Last24Report

The last 24 hours of defense-related news - Current Events, Business, Technology, Tactical, Policy, History, Context, and Humor - ACL-USA.

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

link https://t.co/ZjeUt6GaKE

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

Navy Looks to Add Zero-Trust Controls into Weapon Systems, Platforms - The Department of the Navy is set to release new standards for applying zero-trust cybersecurity principles to operational technology, expanding protections beyond traditional IT infrastructure.

- The Pentagon's 2022 zero-trust strategy aims for all components to reach target levels of implementation by fiscal 2027.
- The Navy is developing a zero-trust implementation plan for weapons systems, platforms, and facilities to counter evolving cyber threats.
- Its cloud-based Flank Speed platform has already met all 152 zero-trust requirements, serving as a model for further cybersecurity efforts.
- The upcoming standards, part of the MOSAICS initiative, will define basic and advanced zero-trust implementation levels for operational technology.

From: Defensescoop

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

link https://t.co/LV42qcghXm

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

Defeating the Houthis Will Require More Than Killing Their Chief - The Houthis have evolved into a resilient, quasi-state entity, making it unlikely that the assassination of their leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, would lead to their collapse. Their institutionalized structure, economic control, intelligence apparatus, and external backing ensure their continuity even in the face of leadership decapitation.

- Institutional Resilience: The Houthis have transitioned from a rebel group to a bureaucratic regime, with structured command systems and secretive institutions like the Jihad Council.
- Economic Control: The group dominates the economy in its controlled regions, controlling industries, banks, and trade routes, making it difficult to destabilize.
- Intelligence and Security Apparatus: Multiple intelligence agencies work to suppress dissent and maintain absolute control over the population.
- Preparedness and External Support: The Houthis and their Iranian backers have likely prepared for succession, ensuring leadership continuity in the event of an assassination.

From: War on the Rocks

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

link https://t.co/BMl2FD7tPh

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

DEI, DOA: How the Defense Industry is Racing to Bury Its Diversity Efforts - President Donald Trump’s executive order on Jan. 21 mandates federal contractors roll back DEI initiatives, causing major defense companies to quickly erase past commitments to DEI.

- Defense Contractors' Response: Major defense firms, including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and BAE Systems, are removing DEI-related content from their websites and corporate filings.
- Legal Uncertainty: Companies struggle to determine which DEI activities are now considered illegal, leading to the removal of DEI departments, supplier diversity programs, and employee resource groups.
- Risk of Retaliation: Fear of government scrutiny and potential loss of contracts prompts firms to comply swiftly with the executive order.
- Impact on Talent & Readiness: Critics argue that DEI efforts weakened military readiness and reduced competitiveness in attracting top tech talent.

From: Breaking Defense

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

Bashar al-Assad and the Oversimplified Myth of Autocracies’ Inherent Fragility - The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has reignited debates about the stability of authoritarian regimes, with many observers linking Assad’s downfall to broader patterns of autocratic fragility. However, this view oversimplifies the unique conditions that led to Syria’s collapse, ignoring key distinctions between different types of autocracies.

- Syria’s collapse was not a generic case of authoritarian fragility but the result of long-term institutional decay, poor governance, and excessive dependence on foreign support.
- Comparisons to Russia and Iran are flawed because neither state faces Syria’s level of domestic fragmentation or reliance on external aid.
- Historical cases of autocratic collapse, such as the Eastern Bloc and the Arab Spring, were driven by regional conditions that do not align with Syria’s specific situation.
- Authoritarian states like Russia and Iran are studying Syria’s failure to learn lessons about military control, state-society relations, and dependency on foreign support.

From: Modern War Institute

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

Drone Wars: Developments in Drone Swarm Technology - Sweden’s development of drone swarm capabilities highlights a global shift toward autonomous, networked warfare. Military forces worldwide are investing in drone swarms to enhance battlefield agility, intelligence gathering, and strike capabilities.

- Sweden’s new drone swarm program, developed by Saab, will undergo testing in March 2025 during the Arctic Strike Exercise, focusing on reconnaissance, defense, and payload delivery.
- The U.S. Replicator program aims to deploy thousands of low-cost autonomous drones by August 2025, integrating AI-driven coordination to enhance battlefield resilience.
- China’s Jiu Tian “mothership” drone, unveiled in 2024, can deploy smaller UAV swarms at high speeds, significantly expanding China’s strategic reach.
- Countering drone swarms remains a challenge, as traditional air defense systems struggle with the cost disparity between high-end missiles and cheap, expendable drones.

From: Forecast International

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

BLUF

[Clash Report @clashreport]

End of an era.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to European countries:

I’m here today to directly and unambiguously express that stark strategic realities prevent the United States from being the primary guarantor of security in Europe.

Realities prevent the U.S. from being its security guarantor, and to expect a drawdown of U.S. forces in the region.

We face a peer competitor in the Communist Chinese with the capability and intent to threaten our homeland and core national interests in the Indo-Pacific.

The U.S. is prioritizing deterring war with China in the Pacific. Recognizing the reality of scarcity and making the resourcing trade-offs to ensure deterrence does not fail. Deterrence cannot fail.

European allies must lead from the front. United States will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency. Rather, our relationship will prioritize empowering Europe to own responsibility for its own security.

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

link https://t.co/mIdiUzgT6P

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

Drone Wars: Developments in Drone Swarm Technology - Sweden’s development of drone swarm capabilities highlights a global shift toward autonomous, networked warfare. Military forces worldwide are investing in drone swarms to enhance battlefield agility, intelligence gathering, and strike capabilities.

- Sweden’s new drone swarm program, developed by Saab, will undergo testing in March 2025 during the Arctic Strike Exercise, focusing on reconnaissance, defense, and payload delivery.
- The U.S. Replicator program aims to deploy thousands of low-cost autonomous drones by August 2025, integrating AI-driven coordination to enhance battlefield resilience.
- China’s Jiu Tian “mothership” drone, unveiled in 2024, can deploy smaller UAV swarms at high speeds, significantly expanding China’s strategic reach.
- Countering drone swarms remains a challenge, as traditional air defense systems struggle with the cost disparity between high-end missiles and cheap, expendable drones.

From: Forecast International

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

link https://t.co/kzveJbzANs

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

Bashar al-Assad and the Oversimplified Myth of Autocracies’ Inherent Fragility - The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has reignited debates about the stability of authoritarian regimes, with many observers linking Assad’s downfall to broader patterns of autocratic fragility. However, this view oversimplifies the unique conditions that led to Syria’s collapse, ignoring key distinctions between different types of autocracies.

- Syria’s collapse was not a generic case of authoritarian fragility but the result of long-term institutional decay, poor governance, and excessive dependence on foreign support.
- Comparisons to Russia and Iran are flawed because neither state faces Syria’s level of domestic fragmentation or reliance on external aid.
- Historical cases of autocratic collapse, such as the Eastern Bloc and the Arab Spring, were driven by regional conditions that do not align with Syria’s specific situation.
- Authoritarian states like Russia and Iran are studying Syria’s failure to learn lessons about military control, state-society relations, and dependency on foreign support.

From: Modern War Institute

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

Defense Secretary Orders Air Force to Pause All Reorg Planning - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Air Force to pause all planning for its "Re-Optimization for Great Power Competition" initiative until a new Secretary and Undersecretary are confirmed.

- The order halts efforts such as the creation of Integrated Capabilities Command and Space Futures Command, though actions already taken, like Warrant Officer Training School, will continue.
- Large-scale exercises, including Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC), remain unaffected by the pause.
- Key restructuring plans for Air Force Materiel Command, Airman Development Command, and Air Forces Cyber are now uncertain.
- The timeline for resuming planning is unclear, as Senate confirmation of Air Force Secretary nominee Troy Meink and Undersecretary nominee Matthew Lohmeier has not yet been scheduled.

From: Air and Space Forces

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

How Can We Measure if Defense Innovation Works? - The Pentagon still struggles to measure the effectiveness of its innovation organizations, despite their role in adopting commercial technology for military use.

- Defense innovation organizations should evaluate their success based on three factors: impact on warfighters, the civil innovation base, and the Department of Defense.
- Measuring warfighter impact involves assessing military utility, technology adoption rates, and user acceptance.
- Expanding access to commercial innovation requires tracking engagement with non-traditional defense companies and improving speed to contract and payment.
- Successful innovation organizations develop best practices that other defense entities adopt, helping bridge the “valley of death” between innovation and acquisition.

From: War on the Rocks

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

link https://t.co/qI8cAMKwE0

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

Defense Secretary Orders Air Force to Pause All Reorg Planning - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Air Force to pause all planning for its "Re-Optimization for Great Power Competition" initiative until a new Secretary and Undersecretary are confirmed.

- The order halts efforts such as the creation of Integrated Capabilities Command and Space Futures Command, though actions already taken, like Warrant Officer Training School, will continue.
- Large-scale exercises, including Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC), remain unaffected by the pause.
- Key restructuring plans for Air Force Materiel Command, Airman Development Command, and Air Forces Cyber are now uncertain.
- The timeline for resuming planning is unclear, as Senate confirmation of Air Force Secretary nominee Troy Meink and Undersecretary nominee Matthew Lohmeier has not yet been scheduled.

From: Air and Space Forces

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

link https://t.co/5cDrsaNQN8

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

How Can We Measure if Defense Innovation Works? - The Pentagon still struggles to measure the effectiveness of its innovation organizations, despite their role in adopting commercial technology for military use.

- Defense innovation organizations should evaluate their success based on three factors: impact on warfighters, the civil innovation base, and the Department of Defense.
- Measuring warfighter impact involves assessing military utility, technology adoption rates, and user acceptance.
- Expanding access to commercial innovation requires tracking engagement with non-traditional defense companies and improving speed to contract and payment.
- Successful innovation organizations develop best practices that other defense entities adopt, helping bridge the “valley of death” between innovation and acquisition.

From: War on the Rocks

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

link https://t.co/9JSoPLDHnt

[Last24Report @Last24Report]

L3Harris Unveils Plan to Control Thousands of Autonomous Systems Simultaneously - L3Harris has announced AMORPHOUS, a technology designed to manage thousands of autonomous systems across multiple warfare domains through a single user interface.

- The system enables warfighters to control large autonomous swarms alongside manned assets in combat scenarios.
- AMORPHOUS uses a decentralized control approach, allowing command to transfer seamlessly between assets if one is compromised.
- The software features an open architecture, making it compatible with platforms from various vendors.
- While live testing has been limited to fewer than 100 platforms, L3Harris aims to scale operations to thousands of systems.

From: DefenseScoop