Top 5     US aircraft carrier arrives in the Caribbean in buildup near Venezuela (The Associated Press) The nation’s most advanced aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean Sea on Sunday in a display of U.S. military power, raising questions about what the new influx of troops and weaponry could signal for the Trump administration’s intentions in South America as it conducts military strikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs.       Airman killed Army veteran who attempted to stop dispute, police say (Military Times) An Iraq War veteran was killed Wednesday morning while attempting to intervene in an alleged domestic dispute involving an active-duty airman assigned to Whiteman Air Force Base.       Suspected gang members exchange fire with US Marines in Haiti (The Associated Press) A group of suspected Haitian gang members fired this week on American forces protecting the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, a spokesman said Saturday, in an incident that highlighted the tense security situation in the Caribbean nation.       Marines deploy Reaper drone unit to South China Sea (Defense News) The U.S. Marine Corps has deployed a unit equipped with MQ-9A Reaper drones to the South China Sea to provide support to Philippine forces there amid a series of clashes with Chinese vessels. The unit is deployed on a temporary basis and the drones are unarmed, a Marine Corps spokesperson told Defense News in a statement.       Netherlands WWII cemetery removes displays honoring Black soldiers (Military Times) The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, the only American military cemetery in the Netherlands, has quietly removed panels displaying the contributions of Black American soldiers during WWII, sparking outrage from Dutch and American citizens.   US strikes in Caribbean and Eastern Pacific (updated)     A list of US military strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels (Military Times) Since early September, the U.S. military has conducted strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean in support of what the Pentagon has called continued counternarcotics efforts.   Pentagon     Pentagon announces nearly $9B in contracts over six-week shutdown (Breaking Defense) Now that the US government is open after the longest shutdown in history, the Pentagon is playing catchup, announcing nearly $9 billion in scores of contract awards on Thursday, including a potential big-ticket win for Boeing’s Chinook line with funds aligned to move out with a deal for German aircraft.       Pentagon creating Amazon-like shopping portal for counter-drone equipment (The War Zone) The new Pentagon task force established to counter threats posed by small drones on Friday announced the creation of a hub for agencies to purchase counter-drone equipment and ways to improve how these systems work together. The effort comes as the U.S. faces an increasing number of incursions over these facilities, and about a year after a spate of them began popping up across the continent.       Plaques installed on Pentagon proclaiming it Department of War (Stars & Stripes) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fastened the final screw into a new Department of War plaque at the Pentagon’s main entrance for visiting VIPs Thursday, marking the latest effort to cement a name change that still requires congressional backing.   Congress & Politics     Who’s Who in Defense: Gen. Christopher Mahoney, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Breaking Defense) In his position, Gen. Mahoney is the senior adviser to Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs.   Your Military     US 7th Fleet ushers in new commander (Military Times) The world’s largest forward-deployed naval force welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony in Yokosuka, Japan, on Thursday, according to a release.       Hundreds of US troops are helping in the Philippines after back-to-back typhoons (Stars & Stripes) More than 450 U.S. service members are assisting the Philippines with disaster relief after two powerful storms killed hundreds and forced millions to move this month, according to a military task force operating in the country.   Army     Army introduces sweeping reform of its acquisition structure (DefenseScoop ) The Army is initiating massive organizational reforms for how it buys new weapons and capabilities in an effort to drastically shorten procurement timelines and promote innovation, according to top service officials.       25th ID shows off leaner, more mobile formation during large-scale drills in Hawaii (Stars & Stripes) The 25th Infantry Division’s large-scale training now taking place across Hawaii is a glimpse of the future of Army warfare.   Navy     Navy commissions the USS Pierre, last Independence-class littoral combat ship (Task & Purpose) The U.S. Navy commissioned the 19th and final Independence-class littoral combat ship today. The USS Pierre officially entered service, at a time when the Navy is looking to scrap or repurpose littoral combat ships.       New Naval Inspector General, 7th Fleet Commander take command; Next Fleet Forces, DCMA Commander confirmed (USNI News) The new Naval Inspector General and U.S. 7th Fleet commander took command this week following late October confirmations from the Senate.       USS St. Louis returns from deployment in support of Southern Border Operations (Seapower) The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19), operating under U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) in the Gulf of America, returned to Naval Station Mayport ), along with the “Valkyries” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50 Detachment 5 and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 408 after completing a surge deployment on November 10, 2025.       US Navy mobilizes units to salvage crashed aircraft in South China Sea (Breaking Defense) The US Navy has begun efforts to salvage a fighter jet and helicopter from the South China Sea, Breaking Defense has learned.       USS Gerald R. Ford enters Caribbean Sea (USNI News) Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) entered the Caribbean Sea on Sunday, according to a statement from Carrier Strike Group 12.       USS Jason Dunham returns to Mayport following deployment to US Fourth Fleet (Seapower) Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) returned to Naval Station Mayport after completing a 91-day surge deployment in the U.S. Fourth Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR).   Marine Corps     Marine base in Japan reports record surge in venomous spider eradications (Stars & Stripes) This U.S. military base near Hiroshima has killed more venomous spiders this year than in any year since recordkeeping began nearly two decades ago, Japanese authorities said Monday.       Marines begin a week of exercises miles from the Venezuelan coast (Task & Purpose) Troops from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit launched several days of training today in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean island nation only miles from Venezuela.       Marines no longer lose free trip home if they take US leave while moving between overseas assignments (Stars & Stripes) Marines can now take annual leave between overseas tours without jeopardizing their eligibility for a paid trip to the U.S. from their new duty station, according to a recent message to the force.   Air Force     Shutdown deal adds $850M for B-21, Sentinel construction projects (Defense One) As lawmakers negotiated an end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, they added hundreds of millions of dollars for projects related to the B-21 bomber and Sentinel ICBM programs.   Space Force     Blue Origin on track for NSSL certification after second successful New Glenn launch (Breaking Defense) Blue Origin’s successful second launch Thursday of its New Glenn heavy lifter — including its first landing of the reusable booster at sea — clears the penultimate hurdle for company to begin launching critical national security payloads.   Coast Guard     US Coast Guard responds to Russian military vessel off Honolulu (Seapower) The U.S. Coast Guard detected and monitored a Russian military vessel operating near U.S. territorial waters approximately 15 nautical miles south of Oahu on Oct. 29.   National Guard     National Guard begins drawdown in Portland, Chicago (Task & Purpose) Hundreds of federalized National Guard troops will begin leaving Portland and Chicago in the coming days, weeks after they were ordered to the cities by the Trump administration to aid law enforcement deal with what it called rampant crime and chaos.       Indiana National Guard soldier killed, 3 injured in multi-vehicle crash (Stars & Stripes) An Indiana National Guard soldier was killed and three others were injured Friday in a multi-vehicle crash on I-65 in Boone County, Ind.   Veterans     Navy veterans push for more health coverage, studies on toxins in a submarine’s sealed environment (Stars & Stripes) A coalition of Navy veterans is seeking an expansion of health care and disability benefits for toxic exposures linked to gases, chemicals and biological contaminants aboard submarines.   Pay & Benefits     What troops, military families need to know about Tricare open season (Military Times) Military families have some decisions to make about their health care before Tricare open season ends Dec. 9.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     How cartels are adopting drone tactics from Ukraine (Defense News) Last month, three drones rigged with explosives detonated outside a prosecutor’s office in Tijuana, Mexico, besieging six cars parked outside with a blast of nails, BBs and metal fragments. The attack was orchestrated by a cartel, Mexican government officials confirmed, and targeted an anti-kidnapping unit of the Baja state attorney general’s office. It is the latest high-profile example of first-person view drones being used by cartels to replicate military tactics being used in Ukraine.       Can the latest plan for CYBERCOM stave off calls for a new service? (Air & Space Forces Magazine) In a brief email Nov. 6, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out a new Cyber Force Generation plan, meant to give U.S. Cyber Command more authority over the employment, training, and equipping of U.S. troops preparing for and waging cyber war. Former Air Force officers and national security officials say the plan is meant to fix longstanding problems that have beset the U.S. military’s cyberspace efforts—and to head off growing calls for an entirely new military service.       Dream Chaser completes key tests ahead of first flight (SpaceNews) Sierra Space has completed key testing milestones for its Dream Chaser vehicle as the company explores both civil and national security missions for the spaceplane.   Defense Industry     Italy’s Avio shortlists three US states for new rocket motor factory (Defense News) Italian propulsion firm Avio is a few weeks away from naming the U.S. state where it plans to build a factory employing up to 1,500 to satisfy growing demand for a solid rocket motors.       Colombia signs $3.6B deal for Gripen fighters (Breaking Defense) Colombia on Friday signed an agreement for 17 Gripen E/F fighter jets, with a value of €3.1 billion ($3.6 billion), according to a statement by Saab.       Israel modified AIM-9M Sidewinder missile seekers to better target drones: Report (The War Zone) Israel’s stocks of AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles are now more effective against long-range kamikaze drones like Iran’s Shahed-136, thanks to changes to their seekers, according to a new report. Shahed-type and other similar one-way attack drones present particular challenges for any aerial intercept attempt, given their relatively small size, minimal signature, slow speed, and low-altitude flight profiles.       British carrier strike group now under NATO command (UK Defence Journal) The Royal Navy’s HMS Prince of Wales has reached full operating capability and is now under NATO command, the UK Defence Journal understands.       New KC-46 vision system begins test flights, as Boeing eyes more Gulf sales (Breaking Defense) Boeing has flown a new vision system on the company’s troubled KC-46 Pegasus air refueler for the first time, the firm’s defense chief revealed today, a key step toward resolving an issue that has plagued the platform for years.       Saab wins new Arexis orders for German jets (UK Defence Journal) Saab has secured two major orders from Airbus Defence and Space to supply its Arexis electronic warfare suite for German Eurofighters, the UK Defence Journal understands.       Emirates announces order of 65 Boeing 777-9s with list price of $38 billion at Dubai Air Show (The Associated Press) The biennial Dubai Air Show opened Monday with hometown airline Emirates ordering 65 of Boeing’s upcoming 777-9 aircraft, as the carrier looks to increase its fleets off record earnings and unending demand for flights through this East-West travel hub.   Israel-Gaza-Iran-Yemen-Lebanon     Palestinian deaths in Israeli custody have surged. A prison guard describes rampant abuse. (The Associated Press) The number of Palestinians dying in Israeli custody surged to nearly 100 people since the start of the war in Gaza, according to a report published Monday by a human rights group that says systematic violence and denial of medical care at prisons and detention centers contributed to many of the deaths it examined.       US military planning for divided Gaza with ‘green zone’ secured by international and Israeli troops (The Guardian) The US is planning for the long-term division of Gaza into a “green zone” under Israeli and international military control, where reconstruction would start, and a “red zone” to be left in ruins.       The war in Gaza is over, but the fight in Israel for accountability has barely begun (CNN) “Do you really think, Mr. Netanyahu, that you can rename wars, hand out medals, tell tales of your heroism – and still avoid investigating the greatest national failure in Israel’s history?”   Ukraine     Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,362 (Al Jazeera) Here is how things stand on Monday, November 17:       Ukraine signs a letter of intent to buy up to 100 Rafale warplanes from France (The Associated Press) Ukraine signed a letter of intent to buy up to 100 Rafale warplanes from France, the Ukrainian Embassy and the French president’s office said.       EU nations boost drone defense, pledge more US weapons for Ukraine (Defense News) Top officials from Europe’s five largest military spenders met in Berlin today to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine’s defense and announce a number of measures designed to strengthen Europe’s eastern flank.       Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv kills 6, injures at least 35 (The Associated Press) Russia unleashed a major missile and drone barrage on Kyiv early Friday, killing six people, leaving gaping holes in apartment buildings and starting fires as the sound of explosions boomed across the city and lit up the night sky. A pregnant woman was among at least 35 people wounded, Ukrainian authorities said.       How Ukraine miltech exports will spur post-war reconstruction (Arsenal) How will loosening export controls put Ukraine on a growth trajectory post-war? And looking ahead to how deftech can become a key source of revenue, drawing on its technological innovation on the battlefield.       Ukraine’s Long Neptune cruise missile seen in action for the first time (The War Zone) For the first time, Ukraine has presented footage that purportedly shows its extended-range Long Neptune cruise missile in action. Part of a growing arsenal of long-range cruise missiles from domestic production, the Long Neptune was unveiled in March of this year, at which point Zelensky claimed it had already been tested in combat.       Zelenskyy says Ukraine is working on a prisoner exchange with Russia (The Associated Press) Ukraine is working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia that could bring home 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday, a day after his national security chief announced progress in negotiations.   International     ICEYE sees role as Europe’s defense space-intelligence linchpin (Defense News) Finland’s ICEYE has a “very big role to play” in giving Europe sovereign access to satellite intelligence, without having to rely on the United States, the company’s Vice President for Missions Joost Elstak said.       China starts sea trials of amphibious assault ship (The Associated Press) China began sea trials of its most advanced amphibious assault ship on Friday, only a week after commissioning its latest aircraft carrier as part of the rapid modernization of its navy, which is already the world’s largest.       Poland sets up first-ever military satellite launch (Defense News) In a bid to secure an Earth observation system for the country’s armed forces, Poland is advancing a project to have its first three military satellites launched this month.       US clears $3.2B in missiles for Germany (Breaking Defense) The US State Department today gave the greenlight for a massive $3.2 billion missile deal with Germany.       Chinese coast guard enters Senkaku waters after Japan warns it may use force (Stars & Stripes) The Chinese coast guard entered waters Japan claims as its territorial limit around the Senkaku Islands over the weekend, less than 10 days after Japan’s prime minister warned Tokyo would use military force if China attacked Taiwan.       Lord West warns UK ‘effectively at war with Russia’ (UK Defence Journal) During an episode of the Lord Speaker’s podcast, Lord West delivered an extended warning that the UK now sits inside what he called an undeclared conflict with Russia, arguing that the scale and persistence of Moscow’s hostile activity places Europe in a precarious strategic position.       Battles in West Kordofan as Sudan army resists RSF’s eastward push (Al Jazeera) The Sudan army is holding on to its last stronghold in West Kordofan as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) pushes to take control of the province east of Darfur.       'His role is to recruit’: the Sheffield-based propagandist for Sudan’s RSF militia (The Guardian) A British citizen based in Sheffield appeared in a TikTok live broadcast laughing along while a notorious fighter from Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces group boasted about participating in mass killings in the city of El Fasher.   Military Culture & History     Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 aims bigger, hits harder and delivers (Military Times) Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 arrives with the weight of two decades of expectations behind it, yet the newest entry in Treyarch’s signature series feels less like a victory lap and more like a course correction.       During the Meuse-Argonne campaign, this trench runner took initiative (Military Times) One of the ironic tales to emerge retrospectively from World War I concerns a young Adolf Hitler, a regimental trench-runner in the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment. Allegedly, his commanding officer, Hugo Gutmann, while recommending him for the Iron Cross First Class for courage under fire, denied him a promotion on the grounds that he lacked the leadership qualities.   Video     Watch the US Air Force load inert nuclear bombs in F-35 for tests (Defense News) The Energy Department and Air Force in August successfully carried out the first tests dropping unarmed B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs from an F-35A fighter, the laboratory in charge of overseeing nuclear weapons said this week.       NATO forces focus on hunting subs (Military Times) NATO forces focus on hunting subs.   Commentary & Analysis     Why a Gulf–Israel rapid response force still makes sense (Military Times) When one of us first argued in Foreign Policy in 2022 that Israel and the Gulf states should form a U.S.-backed multinational rapid-response force, the idea seemed ahead of its time. The Abraham Accords were still fresh, and the notion of Arab and Israeli troops training and operating side by side seemed politically remote.       Our nation requires three ARG/MEUs (Defense One) The Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit—the ARG/MEU—is the Nation’s most flexible and effective formation for projecting power from the sea. Three ships, carrying a 2,200-Marine combined arms team, maneuver as sovereign U.S. territory anywhere on the globe. They respond in hours, not weeks. They can put Marines ashore without relying on ports, airfields, or permission from another country. They bring command and control, aviation, fires, logistics, and a reinforced infantry battalion—all from the sea, ready to fight on arrival.       The day after: What successful regime change in Venezuela would really take (War On The Rocks) What if the “counternarcotics” strikes against boats suspected of moving drugs aren’t really about cocaine at all, but about toppling Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro?