Author: dhoward25

By Julian E. Barnes of The New York Times

A top U.S. defense official said on Tuesday that the Pentagon would convene a classified meeting with the leaders of the biggest American military contractors on Wednesday to discuss stepped-up assistance to Ukraine, including ways improve air defenses, anti-ship missiles and weapons to find and destroy Russian artillery.

Washington’s $1.7 billion in assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion, including the provision of thousands of Stingers and Javelin missiles, has forced American military contractors to step up production of older weapons systems, both for Ukraine’s need and to replenish the United States military’s stocks.

The Pentagon is now examining what additional longer-range weapons to supply to Ukraine, as well as making sure that the government in Kyiv receives basics it needs, like additional artillery shells. U.S. military officials want American military contractors to begin work on supplying Ukraine for a possible long conflict with Russia.

The meeting on Wednesday, announced by Kathleen H. Hicks, the deputy secretary of defense, will include leaders of eight large military contractors, such as Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin Corporation. The meeting will discuss how to overcome any potential supply problems — both to replenish American weapons stocks that have been drawn down to help Ukraine and to keep Kyiv supplied as the war continues.

The Pentagon is working with the American companies to identify which of them has the right military capabilities for Ukraine and can “move expeditiously to get it in there,” Ms. Hicks said.

“What can we do to help them?” she told reporters at a meeting of the Defense Writers Group. “What do they need to generate supply?”

Ms. Hicks did not discuss specific weapon systems that the United States would supply. But other defense officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the agenda of the classified meeting, said the discussions would focus on weaponry in five areas.

Improving Ukraine’s air defenses and its ability to shoot down Russian aircraft is one of Kyiv’s most urgent concerns. In addition, the United States is looking at how to improve Ukraine’s coastal defenses, such as with missiles that can be fired at Russian ships, and Ukraine’s supply of anti-personnel weapons, like Claymore mines and other weapons used to kill enemy infantry. The Pentagon also wants contractors to examine demining equipment and counter-battery technology, radar that can track and locate enemy artillery, that Ukraine could use.

Ms. Hicks said U.S. officials were in a “continual dialogue” with Ukraine and American allies about how best to provide the equipment that Ukraine had requested. Ms. Hicks said some of the most important supplies it needs are the basics: artillery rounds and other forms of ammunition.

But she added that the United States would continue to look at other capabilities the Ukrainians have requested “to give them a little more range and distance.”

Others:

https://londonlovesbusiness.com/us-could-be-set-to-send-longer-range-weapons-to-ukraine-to-attack-russian-airfields/

https://www.airforcemag.com/hicks-to-congress-be-patient-allow-failures-new-developments-like-hypersonics/

https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2997518/dod-ensures-ukraine-has-necessities-to-counter-russian-invasion/

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/pentagon-to-meet-with-military-contractors-to-discuss-ongoing-aid-to-ukraine

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2022/04/12/bidens-proportional-response-to-alleged-russian-cw-use-00024773

https://www.airforcemag.com/pentagon-8-to-10-flights-day-full-of-aid-for-ukraine-pouring-into-europe/

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/apr/12/gop-senators-say-biden-should-share-more-intellige/

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2022/04/13/budget-hang-ups-slow-sexual-assault-prevention-reforms/

https://fcw.com/defense/2022/04/defense-companies-arent-seeking-reprieve-inflation-yet/365554/

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2022/4/12/hicks-voices-concern-about-hypersonic-testing-pace

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2022/04/us-looking-new-weapons-help-ukraine-expand-distance-and-range/365541/

“The United States Army is not training Ukrainian soldiers or units right now."

By Haley Britzky of Task & Purpose

The Army’s top general emphasized on Thursday that no U.S. soldiers in Poland were training Ukrainian forces, contrary to reports this week and a statement from the president which seemed to suggest otherwise.

“The United States Army is not training Ukrainian soldiers or units right now,” Gen. James McConville, the Army Chief of Staff, told reporters at a Defense Writers Group breakfast in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning. “There are materials being provided to Ukranians, but that’s just a ship — it comes in and it moves out. We are not training Ukrainians right now.” 

Thousands of U.S. troops have been deployed to or repositioned in Europe, both before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February and since it started, with the intent of deterring Russia from pushing its invasion into NATO territory. The forces have primarily been in Poland — where the 82nd Airborne Division was sent — and Romania, with some support elements in Germany. But since those deployments were announced, there has been relatively little information available about what troops are actually doing aside from training with NATO allies. 

Politico first reported the tentative news about U.S. troops training Ukrainians in Poland on Monday, after President Joe Biden mentioned the U.S. “being with, and talking with, the Ukrainian troops that are in Poland.” A day later, CNN reported that troops were “providing Ukrainians with some instruction on how to use the weapons the West has been shipping” to assist their defense against Russia. 

A White House official reportedly told CNN that there are “Ukrainian troops in Poland interacting on a regular basis with U.S. troops and that’s what the President was referring to.” 

But Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville denied on Thursday that any training was happening between U.S. soldiers and Ukrainian troops, including teaching Ukrainians how to use the military equipment that the U.S. is providing. 

The U.S. has sent roughly $2 billion worth of military equipment and assistance to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion of the neighboring country. That security assistance has included body armor, small arms ammunition, grenade launchers, unmanned aerial systems, and anti-armor and anti-aircraft systems. 

McConville said Thursday that the Army does not “have teams over there showing them how to use the [equipment], they have people who know how to … use the equipment, and they are doing that themselves.” 

Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, the NATO Supreme Allied Commander, was also asked about potential training on Tuesday, and said he didn’t believe “we are currently in the process of training military forces from Ukraine in Poland,” but there are “liaisons” who are “being given advice, and that’s different.”  

Although U.S. troops are not actively training Ukrainian forces in Poland, the two militaries have worked together in the past. As Task & Purpose recently reported, F-15 pilots with the California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing conducted joint training operations with Ukrainian aviators for nearly three decades.

Since Russia began massing troops on Ukraine’s border before launching its invasion earlier this month, the Biden administration has been careful about the way it has militarily supported Ukraine. Biden was adamant from the start that U.S. troops would not fight Russia in Ukraine, and would not engage Russia militarily unless they crossed into NATO territory. 

The administration has also rejected the idea of establishing a no-fly zone in Ukraine, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s pleas to do so, as it would likely lead to shooting down Russian aircraft, forcing the U.S. into the war. 

And while the U.S. military may not be doing much in Poland beyond serving as a deterrent to Russia, that doesn’t mean they’re leaving anytime soon. McConville said Thursday that there is “no plan” to bring paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division back home “in the immediate future.” 

“They still stay until the mission is done … Their presence matters,” he said. “Their presence is to reassure our allies and partners, and for me it’s amazing what they do by their presence. They’re doing exactly that. And many of those countries, they want to see American soldiers standing side by side with the President’s commitment that we will defend every inch of NATO, and that’s what they’re there to do.”

Others:

https://www.fedscoop.com/new-army-multi-domain-task-force-to-be-stationed-in-the-pacific/

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/04/armys-next-multi-domain-task-force-will-be-tied-to-indo-pacific/

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/confusion-about-bidens-russia-ukraine-comments-lingers

https://www.ausa.org/news/busy-army-continues-transforming-future

https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/14249025

https://insidedefense.com/insider/army-still-deciding-where-base-3rd-mdtf

https://thefrontierpost.com/us-not-training-ukraine-troops-in-poland-james/

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2022/03/about-face-army-expects-shrink-next-year/363878/

https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/14242373

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-reduces-f35-buys-as-other-militaries-buy-stealth-fighters-2022-3

Russian rhetoric could be the precursor to an attack, NSA Sullivan says, as NATO plans to move more aid into Ukraine on Thursday.

By Jacqueline Feldscher of Defense One

March 23, 2022

There is a “real threat” of Russia using chemical weapons in Ukraine, President Joe Biden said Wednesday before flying to Brussels to meet with leaders about how to stop Moscow’s war. 

Russia has spent weeks falsely claiming that Ukraine is working on chemical and biological weapons programs funded by the United States. Even though the Soviet Union has been making unfounded allegations about American use of biological weapons since 1949, Russian officials recently brought the claims to the UN Security Council and have attempted to justify the invasion of Ukraine as necessary to stop this alleged research. 

That rhetoric from Russia makes officials worry that a biological or chemical weapons attack could be on the way, because it fits a pattern in which Moscow blames Ukraine or the West for something before taking that same action itself. 

“The main thing we’re looking at right now is the deliberate drumbeat of misinformation and propaganda and lies on this subject that has all the markers of a precursor to them actually using these weapons,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Wednesday at a briefing. He declined to comment on whether intelligence showed Russia moving chemical or biological weapons into position to use.  

Even if it does not use chemical weapons, Russia has committed brutal attacks already in Ukraine, including targeting a shelter that was marked as having children inside and bombing a maternity hospital. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said an investigation found that Russia’s troops have committed war crimes in Ukraine. 

Russia is also suffering significant casualties in the conflict, which could make troops more desperate to use all possible tools to stop the losses. A NATO military officer said Wednesday that between 30,000 and 40,000 Russian troops have been harmed, including between 7,000 and 15,000 killed, the Associated Press reported.

Before Moscow’s invasion began on Feb. 24, the administration repeatedly highlighted how Russia’s playbook often includes so-called “false flag” operations, spreading misinformation about Ukraine and the United States to argue that Russia had to defend itself and attack Ukraine. 

“What worries us about those types of statements or accusations is they may be again laying…a pretext for them to do something more or much worse inside Ukraine,” Julianne Smith, the U.S. permanent representative to NATO, said Wednesday at an Atlantic Council event. “We’ve been warning allies about this. We’ve been warning the Ukrainians. We’ve issued warnings to Russia.” 

Ned Price, the State Department spokesman, said March 9 that Russia is spreading “outright lies” and confirmed that the United States does not own or operate any chemical or biological weapons labs in Ukraine. Despite that statement, far-right American media, including Fox’s Tucker Carlson, quickly latched onto Russia’s claims as fact.

At the NATO Summit on Thursday, leaders are expected to approve additional military assistance for Ukraine, including equipment to protect Ukrainians against chemical and biological weapons, NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday. Stoltenberg also strongly urged Russia not to use these types of weapons in the fight, saying he is “concerned” by Russia’s statements on chemical weapons use. 

“Any use of chemical weapons would totally change the nature of the conflict, and be a blatant violation of international law and will have far-reaching consequences,” he said at a press conference. “We are concerned also because we know that Russia has used chemical agents before and they have supported Assad and facilitated the use of chemical weapons in Syria”

More than 300 chemical attacks were launched during the Syrian Civil War, NPR reported in 2019. American officials accused Russia of helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime cover up these attacks, but Russian officials denied that chemical weapons were used. Instead, Russians claimed that the event was staged and the findings were used by the West to justify taking military action, Reuters reported.

On March 11, Biden also promised Russia would pay a “severe price” if it deployed chemical weapons in Ukraine. 

It’s possible a biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons attack in Ukraine could trigger a response from NATO if fallout from the attack drifted into a neighboring member of the alliance and impacted people there, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said Wednesday at a Defense Writers Group event.

“It would all be viewed through the lens of, is this an attack against a NATO country?” he said. “If a nuclear device is detonated and the radiation goes into an adjacent country, that could very well be perceived as an attack against NATO….It’s going to be a very difficult call, but it’s a call that not just the president but the entire NATO council will have to make.”

Others:

https://www.voanews.com/a/us-nato-allies-watching-china-carefully/6498200.html

https://asianpolyglotview.com/2022/03/fighter-jets-to-ukraine-not-the-admins-red-line-politico.html

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2022/03/23/kaine-fighter-jets-to-ukraine-not-the-admins-red-line-00019761

https://www.airforcemag.com/sasc-chair-watching-to-see-how-f-35-performs-in-europe/

https://fcw.com/defense/2022/03/cyber-and-future-defense-budgets/363525/

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/inept-russian-invasion-could-force-china-to-reconsider-taiwan-plans-senator-says

https://thefrontierpost.com/us-use-of-wmd-in-ukraine-an-attack-on-nato-countries/

https://denvergazette.com/news/nation-world/inept-russian-invasion-could-force-china-to-reconsider-taiwan-plans-senator-says/article_6550cb04-7f59-56a2-adde-5f3afe882a15.html

https://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/14162419?utm_source=app.meltwater.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=app.meltwater.com&utm_referrer=app.meltwater.com

https://www.fedscoop.com/sasc-chair-conflict-in-ukraine-demonstrating-importance-of-cyber-cooperation-with-foreign-partners/

By Frank Wolfe of Defense Daily

February 28, 2022

As the Space Development Agency (SDA) approaches its third birthday on March 12, the agency on Feb. 28 announced nearly $1.8 billion in awards to three contractors for 126 prototype satellites for the National Defense Space Architecture transport layer’s Tranche 1–the SDA’s first stab at fielding operational satellites to provide resilient, high volume, minimal lag time communications for military missions.

The transport layer is to be the backbone of the Pentagon’s Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) concept.

The optically-linked satellites are to be ready for launch in September 2024. Each contractor is to build 42 satellites.

Lockheed Martin [LMT] in Littleton, Colo., won $700 million, Northrop Grumman [NOC] in Redondo Beach, Calif. $692 million, and Denver-based York Space Systems won $382 million.

Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems had won firm, fixed-price contracts SDA contracts worth $281.5 million in August 2020 to build 10 satellites each for Tranche 0 of the transport layer (Defense Daily, Sep. 1, 2020).

The Tranche 1 transport layer satellites are to be 15 to 20 percent larger than the Tranche 0 transport layer satellites, as the Tranche 1 birds are to be Link 16 capable, SDA director Derek Tournear told reporters in a Defense Writers Group on Feb. 28.

Tournear said SDA had received eight offerings for Tranche 1. The agency plans to develop new tranches–each worth about $2 billion–biennially.

“Realistically, York is just able to deliver at a lower price point than what Lockheed and Northrop bid,” Tournear said regarding the more than $300 million difference in the contracts received by York Space Systems and Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman. “We weight that in. The way SDA does its evaluation–schedule risk is number 1.  ‘Semper citius’–that’s our motto. We’re all about speed to make sure we hit those two-year cycles. After that, 50 percent of the evaluation critieria is in the cost reasonableness so we looked at that. That’s a big factor. But overall, it’s just that York is just able to deliver at a lower price point.”

Nevertheless, the cost for each of the 126 is to remain, as it was in Tranche 0, $14 million–comparatively very low for satellites.

“I won’t speculate on the internal overhead differences between York and Lockheed Martin,” Tournear said on Feb. 28 when asked whether overhead was the primary difference in the significant cost differences between York Space Systems’ bid and Lockheed Martin’s/Northrop Grumman’s. “York is a different business model. Everything they do is essentially commercial fixed price type models. They’re not set up to do the same kind of processing as far as overhead that Lockheed and Northrop are.”

The Tranche 1 satellites, besides having optical links to other satellites, are to broadcast Link 16 L-band Radio Frequency data to any MIDS terminal fielded in the U.S. military.

“That’s a big deal,” he said. “That is a managed network. You get a time slice, and all that is managed. You have to do Doppler corrections on transmit and receive because we’re breaking the network in two ways. One, it was never designed to go further than 300 nautical miles. Well, we’re orbiting higher than that so that’s not gonna work, especially if you’re just overhead, so we have to have some workarounds there. And, second, it was never designed to operate with anything with an orbital speed, and so you have to do a lot of Doppler corrections to correct for that change in speed, as it changes the radio frequencies.”

“The good news is SDA is trailing on a lot of the tech development,” Tournear said. “That’s SDA’s model. We take technology that’s mature, and we field in in a rapid sense. We are prototyping constellations. We’re not prototyping individual technologies.”

SDA is leveraging the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) XVI experiment announced in 2020 for 30,000 Link 16 radios (Defense Daily, June 5, 2020).

“AFRL has the XVI experiment. They burn down a lot of the non-recurring engineering to be able to figure out how they would get a Link 16 radio to communicate with a satellite,” Tournear said. “They worked with Mitre and did some rocket tests, some sounding rockets, to show that it could be done. All of that technology [risk] has been burned down. We’re going to fly and demonstrate that as far as Tranche 0. That’s one of the technical challenges we’ve been working on to make sure that we know all of the issues there and that we can demonstrate that.”

2022 looks to be a busy year for SDA, including launch of 20 Tranche 0 transport layer satellites and eight Tranche 0 tracking layer overhead persistent infrared (OPIR) satellites this fall (Defense Daily, Jan. 12).

2022 is also to see the integration of SDA into the U.S. Space Force under a new Space Force service acquisition executive by Oct. 1 and a solicitation for 28 Tranche 1 tracking layer satellites.

In addition, a solicitation for the 18 experimental satellites in Tranche 1 of the Transport Layer is expected by early summer.

Others:

https://breakingdefense.com/2022/03/budget-roadblock-delaying-pentagon-satellite-program-to-track-hypersonic-missiles/

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/space-operations/2022/03/dod-awards-nearly-2b-to-build-first-satellite-based-backbone-of-jadc2/