Top 5     Hegseth bans affirmative action at military service academies (Military Times) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has barred the U.S. military service academies from considering race, gender or ethnicity in their admissions processes, ending the practice of affirmative action upheld by the Supreme Court two years ago.       Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard outline FY26 budget needs this week (Military Times) Congressional budget hearings continue this week with a focus from appropriators on the military’s operations at sea.       Thousands in West Region being booted out of military’s Tricare (Military Times) Thousands of beneficiaries are finding out they are being disenrolled from Tricare health care coverage in the West Region because they didn’t set up recurring payments by an April 30 deadline.       Pentagon orders military to pull all library books on diversity (The Associated Press) The Pentagon has ordered all military leaders and commands to pull and review all of their library books that address diversity, anti-racism or gender issues by May 21, according to a memo issued to the force on Friday.       Trump orders West Los Angeles VA campus to house thousands of veterans (Task & Purpose) President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the existing West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center campus to become a “National Center for Warrior Independence” that would house thousands of homeless veterans.   Overseas Operations     Kadena sends 'message you can't ignore' with huge elephant walk (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week.   Ukraine     Denmark to spend €830 million on Ukrainian defense on behalf of EU (Defense News) Denmark will allocate €830 million ($935 million) to the Ukrainian defense industry in 2025 on behalf of the European Union, using windfall profits from frozen Russian assets to buy Ukraine-made weapons.       Russian drones attack Ukraine after Kremlin turns down a ceasefire proposal (The Associated Press) Russia launched more than 100 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine in nighttime attacks, the Ukrainian air force said Monday, after the Kremlin rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in the more than 3-year war.       North Korean leader calls support for Russia in Ukraine a ‘sacred mission’ (Stars & Stripes) North Korea’s decision to send troops and weapons to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is part of a “sacred mission” to counter U.S. influence around the world, according to state-run media.       UK Raven air defence system proving vital in Ukraine (UK Defence Journal) The Ministry of Defence has showcased the Raven air defence system in a recent video on its official YouTube channel, providing insight into how the innovative system has become a key asset in Ukraine’s air defence network.   Pentagon     How a key Pentagon tech leader plans on ‘blowing up’ outdated software risk framework (Breaking Defense) When Katie Arrington walked back into the Pentagon in her role to perform the duties of the DoD’s Chief Information Officer, she was determined to pick up where she left off during the first Trump administration. That meant a laser-focus on trying to shift the Pentagon toward a culture of “secure by design,” she told Breaking Defense in an exclusive interview.       US special operators due for changes in doctrine and tactical units, top defense official says (Stars & Stripes) The Pentagon is overhauling its special operations doctrine to sharpen key skills and align with the White House’s Indo-Pacific focus, a senior defense official said this week.   Congress & Politics     State Department plans deeper-than-anticipated staff cuts (Defense One) The State Department aims to cut some 3,400 employees beginning in early June, substantially more than generally expected, according to the agency’s briefings to lawmakers and employees with knowledge of the matter.       Report to Congress on the Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicle (USNI News) The following is the May 2, 2025, Congressional Research Service In Focus report, The Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle.       Transgender issues are a strength for Trump, AP-NORC poll finds (The Associated Press) About half of U.S. adults approve of how President Donald Trump is handling transgender issues, according to a new poll — a relative high point for a president who has the approval overall of about 4 in 10 Americans.       ‘Wrongfully detained’: Air Force veteran, Navy SEAL are among group of Americans being held in Venezuelan prisons (Stars & Stripes) Standing in a narrow alley — before a 20-foot-high mural of their son — Scott and Patti St. Clair made a special plea to President Donald Trump and Congress to secure the safe release of Joe St. Clair, a combat-disabled veteran who the U.S. government has determined is unlawfully held in a Venezuelan prison.       Trump blasts Democratic criticism of Qatar plane gift: ‘World Class Losers!!!’ (The Hill) President Trump attacked Democratic lawmakers for criticizing his upcoming receipt of a luxury Boeing jet from Qatar.   Army     Army identifies soldier who died during basic training at Fort Jackson (Task & Purpose) A 22-year-old soldier who died last month during basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, has been identified as Pvt. Gabriel Perez, Army officials have announced.       Army aviation shakeup continues with ITEP, FTUAS programs grinding to a halt (Breaking Defense) As additional details about US Army program cuts trickle out, a service spokesperson confirmed tentative plans to end work on a new helicopter engine and the Future Tactical Uncrewed Aircraft System (FTUAS).       Army’s future tiltrotor gets heavier so it can rapidly convert into Special Ops variant (The War Zone) The U.S. Army has incorporated special operations-specific requirements into the design of its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) tiltrotor, which has led to an unspecified increase in gross weight. The changes are intended to make it cheaper and easier to convert baseline FLRAAs into special operations versions for the Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).       Army officially deactivates only information operations command (DefenseScoop ) In a ceremony Thursday, the Army officially deactivated its only active-duty information operations command, the service announced.       82nd Airborne brings ‘any mission’ capabilities to Europe as combat exercises begin (Stars & Stripes) Paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are headed to Europe, where large combat drills stretching from Nordic lands to NATO’s eastern flank are getting underway.       Arrested Fort Carson soldier could face military punishment in addition to federal penalties (The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)) The Fort Carson-based soldier who was present at a Colorado Springs illegal nightclub during a large-scale federal raid last month and arrested days later on suspicion of cocaine distribution could face military penalties in addition to any civilian punishment, according to a local attorney who specializes in military law.       US Army HIMARS unit deepens Philippines presence during South China Sea tensions (Stars & Stripes) The U.S. Army task force that brought six High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to the recently concluded Balikatan exercise has maintained a presence in the Philippines since 2022, according to one of its battalion commanders.   Navy     PACFLEET CO: US committed to partnerships, exercising with allies in Indo-Pacific (USNI News) The U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet is committed to continuing its numerous engagements in the region and cooperation with regional partners to keep the Indo-Pacific secure and ensure deterrence, its commander said during the International Maritime Security Conference 2025 Wednesday.       Navy officer charged with second-degree murder in wife’s death at Japanese hotel (Stars & Stripes) A U.S. Navy officer could face a court-martial on a charge of second-degree murder in the death of his wife at a Japanese hotel last year, the service said Thursday.   Marine Corps     Marines deploy a second F-35B squadron to Japan in modernization drive (Stars & Stripes) A fourth squadron of F-35B Lightning IIs arrived in Japan over the weekend to begin a six-month deployment, as the Marine Corps continues to modernize its aircraft in the Indo-Pacific.   Air Force     JetZero pitches blended wing body tanker as 'game-changer' (Air & Space Forces Magazine) When the last Air Force KC-10 tanker flew its final sortie in September 2024, Airmen mourned the loss of an aircraft that carried a “staggering” amount of gas and nearly as much cargo as a C-17.       US Special Ops gets first Skyraider II close-support planes, eyes bespoke mission sets (Breaking Defense) Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has received its first five 0A-1K Skyraider II close air support prop planes, the first of what officials said they hope to be a fleet highly configurable plane for bespoke special missions.       ACC unveils new way to measure readiness (Air & Space Forces Magazine) Air Combat Command is changing how it measures and tracks fleet readiness, aiming to simplify the way it tracks and communicates the material condition of its airplanes.       Air Power Days return to South Korea, featuring final Warthog display (Stars & Stripes) Air Power Days resumed over the weekend, welcoming the public for the first time in nearly six years and marking the final public appearance in South Korea of the A-10 Thunderbolt II.   Space Force     Space Force sharpens focus on deterring rivals (SpaceNews) American military leaders are speaking more openly than ever about fighting in space — not just defending it.   Coast Guard     US Coast Guard to add heavy icebreaker amid shipbuilding overhaul (Defense News) Full production of a new polar security cutter for the U.S. Coast Guard was recently approved by the Department of Homeland Security, as the administration seeks to boost shipbuilding and maritime security in the increasingly competitive Arctic region.   Pay & Benefits     Florida Air Force base reduces child care hours as Pentagon pares down workforce (Military.com) A day-care center at an Air Force base in the Florida panhandle will be reducing hours for families amid ongoing staffing issues, a move that comes amid the Trump administration's mandate to reduce the civilian workforce throughout the Department of Defense.   Your Military     The military’s only search and rescue dog has retired (Task & Purpose) The Air Force’s search and rescue field is losing a veteran service member. A decorated member of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Callie retired after six years of service. Yes, Callie is a dog. A dog with years of experiennoce and several deployments.       Make big things small and small things big: SOCOM’s gear wishlist (Defense One) At least part of the public's fascination with special operations forces concerns the cutting-edge gear they use. Some of it gets its start at the SOF Week conference here, where operators peruse state-of-the-art products and lay out their wishlist. This year, many requests from Special Operations Command centered on “making big things small,” like a DNA forensics lab or an emergency room; or “make a small thing large”: the amount of data that troops can transmit on battlefields where emissions can get you killed.   Veterans     Felon hid dead uncle in trash can to keep stealing his vets benefits (Military Times) A Missouri felon who stored his Army veteran uncle’s remains in a trash can was charged this week with 11 counts of fraud and theft for illegally pocketing $650,000 in disability benefits while concealing the death for years.   Military Culture & History     How a soldier’s relentless charge broke Japan’s line on Okinawa (Military Times) The United States and Europe this week celebrated some form of “Victory in Europe Day,” or V-E Day, to mark the 80th anniversary of Adolf Hitler’s downfall and Nazi Germany’s surrender to Allied forces.       India and Pakistan have been in conflict since 1947 Partition. A look at its troubled legacy (The Associated Press) India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire following U.S.-led talks to end the most serious military confrontation between the nuclear-armed rivals in decades.       'Billion Dollar Spy' is the real story of the only Russian agent whose portrait hangs in the CIA headquarters (Military.com) Between 1978 and 1985, Russian radar expert Adolf Tolkachev passed Soviet military secrets to his CIA handlers that saved the United States an estimated $2 billion in defense research developments. It was an intelligence coup that earned him the nickname "the Billion Dollar Spy." Despite the care he took to maintain his position inside the Soviet Union's military apparatus and to protect himself and his family from the Soviet internal security service, he was discovered and executed.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     173rd Airborne builds its own FPV drone lab to get around procurement wait (Task & Purpose) The U.S. Army’s rapid response unit in Europe is working quickly to build out its own arsenal of small, agile first-person view drones. The 173rd Airborne Brigade recently opened its own drone lab so that soldiers can build, train with and stockpile the tiny aerial machines that are becoming a fixture of the modern battlefield.       To protect F-47 plans from hackers, Boeing should lean on CMMC, zero trust: DoD official (Breaking Defense) In order to keep the plans for the US Air Force’s highly classified F-47 fighter secure from hackers, prime contractor Boeing will have to rely on the Department of Defense’s cybersecurity measures such as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and zero trust, Katie Arrington told Breaking Defense.       Trump administration to keep National Space Council (SpaceNews) In a reversal, White House plans to retain the National Space Council, a move that industry officials say could serve as an advocate for space amid pressures to cut budgets.       Soviet-era spacecraft plunges to Earth after 53 years stuck in orbit (The Associated Press) A Soviet-era spacecraft plunged to Earth on Saturday, more than a half-century after its failed launch to Venus.       UK certifies Protector drone for unrestricted operations (UK Defence Journal) The Royal Air Force’s Protector RG Mk1, also known as the MQ-9B, has received a Military Type Certificate (MTC) from the UK’s Military Aviation Authority.   Defense Industry     Northrop tests tech to help hypersonic vehicles maneuver without GPS (Defense News) Two recent groundbreaking hypersonic test flights featured a Northrop Grumman capability designed to allow high-speed systems to navigate and maneuver when GPS isn’t available.       Newly branded as ‘AV,’ AeroVironment unveils new loitering munition, predicts play for CCA (Breaking Defense) Less than a week after AeroVironment closed its deal to purchase Blue Halo and create a defense firm called simply AV, the new firm’s CEO told Breaking Defense the combined enterprise is pursuing defense programs on a number of fronts — including future collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) competitions.       General Atomics touts UK breakthrough in drone airspace integration (Defense News) U.S.-based drone maker General Atomics has achieved a key safety certification from British aviation authorities for the Protector drone, which will allow the unmanned aircraft to fly routinely over civilian areas, the company announced this week.       Leonardo reports growth, expands defence projects (UK Defence Journal) Aerospace and defence company Leonardo has reported robust results for the first quarter of 2025.       Army secretary says it will be ‘success’ if prime contractor dies on his watch (Breaking Defense) Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll hasn’t masked his desire to shake up the defense sector but he upped the ante this week, calling it a “success” if a large prime contractor closes its doors in the coming years if they can’t start operating more efficiently.       New drone boat unveiled at Special Operations Conference in afterglow of Ukrainian success (The War Horse) On a scorching afternoon in Tampa, the Kraken3 Scout Medium uncrewed surface vessel (USV) sped in circles through the harbor, offering a glimpse of its potential to thousands flocking to the annual Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week conference       USAF, Boeing may modify Air Force One requirements to get delivery by 2027 (Air & Space Forces Magazine) The Air Force is in talks with Boeing to modify requirements for its new VC-25B presidential aircraft in a push to get them into service by 2027.       British firm BAE Systems surging in defence boom (UK Defence Journal) BAE Systems has announced plans to significantly expand its workforce and ramp up investment in response to growing global demand for defence capabilities.   International     US not yet shifting forces from Europe to Asia, top NATO official says (Defense News) A month before the Hague summit, NATO’s top military officer said he has no indication yet that the United States will withdraw forces committed to the alliance’s defense plans and shift them to the Indo-Pacific.       Rafael targeting Southeast Asia, Europe for naval defense system sales (Breaking Defense) Rafael is targeting Southeast Asia and European markets, including customers like the United Kingdom, as potential adopters of its naval air defenses, a company executive tells Breaking Defense.       Rheinmetall to expand satellite business, citing Ukraine support deal (Defense News) Rheinmetall and Finnish satellite manufacturer ICEYE signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday, establishing a joint venture focused on satellite production.       Israel’s blockade means Gaza’s hospitals cannot provide food to recovering patients (The Associated Press) It cost a fortune, she said, but Asmaa Fayez managed to buy a few zucchinis in a Gaza market. She cooked them with rice and brought it to her 4-year-old son, who has been in the hospital for the past week. The soup was his only meal of the day, and he asked for more.       Kurdish militants PKK to disarm after decades of attacks against Turkey (The Guardian) A Kurdish militant group whose attacks and insurgency against Turkey have spanned more than four decades has declared it will disarm and disband, after a call from its jailed leader earlier this year.       Chinese-made PL-15 air-to-air missile components came down intact inside India (The War Zone) The largely intact rear section and other parts of a Chinese-made PL-15E active-radar-guided air-to-air missile came down in India during a battle in the skies along the country’s border with Pakistan earlier this week. While many details about the aerial confrontation between the two countries remain murky, it marked the first known combat use of any version of the PL-15. Recovery of any parts of what is one of China’s most modern air-to-air missiles could be of great interest to authorities in India, as well as to its allies and partners.       Indian Navy sent to North Arabian Sea to deter Pakistan, say officials (USNI News) The Indian Navy massed naval forces in the Northern Arabian Sea and sent a carrier battle group, surface combatants, submarines and naval aviation to keep their Pakistani adversaries in a “defensive position,” officials said this week. .       Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza in symbolically rich blessing on Mother’s Day (The Associated Press) Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff that featured some symbolic gestures suggesting a message of unity in a polarized Catholic Church.       British attack helicopters ‘open fire’ in Finland (UK Defence Journal) British Army Apache helicopters have conducted live fire exercises in Finland as part of Exercise Mighty Arrow 25.       US - Africa Week ahead: Trump reps at Africa CEO Forum; Afrikaner ‘refugees’; Somalia in trouble (The Africa Report) The US State Department’s Troy Fitrell will be America’s top dog at both Jeune Afrique’s annual forum and at AmCham side events in Abidjan.       Trump says final living US hostage in Gaza is coming home (The Hill) President Trump announced Sunday that Edan Alexander, the final U.S. living hostage in Gaza, is set to be released by Hamas and is coming home to New Jersey.       China and US agree 90-day pause to trade war initiated by Donald Trump (The Guardian) China and the US have agreed a 90-day pause to the deepening trade war that has threatened to upend the global economy, with reciprocal tariffs to be lowered by 115%.   Video     See a collection of you favorite aircraft soar over Japan in formation (Military Times) See a collection of you favorite aircraft soar over Japan in formation       Watch soldiers and airmen take a leap into the Georgia skies (Military Times) Watch soldiers and airmen take a leap into the Georgia skies       Get a behind-the-scenes look at Marine Corps officer candidates training at Camp Pendleton (Military Times) Get a behind-the-scenes look at Marine Corps officer candidates training at Camp Pendleton       Check out Colt's Precision Grenadier System at Modern Day Marine 2025 (Military Times) Colt displays an anti-defilade rifle capable of shooting various types of ammunition for different mission sets.       Check out a center-drive, off-road vehicle option for tomorrow’s Marines (Military Times) Flyer Defense puts forth its novel center-drive vehicle as a potential new alternative to carry Marines into battle. Go for a test drive at Modern Day Marine       The future of Marines’ weapons tech? | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 5.10.25 (Military Times) Upgraded grenade launchers, anti-defilade rifles and new vehicles with novel designs - we look at emerging tech at Modern Day Marine 2025.       Check out new variants of Polaris’ off-road vehicles (Military Times) Adding new power options and higher payloads, Polaris puts forth its latest vehicles at Modern Day Marine 2025.       Check out an alternative to the Marines’ grenade launcher at Modern Day Marine (Military Times) At Modern Day Marine 2025, Colt displays a grenade launcher and anti-defilade gun it says can improve Marines’ deadliness. Get the details from the show floor.   Commentary & Analysis     Time to fix the Navy’s frigate problem (Defense Opinion) Most recent reports on the construction of the first U.S. Navy Constellation-class frigate are grim and filled with unwelcome news.       The Army’s bold plan needs to watch out for these three pitfalls (Breaking Defense) As the Army prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, it appears poised for major changes, bolder than the Marine Corps Force Design effort. And as with the Marine’s Force Design push, the Army is almost certain to see some dissent from those who stand to lose from the new paradigm.       State defense forces can fill a homeland gap (Defense One) A recent executive order from the White House, "Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness,” calls on state and local agencies to take greater responsibility in building resilience to cyber threats, natural disasters, and other emerging hazards. This emphasis on “local forces for local missions” is timely—and essential. Yet, as the Department of Defense reportedly considers cutting 90,000 active-duty Army soldiers, with an inevitable workload increase for the National Guard, a critical question arises: who will fill the gap?       Lessons not learned (Military.com) As this is being written on the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the final end of the Vietnam War, that history is being echoed as we are bombing Yemen and using much of the same tactics we employed in the infamous and ineffectual "Rolling Thunder" campaigns of the mid- and late 1960s in Vietnam.       Military AI: Angel of our better nature or tool of control? (War On The Rocks) March 16, 1968, is one of the darkest days in U.S. military history. On that day, the soldiers of C Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, who had suffered dozens of casualties in the campaign against the Viet Cong, assaulted the village of My Lai. Under the command of Lieutenant William Calley, the soldiers attacked the village based on faulty intelligence about the location of a Viet Cong unit. Instead of the expected enemy, they found local civilians, mostly old men, women, and children. In the end, a U.S. Army investigation found that C Company soldiers “massacred a large number of noncombatants” and committed torture, rape, and infanticide. The precise number of Vietnamese killed was between 175 and 500 people.