Pentagon

Pentagon: Chinese jets fly close to US spy plane

WASHINGTON –  The Pentagon says two Chinese fighter jets flew within about 50 feet of a U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane Tuesday in international airspace over the South China Sea. The Pentagon characterized the incident as an unsafe intercept and said it is being reviewed. A U.S. military official says the two Chinese J-11 fighters flew […]

Pentagon: Secretive Space Unit in the Fight Against Daesh [ISIS/ISIL]

Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter sees a variety of missions for the Pentagon’s new, secretive space center — and that includes fighting the Islamic State. The Pentagon chief said Thursday that the new Joint Interagency Combined Space Operations Center established by the Defense Department last fall has a role not only in preparing for potential […]

Allowing Open Transgender Military Service Would Pose Few Difficulties, Report Finds

A report commissioned by the Pentagon on the effects of allowing transgender individuals to serve openly shows there would be little to no impact, including negligible costs and minimal effect on military cohesion or readiness, based on the experience of similar policies in other countries. The results of the study, by the Rand Corp., indicate […]

DOD: China’s Military Presence Becomes Increasingly More Formidable

China’s military in 2015 became more assertive in the South China Sea, projected a greater global presence and underwent nascent reforms intended to make it deadlier and more loyal to the ruling political party, according to an annual U.S. Defense Department report. The report, mandated by Congress, highlights China’s defense strategy and developments. “China continues […]

Crosshairs On Queep: Two-Star Targets USAF’s Bane

Oh, the queep. The ever-present, life-sucking, hope-smashing bane of (in this case) tactical aviation. We have discussed this scurge at great length, as it is one of the biggest factors driving immensely-talented aviators out of the military. In a bold statement, Major General Michael Fortney, Vice Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, has put […]

U.S. Nuclear Force Must Modernize to Deter Russia and China

The U.S. must modernize its nuclear force to remain on-par with near-peer adversaries Russia and China, a top Air Force general said Friday. Lt. Gen. Stephen “Seve” Wilson, the deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command, said the U.S. has no choice but to modernize and update its nuclear force if it wants to continue deterring […]

Pentagon asks Congress to limit Afghanistan trips

The Pentagon has asked Congress to limit official travel to Afghanistan during a new fighting season so helicopters and other support would be available for military use rather than to transport lawmakers, a senior military official said Friday. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Ashton Carter asked that travel be […]

Pentagon: No Changes for US Troops following Green Zone Protests

The Pentagon has no plans to heighten security or move U.S. troops in Baghdad after protesters loyal to Shiite Muslim leader Muqtada al-Sadr breached the Green Zone over the weekend to demand political reform, Capt. Jeff Davis said Monday. Hundreds of demonstrators on Saturday stormed the city’s Green Zone, a large protected swath of land […]

U.S. Special Ops Kill 40 ISIS Operatives Responsible for Attacks from Paris to Egypt

Delta Force and Navy SEALs have crippled the group’s ability to recruit foreign fighters and put pressure on the network responsible for striking Europe and Africa. As the self-proclaimed Islamic State [Daesh] trumpets its global terrorist campaign, U.S. special operations forces have quietly killed more than three dozen key Daesh operatives blamed for plotting deadly attacks […]

Pentagon adopts Israeli tactic in bombing ISIS

The U.S. has adopted a unique Israeli battlefield tactic in its fight against ISIS: exploding a missile above a building to warn civilians inside that it’s about to be bombed. Israeli forces have widely used the so-called knock-on-the-roof operations in Gaza attacks in recent years to try to get civilians out before they are hit. […]

Pentagon aims to curb tobacco use by military: memo

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has issued new policy guidelines aimed at curbing tobacco use within America’s military that include raising the prices of tobacco on military bases to match local market prices. The policy, which also includes widening smoke-free zones in areas frequented by children, was detailed in an April 8 memo seen by […]