Top 5     Trump asks Supreme Court to let transgender military ban take effect (The Associated Press) President Donald Trump’s administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to allow enforcement of a ban on transgender people in the military, while legal challenges proceed.       Navy suspends search for missing Nimitz sailor (Military Times) The U.S. Navy paused its efforts Thursday to locate a sailor assigned to the carrier Nimitz who disappeared in Guam on April 18.       More than two-thirds of reserve troops are overweight: Report (Military Times) More than two-thirds of Guard and Reserve troops are overweight, potentially limiting their readiness and ability to deploy in support of national security, according to a new study released by the American Security Project this week.       Hegseth reportedly had unsecured internet line in office for Signal (The Associated Press) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had an internet connection that bypassed the Pentagon’s security protocols set up in his office to use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer, two people familiar with the line told The Associated Press.       'Everything is on the table': Army eyeing expansion of privatized barracks (Military.com) The Army is considering a significant expansion of privatized barracks, a concept it has revisited periodically since the 1990s and one that gained renewed momentum under the previous administration.   Ukraine     Trump says Zelenskyy is prolonging war in Ukraine over Crimea question (The Associated Press) President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at Ukraine’s president, saying Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prolonging the “killing field” after pushing back on ceding Crimea to Russia as part of a potential peace plan.       Trump: Russia not taking over Ukraine is a concession (The Hill) President Trump said Thursday that Russia would be making a concession toward peace if it agrees not to take over Ukraine, as the U.S. president has struggled to negotiate even a limited ceasefire deal between Moscow and Kyiv.       Crimea is a focus of discussions to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. Here’s why it’s so coveted (The Associated Press) Russia’s illegal seizure of Crimea from Ukraine 11 years ago was quick and bloodless. But Kyiv — and most of the world — never recognized Moscow’s annexation of the strategic peninsula, which is now a major focus of U.S.-led efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.       Ukraine gets nothing in Trump’s proposals for peace, says Boris Johnson (The Guardian) Boris Johnson has issued stern criticism of Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace proposals in one of his first apparent censures of the US president, saying under his terms the Ukrainians would “get nothing”.       Ukraine may have to give up land for peace - Kyiv Mayor Klitschko (BBC) The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has told the BBC that Ukraine may have to give up land as part of a peace deal with Russia, amid a growing pressure from President Donald Trump to accept territorial concessions.   Pentagon     Defense Innovation Unit to expand US outposts with three new hubs (Defense News) The Defense Innovation Unit is launching three more outposts across the U.S. to help the Pentagon connect with a broader swath of technology companies.       Pentagon sets November timeline for largest-ever spectrum sharing demo (Breaking Defense) The Defense Department is planning to host the largest-ever spectrum sharing demonstration with industry in November, an official from the Pentagon’s FutureG office revealed Wednesday, in hopes of answering key questions amid a contentious debate.   Congress & Politics     Report to Congress on Landing Ship Medium progress (USNI News) The following is the April 21, 2025, Congressional Research Service report, Navy Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Program: Background and Issues for Congress.       ICE agents arrested Mahmoud Khalil without a warrant, Trump administration confirms (CBS News) The Trump administration conceded on Thursday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents did not have a warrant when they detained Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil in March, acknowledging it was a "warrantless arrest."   Army     Army names new hypersonic missile ‘Dark Eagle’ (Stars & Stripes) The Army dubbed its new hypersonic missile the “Dark Eagle,” paying tribute to a U.S. national symbol, as the developing system nears the end of testing.       Milestone B delay for Bradley replacement competition will not impact fielding, Army says (Breaking Defense) While the US Army slightly delayed the critical design reviews for two companies vying to win its M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle replacement program, a service spokesperson said the decision is not expected to cause a larger program delay.       Soldier pleads guilty to killing taxi driver as he attempted to desert from Army (Stars & Stripes) A soldier pleaded guilty Wednesday at his court-martial to killing a cab driver during his attempt to desert the Army and avoid conviction on child rape charges.   Navy     Navy finally finds something the LCS is good at: Stopping drug smuggling (Task & Purpose) The oft-maligned Littoral Combat Ship, or LCS, may have found its true calling: chasing down smugglers.       Navy cancels 56-year-old international Seapower Symposium due to ‘unavailable funding’ (USNI News) The Navy is canceling its biennial International Seapower Symposium due to “unavailable funding,” the service confirmed to USNI News Thursday.       Guided-missile destroyer makes Navy’s second trip of year through Taiwan Strait (Stars & Stripes) The U.S. Navy sent a guided-missile destroyer on a solo transit of the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, the second Navy trip through the contentious waterway this year, according to U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.       After 2 years, Navy sees successes with pre-boot camp prep course (Military.com) After about two years of operation, the Navy's pre-boot camp program for recruits who need help meeting the physical and academic requirements for service is proving to be useful, and leaders say they want it to stay.       Sergeant who preyed on women in Fort Cavazos barracks sentenced to life in prison (Stars & Stripes) A sergeant who attacked young women who were alone and new to the Fort Cavazos barracks will spend the rest of his life in prison after at least two of his five victims asked the judge for no leniency.   Marine Corps     Marine Corps initiates deployment of new ‘digital transformation teams’ (DefenseScoop ) The Marine Corps recently launched a pilot program that’s deploying “digital transformation teams” around the service to help personnel digitize processes, expand trustworthy data pipelines, identify vulnerabilities, and ultimately align and expedite AI-enabling applications for real-world operations, according to a top official involved.       Okinawa-based Marines could move into new barracks on Guam this summer (Stars & Stripes) Marines are expected to arrive at their new quarters on Camp Blaz, still a work in progress on Guam, as early as June, a base spokeswoman said Friday.   Air Force     North Korea lashes out at Air Force’s ‘Swan of Death’ bomber deployment in Japan (Stars & Stripes) The official voice of North Korea’s authoritarian regime on Friday denounced the recent appearance of Air Force long-range bombers in Japan as a “vicious change” and a “threat to regional security.”       Air Force officer sees options for ‘cheaper,’ less ‘exquisite’ CCA drone wingmen (Breaking Defense) A key US Air Force officer suggested today that the price tag and attributes of future drone wingmen may come in on the “low end,” potentially upending some expectations that forthcoming tranches of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) could consist of more costly and capable designs.       F-35s from Utah arrive for rotational deployment at Okinawa air base (Stars & Stripes) A second squadron of F-35A Lightning IIs landed Thursday at Kadena Air Base, joining other F-35s and F-15E Strike Eagles on rotational duty with the 18th Wing on Okinawa.       F-47 6th generation fighter future force size questions emerge (The War Zone) The U.S. Air Force is firmly of the view that its new F-47 6th generation stealth fighters are key to “how we win” in future fights, according to the service’s top general in charge of force structure planning. Though the Air Force previously said it would buy 200 of the next-generation combat jets, how many of the aircraft the service now plans to acquire is an open question as its vision of the core air superiority mission set continues to evolve.       USAF doubles down on more F-16 fighters near North Korea (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The U.S. Air Force will ramp up its presence near North Korea by sending more than two dozen additional F-16 fighters to Osan Air Base, South Korea, creating a second “super squadron” there.       VP Vance pours out praise and beer during Ramstein Air Base stopover (Stars & Stripes) Vice President JD Vance toasted U.S. service members with a beer stein in hand during a visit Thursday to this major military transportation hub.   Your Military     48 hours with marines and soldiers on the US southern border (Military.com) Amid President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, military assets and personnel are increasingly being relied upon for a new type of mission.       Experimental civilian plane crashes at Virginia military base (The Associated Press) A pilot who was preparing for an upcoming air show in an experimental plane died Thursday when the aircraft crashed at a military base in coastal Virginia, officials said.       Intel soldiers deploying to borders as military increases role in Trump immigration push (Military.com) The Pentagon will deploy nearly 200 intelligence and signals troops to the border, according to a military news release Wednesday, adding to the more than 10,000 troops border-wide amid President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.   Veterans     Class-action suit over limits on combat-related disability pay goes before Supreme Court (Military.com) The U.S. Supreme Court will consider a case Monday from medically retired service members who say the Defense Department's misinterpretation of a law prevented them from receiving the maximum amount of disability compensation for their combat-related injuries.   Education & Transition     DODEA schools included in new Trump order to end race factors in disciplining (Stars & Stripes) U.S. public schools, including those operated by the Defense Department on bases stateside and abroad, are being told by the White House to rework discipline policies that it says are based on racial considerations rather than behavior.   Military Culture & History     New comic book tells tale of Civil War’s first Black Medal of Honor recipient (Task & Purpose) As the soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment stormed toward Fort Wagner, South Carolina, the soldier carrying the American flag fell.       12 television shows influenced by the Vietnam War (The Associated Press) The evening news brought the Vietnam War into American living rooms, but once the news was over, so was the war. Prime-time shows brought nary a mention of it as networks looked to bring uncontroversial content to the broadest possible audience. But the war simmered below the surface as subtext, and when enough years passed, television would finally take it on as a subject.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     Pentagon’s FutureG Office gearing up for new prototyping effort (DefenseScoop) The Defense Department is getting ready to release a request for prototype proposals as the military prepares to integrate future wireless, artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities into its networks.       SDA hires an integrator to keep its next satellite tranche on schedule (Air & Space Forces Magazine) After supply chain challenges delayed the first few tranches of its ambitious low-Earth orbit constellation, the Space Development Agency is changing its approach, hiring an engineering and integration partner to help manage the next tranche of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture.       Report warns US risks strategic drift in space as China gains ground (SpaceNews) A new report from U.S. defense and industry analysts paints a concerning picture of the nation’s position in an escalating competition with China, citing institutional fragmentation and regulatory hurdles as key vulnerabilities.       Houthi rebels have shot down 7 US Reaper drones worth $200 million in recent weeks (The Associated Press) Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down seven U.S. Reaper drones in less than six weeks, a loss of aircraft worth more than $200 million in what is becoming the most dramatic cost to the Pentagon of the military campaign against the Iran-backed militants.   Defense Industry     Ireland cleared to buy $46 million-worth of Javelin launchers, missiles (Breaking Defense) In order to bolster Ireland’s ability to aid in international peacekeeping missions, the US State Department recently approved a potential deal for Dublin to buy $46 million-worth of Javelin anti-armor launchers and missiles.       DIU barrels ahead with tri-regional expansion plans (Defense One) The Pentagon’s innovation arm wants to expand its regional footprint, with new hubzones in Kentucky, Minnesota, and Montana to boost outreach with tech companies.       Top US defense primes record minimal tariff impact in Q1 earnings (Breaking Defense) Defense firms with exposure to the commercial aerospace market indicated they could see hundreds of millions in added costs from the Trump tariffs this year, but the defense sector as a whole remains largely shielded from the tariffs’ impact, executives from the top six US defense primes said in earnings calls this week.       US to offer Saudi Arabia $100bn weapons deal as Trump visit planned: Report (Al Jazeera & Reuters) The United States is poised to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth more than $100bn, the Reuters news agency reports, citing six sources familiar with the matter.   International     Netherlands to buy anti-torpedo weapon, tracked armor, new rifle (Defense News) The Netherlands plans to buy a torpedo-killing torpedo as early as 2029, replace the armed forces’ standard assault rifle starting this decade and equip its heavy infantry brigade with tracked armored general-purpose vehicles, as part of 17 equipment projects for the coming years.       India-Pakistan tensions on verge of erupting after deadly terror attack (The War Zone) With the world already on edge about events in the Middle East, Europe, and the Pacific, a potential new conflict is brewing between the nuclear-armed nations of India and Pakistan       In search of new partners, Russia courts Gulf countries (Defense News) In a search for new economic and military partners, Russia has turned its focus to Gulf countries, as Moscow carries on its three-year war against Ukraine.       China’s military aims to harness the coming ‘ChatGPT for robotics’ (Defense One) This week, more than 12,000 human runners raced 21 robots through the streets of Beijing in what was billed as the “first showdown between humanoid robots and brave human participants.” Humanity won this round, with the top human, a racer from Ethiopia, taking first place in the Beijing E-Town Half Marathon with a time of 1:02:36. Yet the fastest humanoid robot, the Tiangong Ultra, did complete the 13-mile run at a respectable 2:40 clip, pointing to a future where human-like machines may not just match, but soon race ahead of humans.       Rubio says Iran must give up nuclear enrichment in any deal with the US (The Associated Press) Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview released Wednesday that Iran must give up all nuclear enrichment if it wants to make a deal during talks with the Trump administration and head off the threat of armed conflict.       Al-Shabab battles Somalia’s army for strategic military base (Al Jazeera) Al-Shabab fighters have battled Somali troops and allied forces for control of a strategic army base in southern Somalia, according to the government and a military official.       US to host DRC and Rwanda for peace initiative (The Africa Report) The eastern Congo rivals are scheduled to make nice at the State Department this afternoon.       Vatican readies for Pope Francis’s funeral as world leaders head to Rome (The Guardian) Almost 130,000 people from all over the world have viewed Pope Francis’s body as the Vatican makes the final preparations for his funeral on Saturday, an event that will be attended by 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs.       California passes Japan as fourth largest economy (BBC) California's economy has overtaken that of the country of Japan, making the US state the fourth largest global economic force.       After USAID, Donald Trump pulls the plug on infrastructure player MCC (The Africa Report) Highly active in Africa and focused on funding infrastructure, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a United States development agency, has just had its fate sealed by the president.   Video     Arctic drift? Watch Marine tanks slide down ice tracks. (Military Times) Arctic drift? Watch Marine tanks slide down ice tracks       See the USS Fort Lauderdale blast out two Rolling Airframe Missiles over open waters (Military Times) See the USS Fort Lauderdale blast out two Rolling Airframe Missiles over open waters   Commentary & Analysis     The Pentagon can't be run like a business (Foreign Affairs) Over the last decade, calls to reform the Department of Defense have grown ever louder. Everyone, from Congress, which convened a special commission on the urgent need for change, Pentagon officials, who have drafted countless internal reports examining how to improve many aspects of the department's ability to function, and pleading defense industry leaders, seems to agree that things need to be done differently. And no wonder: accelerating technological change is reshaping conflict around the world.       The $35B question: Is SBIR funding delivering for America’s warfighters? (Breaking Defense) What is the purpose of the $35 billion the Department of Defense has invested in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) over the past 40 years — and the $1.5 billion it will award annually moving forward? Should success be measured by the number of small businesses funded and jobs created, or by the operational capabilities delivered to warfighters?       Indonesia needs a two-track approach to its foreign-fighter problem (Defense One) The leaders of Jemaah Islamiyah disbanded their al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group last June—but the schools that serve as the group’s ideological factories remain active. The Indonesian government must take action to prevent JI members who traveled to fight in Syria from using the schools to galvanize the group’s resurgence.       Modernizing military decision-making: Transforming European Command (War On The Rocks) This June marks 81 years since Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the cross-channel invasion of France — a decision dependent upon hundreds, if not thousands of interrelated factors. Success depended on successful deception, suppressing German coastal artillery, preventing Panzer reserves from turning Allied forces back into the sea, and ensuring friendly forces could expand their lodgment and sustain momentum. Weather alone required careful consideration: tides, sea states, wind conditions, visibility, cloud ceilings, and illumination had to align to support airborne and amphibious operations.