DefenceTalkThe US military in Niger said Thursday they had lost a second drone in two months, both through technical failure rather than from hostile action in the conflict-torn country. “A… remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) was lost near Agadez, Niger, April 23,” US Africa Command said in an email to AFP. “U.S. forces secured the RPA […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-military-lose-second-drone-in-niger-75478/

DefenceTalkOne hundred thirty-two civilians were killed last year in US global military operations, the army said Wednesday, a number far lower than those published by NGOs. The Department of Defense “assesses that there were approximately 132 civilians killed and approximately 91 civilians injured during 2019 as a result of US military operations in Iraq, Syria, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-military-killed-132-civilians-globally-in-2019-pentagon-75452/

DefenceTalkMilitary installations housing US forces in Djibouti were placed under a “precautionary” public health emergency Thursday, as cases of the novel coronavirus continued to surge among the general population in the strategic east African country. Major General Michael Turello, commander of the US Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa mission, said in a statement the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-bases-in-djibouti-under-precautionary-health-emergency-75256/

DefenceTalkWhile infantry units carry out important missions at close quarters, field artillery battalions stationed remotely play a vital role in shaping the battle at a distance. As part of a major flagship program, Army researchers are making technology advancements for rockets and cannons that will enable long range precision fires. In order to further the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-improves-long-range-precision-fires-support-74972/

DefenceTalkUS Defense Secretary Mark Esper ordered a 60-day freeze Wednesday on moves by US troops and civilian defense employees overseas in an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The move stopped the deployment or redeployment of some 90,000 US service members for the next two months. It also freezes in place the families […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-freezes-overseas-troop-movements-in-virus-lockdown-74963/

DefenceTalkThree sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt underway in the Pacific Ocean were diagnosed with COVID-19 and were evacuated from the ship, Acting Navy Secretary Thomas B. Modly said. “We’ve identified all the folks they’ve had contact with, and we’re quarantining them as well,” Modly said at a Pentagon news conference today, where […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-announces-3-covid-19-cases-aboard-uss-theodore-roosevelt-74945/

DefenceTalkNearly 10,000 National Guardsmen called up across the United States, with more expected soon, are performing a variety of missions in response to COVID-19 pandemic response efforts. Some are even federally funded, though they remain under the control of their respective state governors, but none of those Guardsmen are involved in law or quarantine enforcement, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nearly-10000-guardsmen-called-up-for-covid-19-response-74941/

DefenceTalkThe US retreat from Afghanistan is delayed, troops have pulled back from Iraq, crucial readiness exercises are cancelled, and soldiers are confined to bases: coronavirus is handicapping the world’s most powerful military. The Pentagon this week admitted that the global pandemic is a formidable foe like none other that it has confronted. Proud of its […]https://www.defencetalk.com/coronavirus-challenges-us-military-machine-74925/

DefenceTalkThe Department of Defense successfully tested a hypersonic glide body in a flight experiment conducted from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii, March 19 at approximately 10:30 p.m. local time (HST). The U.S. Navy and U.S. Army jointly executed the launch of a common hypersonic glide body (C-HGB), which flew at hypersonic speed to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-dept-of-defense-tests-hypersonic-glide-body-74913/

DefenceTalkThe technological superiority of the United States armed forces is being challenged by new and evolving threats constantly being developed by potential adversaries. To counteract these challenges, the country’s Department of Defense (DoD) is expected to spend an estimated $481 billion between 2018 and 2024 to identify and develop new technologies for advanced weapon systems, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/development-of-new-weapons-systems-key-to-sustaining-us-military-superiority-74871/