DefenceTalkBrazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday visited the US Southern Command, where he signed a defense agreement with the United States enabling joint development of military capabilities, officials said. The agreement, which was also signed by Admiral Craig Faller, the head of the Miami-based command, aims to clear the way for future joint projects “to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-brazil-sign-agreement-enabling-military-sales-74719/

DefenceTalkThe mission of the Missile Defense Agency is defending the U.S., deployed forces, friends and allies from missiles of all sorts. “It’s a no-fail mission,” said its director, Navy Vice Adm. Jon A. Hill, speaking at the 11th annual McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington, D.C. If there’s ever a war with a near-peer adversary, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-defense-officials-describe-layered-missile-defense-progress-74682/

DefenceTalkThe Defense Department is preparing to use 5G in its networks and prevent adversaries from hacking into it, a DOD official said. Dr. Michael D. Griffin, undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, spoke at the 11th annual McAleese Defense Programs Conference in Washington, D.C. Regarding 5G, the department has put $484 million in its […]https://www.defencetalk.com/5g-to-aid-warfighters-thwart-adversaries-74678/

DefenceTalkU.S. competition with Russia and China is manifesting itself globally, including in the Arctic, said a Defense Department official. Dr. James H. Anderson, performing the duties of deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, and Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, commander, U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, provided testimony on U.S. policy […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-a-non-arctic-nation-meddling-in-arctic-says-dod-official-74669/

DefenceTalkUS Defense Secretary Mark Esper accused Russia Wednesday of violating the Open Skies Treaty designed to improve transparency and confidence between the militaries of the two superpowers. Esper told a congressional hearing Russia had been blocking the United States from conducting flights over the Baltic Sea city of Kaliningrad and near Georgia that are permitted […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-accuses-russia-of-breaking-open-skies-treaty-74645/

DefenceTalkMilitary officials and their civilian counterparts are learning together how to combat the coronavirus, Defense Department officials said today. DOD has an advantage it is sharing with civilian agencies in that the Defense Department has been doing pandemic planning for more than 20 years, said Robert G. Salesses, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-dept-defense-outlines-priorities-in-combating-coronavirus-74635/

DefenceTalkThe Defense Department is making plans to combat the coronavirus, DOD leaders said today during a news conference. For the past six weeks, defense leaders have been meeting to plan for any possible scenario with the virus that first surfaced in China. “We’ve issued a variety of [memoranda] and directives advising the force on how […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-defense-dept-makes-plans-to-combat-coronavirus-74542/

DefenceTalkSpace systems underpin virtually every weapon system in the Defense Department’s arsenal, a senior DOD official told Congress. But many systems were designed for an era when there were few threats in space, Dr. James H. Anderson, performing the duties of deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, said today at a hearing of the House […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-will-not-let-china-russia-deny-its-space-superiority-74348/

DefenceTalkThe State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Netherlands of sixteen (16) MK-48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology (AT) torpedo conversion kits and related equipment for an estimated cost of $85 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on yesterday. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/netherlands-requests-to-buy-mk-48-torpedo-conversion-kits-74299/

DefenceTalkThough the U.S.-South Korea alliance remains strong, South Korea must bear a more proportional share of the cost of maintaining its security, Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said. Esper hosted South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo at the Pentagon today. DOD officials said the two leaders discussed a range of issues including the regional […]https://www.defencetalk.com/esper-urges-south-korea-to-contribute-more-to-its-defense-74233/