US Building ‘Operator’-Level Space Capabilities With Jetpacks, Orbital Refueling

THURSDAY PDB – New Army space plan anticipates ‘operator'-level space capabilities, general says. The new Army Space and Missile Defense Command leader also praised the use of Coyote anti-drone interceptors.

Refueling, propulsion ‘jetpacks' are in Space Force's near-term ‘mobility' plans. “People need to have a realistic expectation of the demand signal,” said the head of Space Systems Command, stressing that it is “looking to leverage commercial services to the maximum extent possible.”

First Space Force guardian to be launched into space this summer. More details are expected soon.

White House calls for investment in satellite servicing. A top National Space Council official urged U.S. agencies to start budgeting for orbital satellite refueling and servicing capabilities as a signal to industry that they're serious about pursuing new ways of operating in space.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here's a roundup of today's other top defense stories from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President's Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL'S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:

NATIONAL SECURITY

NATO chief: I'm NOT [emphasis added] worried that Trump will pull out of the alliance. He said he's not concerned even if former President Donald Trump wins reelection in November.

The Pentagon has been learning the wrong lessons for three decades. The Gulf War sowed the seeds of future defeat. We must uproot them—and urgently.

The human cost of failed deterrence. Fewer Americans may enlist in the military if the Commander in Chief [BIDEN!] won't stop assaults on their bases and ships.

Lawmakers to Pentagon: Do a better job shooting down drones. House lawmakers have lingering questions over whether U.S. forces have adequate protection from Iran-backed terrorists after the attack in Jordan that killed three American troops.

POLITICS

Deal on wartime aid and border security stalls in Congress as time runs short to bolster Ukraine. Senate negotiators struggled Wednesday to finalize a bipartisan deal that would pair policy changes at the southern border with wartime aid for Kyiv due to strong resistance from House Republicans and Donald Trump.

Ousted California Guard general files wrongful termination lawsuit. The one-star general alleges he was ousted for submitting a complaint about a pattern of antisemitism.

IRAN THREAT

Islamic Resistance in Iraq blamed for fatal drone attack on US troops. The umbrella group of Iran-backed militias is the one with closest ties to the terror regime in Tehran.

PREEMPTIVE STRIKE! – US takes ‘self-defense' strike against Houthi projectiles poised to launch at commercial ship in Red Sea. The US carried out the strike unilaterally.

US military shoots down Iranian drones, Houthi missiles, over Gulf of Aden. The USS Carney shot down three Iranian drones and one anti-ship ballistic missile Wednesday launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

USS Gravely shoots down another Houthi missile over the Red Sea. The destroyer Gravely shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen toward the Red Sea on Tuesday night.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards pull officers from Syria after Israeli strikes. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have scaled back deployment of their senior officers in Syria due to a spate of deadly Israeli strikes and will rely more on allied Shi'ite militia to preserve their sway there.

CHINA THREAT

WEAK – White House warns China over aid to Russia's defense industrial base. “We have been clear and direct about our concerns. And… as we've watched this happen, we're prepared to take steps to respond to that kind of activity …,” said Biden's national security advisor, while also lauding progress with Beijing. WHAT “PROGRESS”?

MEANWHILE, CHINA DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE – China's new defense minister urges ‘closest' military relations in first talks with Russian counterpart. Dong Jun, who assumed post in December, tells Sergei Shoigu that Beijing and Moscow should ‘elevate the relations between the two militaries to a higher level.'

Top US officials warn Congress of China's hacking powers. China has shown a new interest in preparing and launching destructive cyberattacks against U.S. electricity systems, water utilities, military organizations, and other critical services.

Cyberattacks on Guam could sap US forces in Indo-Pacific, says NSA and Cyber Command Chief. Successful Chinese cyberattacks on critical infrastructure in Guam or other Indo-Pacific footholds could cripple U.S. military capabilities in the region.

Pentagon calls out Chinese companies it says are helping Beijing's military. The U.S. added more than a dozen Chinese companies to a Defense Department list of firms working with Beijing's military, as part of the broader effort to keep American technology from aiding China.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Europeans set up corridor for rushing NATO troops eastward. Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland expect the corridor would make it easier to move troops and equipment between Europe's North Sea ports and NATO's eastern flank, to face the growing Russia threat.

Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners of war in biggest release so far. This was the biggest single release of captives since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

GOOD. TAKE THE LEAD ON UKRAINE – EU leaders unlock $55 billion support package for Ukraine. All 27 European leaders have agreed to the aid package.

Firing Ukraine's top general would be a mistake. Rumors are swirling that Valeryi Zaluzhnyi, the top general in Ukraine's armed forces, may soon be fired. The chatter prompted their Ministry of Defense to post, “Dear journalists, we immediately answer everyone: No, it's not true.”

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

EU to launch a Red Sea naval mission within 3 weeks to protect ships from continued Houthi attacks. The European Union hopes to help defend cargo ships against attacks by the Iran-backed terrorists in Yemen that are hampering trade and driving up prices.

New Zealand says it will contemplate sharing military tech with US and Britain. This, as it pursues closer defense ties with Australia amid worries over an increasingly belligerent China.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Two US aircraft carriers drill with Japanese big deck in Western Pacific exercise. Two American aircraft carrier strike groups are drilling with a Japanese big-deck warship (‘Lightning Carrier') in the Philippine Sea.

US MILITARY

Troop pay and housing problems lead senior enlisted leaders' concerns. The senior enlisted leaders on Wednesday urged lawmakers to accelerate improvements to these two big issues, calling those top priorities to boost recruiting and retention efforts.

Army recruiting still lagging, top enlisted soldier tells Congress. The service's recruiting reforms aren't expected to be complete until October 2025.

Marines field, upgrade radios with more channels, better crypto. Ongoing upgrades to Marine radios are like turning old radios from flip phone to smartphone-like capabilities.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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