-to-focus-on-cyber-strategy-in-tactical-environments-64172/

DefenceTalkThe Defense Department will restructure the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade and subordinate units in Germany as part of the Army’s Aviation Restructuring Initiative in Europe, defense officials said today in a statement. The 12th CAB restructuring will reduce the U.S. presence in Germany by about 1,900 military positions and an estimated 2,850 family members, officials […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dod-to-restructure-us-aviation-brigade-in-germany-64072/

DefenceTalkThe United States and Japan unveiled new rules for defense cooperation in a historic move that will give Japanese forces a wider global role amid concerns over China’s rising sway. Under the revised guidelines, Japan could come to the aid of US forces threatened by a third country or, for example, deploy minesweeper ships to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-japan-widen-defense-ties-in-historic-sea-change-64021/

DefenceTalkDefense Secretary Ash Carter today unveiled the Defense Department’s second cyber strategy to guide the development of DoD’s cyber forces and to strengthen its cyber defenses and its posture on cyber deterrence. Carter discussed the new strategy — an update to the original strategy released in 2011 — before an audience at Stanford University on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/carter-unveils-new-dod-cyber-strategy-in-silicon-valley-63989/

DefenceTalkSpace capability is critical to national security, and the Defense Department is working to make its launch program more competitive and end its longtime use of a Russian rocket engine on the Atlas launch system, the assistant secretary of defense for acquisition said this week. Katrina G. McFarland testified before the House Armed Services Committee’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/dod-works-to-build-competition-into-space-launches-63602/