Top 5     US aircraft carrier nears Venezuela in flex of American military power (The Associated Press) The most advanced U.S. aircraft carrier is expected to reach the waters off Venezuela in days, a flex of American military power not seen in Latin America for generations.       Marine veteran wins battle for burn pit-related medical retirement (Military Times) A Marine veteran who died of cancer on the eve of the Corps’ 250th birthday won his battle for benefits for his surviving sons and was awarded medical retirement Monday by the Board for Correction of Naval Records.       Air Force eyes morale boost in revising dress, appearance guidance (Military Times) The U.S. Air Force is updating its dress and personal appearance guidance, with a handful of changes slated to take effect this Friday, according to a memo obtained by Military Times.       Colombia to suspend intelligence sharing with US over boat strikes (The Associated Press) Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered his nation’s security forces Tuesday to stop sharing intelligence with the United States, until the Trump administration stops its strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean, as relations deteriorate between the nations that were once close partners in the fight against drug trafficking.       Air Force issues guidance on shutdown backpay, telework for returning workers (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The 43-day government shutdown is over for Air Force and Space Force civilian workers, but it may take time to get every employee their backpay and returned to the office, service officials advise.   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     US launches Operation Southern Spear, unveiling new robotic fleet to target cartels (Miami Herald) The United States is launching a major new military and surveillance campaign in the Western Hemisphere, deploying an unprecedented mix of robotic air and sea vessels to counter Latin American drug-trafficking cartels.       Top officials present Trump with military options for Venezuela in the coming days (CBS News) Senior military officials on Wednesday presented President Trump with updated options for potential operations in Venezuela, including strikes on land, according to multiple sources familiar with the meetings at the White House.       US military conducts 20th strike on alleged drug boat, killing 4 ‘narco-terrorists’ in Caribbean (The Hill) The U.S. military conducted its 20th lethal strike against an alleged drug-trafficking boat on Monday, killing four “narco-terrorists” in the Caribbean Sea, a Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Hill on Thursday.   Congress & Politics     Congress voted to reopen the government. What does that mean for defense? (Breaking Defense) The longest shutdown in history is officially over, with Congress voting to fund the government at previous fiscal year levels until Jan. 30. How does this impact defense spending?       Feds should get at least most backpay by Nov. 19, administration says (Defense One) Most federal workers will receive their first paycheck in more than a month between Saturday and Wednesday of next week, and it should include at least most of the backpay that is due, Trump administration officials said Thursday.       Unauthorized drone flights pose rising threat to US bases, border, civilian events, senator warns (CBS News) Unauthorized drone flights over U.S. military installations, border facilities and mass public events are climbing to unprecedented levels, prompting warnings from top lawmakers that the country faces an escalating aerial security risk while it remains hamstrung by a patchwork of airspace protection capabilities.   Your Military     ‘All for nothing’: Air Force trans troops sue over revoked retirement (Military Times) Transgender service members with 15 to 18 years of service in the Air Force and Space Force are suing the Trump administration over what they say is a loss of early retirement benefits.       F-15E aircrews who shot Iranian drones honored with Mackay Trophy (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The crews of the two-ship F-15E formation that took on the leading edge of Iran’s April 2024 missile and drone attack on Israel received the Mackay Trophy last week, cementing their place in Air Force history.   Navy     Navy exceeds 99% of FY 2025 retention goals across all zones (USNI News) The Navy met over 99 percent of its retention goals in Fiscal Year 2025, according to data from the office of the chief of naval personnel, USNI News has learned.   Marine Corps     There are 6 Marines hiding in this photo (Task & Purpose) A bunch of Marines in the California desert, about halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, Nevada, spent the summer training with a new camouflage pattern.       US Marines deploy drone unit to Philippines to patrol over South China Sea (USNI News) The U.S. Marine Corps temporarily deployed a unit of drones to support Philippine maritime security efforts in the South China Sea where tensions are high between Manila and Beijing, USNI News has learned.   Air Force     Air Force using AI to plan storage for munitions (Air & Space Forces Magazine) When lawmakers and outside experts turn their attention to how the U.S. military can use of artificial intelligence, they tend to focus on weapons systems—the most consequential and risk-laden use cases—and on generative AI.       Air Force’s new fighter math doesn’t add up for critics (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Air Force is adopting a new methodology for how it counts its fighter force, boosting the overall numbers. But the new method, which lumps together primary and attrition reserve aircraft, appears to paint a rosier picture of the force that could ultimately undermine the service’s case for modernization funds.   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.       Florida’s governor is a veteran. So are seven inmates he’ll send to the execution chamber this year. (The War Horse) The caravan of executions started with a U.S. Army veteran in March.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     SOCOM wants to train operators to build, wield FPV drones (Military Times) Wielding drones in combat missions and being able to repair them on the spot could soon become a new standard among the skills fielded by the operators of U.S. Special Operations Command, per a solicitation released Wednesday.       Anduril, Hyundai Heavy Industries set sights on US Navy’s unmanned surface vessel program (Breaking Defense) American defense tech firm Anduril and South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries announced today they will partner to design a new class of maritime drones with hopes of securing a spot in the US Navy’s latest unmanned surface vessel program.       Anduril, UAE’s Edge unveil transformer drone for hovering, fast flight (Defense News) Anduril and the United Arab Emirates’ state-owned Edge Group are betting on a novel hover-to-cruise autonomous aircraft — and the UAE has already ordered the first 50 units.       France announces almost $5B in new military space funding (Breaking Defense) French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced a planned increase of €4.2 billion ($4.9 billion) in military space spending between 2026 and 2030.       Russia creates new military branch dedicated to drone warfare (The War Zone) Russia has created a new branch of its military to oversee the production, operation, and testing of uncrewed systems and the tactics and techniques for using them. Called the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), the new branch mirrors a similar one Ukraine created last year, even using the same name. Its work will encompass aerial, land and surface drones.       Lux Aeterna nets US government partnerships for reusable satellite technology (SpaceNews) Lux Aeterna is attracting growing interest from across the U.S. government for heat shield technology designed to make satellites fully reusable, securing two partnership agreements since emerging from stealth in June.       UK Space Agency expands satellite tracking with new sensors (UK Defence Journal) Slingshot Aerospace has been selected by the UK Space Agency to deliver a global optical sensor network that will expand the United Kingdom’s ability to track satellites and orbital debris as congestion in orbit continues to rise.   Defense Industry     Boeing defense workers ratify new contract to end 3-month strike (The Associated Press) Several thousand Boeing machinists in the Midwest who assemble military aircraft and weapons voted Thursday to approve a new contract, ending a three-month strike that saw them reject four earlier offers from the company.       Joby, L3Harris fly autonomous electric aircraft, eye defense market (Defense News) Joby Aviation and L3Harris Technologies said Wednesday they have conducted their first test flight of an autonomous hybrid vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, which they hope to sell to the Defense Department to use operationally.       Govini removes founder from board following arrest (Breaking Defense) Defense tech firm Govini said it has removed founder Eric Gillespie from its board of directors, following his arrest for allegedly soliciting sexual contact with a minor.       European NATO countries scrap plan to buy Boeing E-7 Wedgetail AWACS (Defense News) The Netherlands and a number of European NATO partners are scrapping plans to buy six Boeing E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to replace the alliance’s fleet of aging Boeing E-3A airborne warning and control systems, the Dutch Ministry of Defence said.       Firefly deepens push into defense market after closing SciTec acquisition (SpaceNews) Firefly Aerospace is sharpening its focus on U.S. missile defense and national security work, underscoring that shift during its latest earnings call as it integrates its newly acquired defense contractor, SciTec.   Israel-Gaza-Iran-Yemen-Lebanon     US pushes Security Council to back Gaza plan as Russia offers counter text (Al Jazeera) The US mission to the UN warned Palestinians could suffer “grave consequences” if the body did not back its plan soon.   Ukraine     Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,359 (Al Jazeera) Here is how things stand on Friday, November 14:       Nordic and Baltic countries team up to fund US arms for Ukraine (Defense News) The Nordic and Baltic countries are teaming up to pay for a $500 million United States military support package of weapons and munitions for Ukraine, they said on Thursday.       Four killed in 'calculated' Russian attack on Ukraine: Zelenskyy (Agence France-Presse) A Russian attack overnight, mostly targeting the capital Kyiv, killed four people and damaged buildings across the city, Ukrainian authorities said Friday.   International     France’s new nuclear-armed supersonic cruise missile seen clearly for the first time (The War Zone) French authorities have provided the first real look at the latest version of the Air-Sol Moyenne Portee (ASMP; or Medium-Range Air-to-Surface) ramjet-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile. Officials in France have also confirmed that the ASMPA-Renove (ASMPA-R) variant is now in service with the country’s Navy.       Russian warships visit Myanmar Port ahead of drills in Andaman Sea (USNI News) Three Russian Navy ships arrived this week in Yangon to kick off the annual “Marumex” exercise, during which the Russian Navy will join the Myanmar Navy in the Andaman Sea.       NATO anti-submarine exercise in Baltic readies alliance for undersea conflict (Stars & Stripes) NATO allies are strengthening their anti-submarine capabilities this week in the Baltic Sea, a region whose infrastructure network makes it susceptible to Russian mischief threatening Europe’s security.       Railgun damage to Japanese target ship seen for the first time (The War Zone) Japan’s Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has offered the first look at damage to a target ship after it was hit by projectiles fired from a prototype electromagnetic railgun in testing earlier this year.       Rutte raises Brunssum team as NATO stares down Russia (UK Defence Journal) NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte used a visit to Joint Force Command Brunssum to underline the Alliance’s posture on its northern and eastern frontiers and to praise the leadership of its new commander, General Ingo Gerhartz.       The phone notes that reveal an alleged plan to bait Kim Jong Un with drones (CNN) Secret drone flights from South Korea to the heart of Pyongyang were part of a ploy by the former president to rattle the North Korean leader, South Korean prosecutors have alleged as they released new details of plot they say preceded a foiled attempt to declare martial law.       US, South Korea to ‘move forward’ on building nuclear-powered submarines (Al Jazeera) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says the US supports Seoul’s bid to secure uranium enrichment and spent nuclear fuel reprocessing capabilities.       Fresh off commissioning new aircraft carrier, 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.       Canada says Russia and China are ramping up spy efforts in Arctic region (The Guardian) Canada’s domestic spy agency says Russia and China have a “significant intelligence interest” in Canada’s Arctic, and are targeting both the country’s government and its private sector.       Russia’s security service claims to have foiled Ukrainian assassination attempt against a high-ranking official (CNN) Russia’s security service has claimed it foiled a plot by Ukraine to assassinate a high-ranking Kremlin official inside Russia as the alleged target visited a graveyard.   Military Culture & History     This Korean War aviator was the first helicopter pilot to receive MOH (Military Times) First used by the 1st Air Commando in World War II, the Sikorsky R-4 often fell short of its role in rescuing airmen downed in the mountains and rainforests of the China-Burma-India front but as the first helicopter designed to perform such tasks it set the precedent for a new generation of rotary aircraft. A vastly improved design, the Sikorsky S-61 first took off in February 1946 and got its baptism of fire just four years later when North Korea invaded the South. Among the pioneers who demonstrated what it could do was John Koelsch.       Former Vietnam War POW featured in Pulitzer-winning photo dies at 92 (Stars & Stripes) Lt. Col. Robert Stirm, the Air Force officer whose return from captivity during the Vietnam War was captured in an iconic photograph in 1973, has died at 92, according to CBS News.       Can Ken Burns revitalize American patriotism? (Military Times) The famed documentary filmmaker and his co-producers, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, have stumped across the United States, speaking, gently of course, about their upcoming docuseries, “American Revolution,” which premieres Sunday on PBS.   Commentary & Analysis     Saudi nuclear posture after the 12-Day War (War On The Rocks) Israel’s short but destructive summer war against Iran and its brazen military strikes on Doha in September have reignited a debate across the Middle East over the value of nuclear deterrence. Gulf states also now worry that Israel’s aggression could push the Iranian leadership to finally make the leap to a bomb in order to prevent regime change.       Egypt intends to shoulder its role and responsibilities in the Horn of Africa (The Africa Report) Attacks by Al-Shabaab and the Houthis in the Red Sea, war in Sudan, Ethiopia’s ambitions … amid a turbulent neighbourhood, Egypt is taking steps to restore the region’s strategic balance and spur development.       When trust becomes strategy: Rethinking America’s innovation posture (War On The Rocks) U.S. allies have long balanced between leaning on American leadership and resisting its immense gravitational pull: political, economic, and structural. Historically, the United States invests at a scale no other democracy can match, spending hundreds of billions annually on defense-linked research and tens of billions more on civilian science through agencies like the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. These budgets dwarf those of even its closest allies. Many nations, limited by population, fiscal constraints, or social priorities, maintain only modest research capacity. The result is a structural asymmetry: breakthroughs, standards, and even the vocabulary of “innovation” often originate in Washington, shaping global technology ecosystems that smaller partners must adapt to rather than direct.