Latest news with #AH-64Apache
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Army zeroes in on expendable drone needs for future buys
NASHVILLE, Tenn. − The U.S. Army is close to establishing a set of requirements for purpose-built expendable drones it will buy in the future, according to the service's project manager for unmanned aircraft systems. The service recently released a market survey looking for what it's calling Purpose-Built, Attritable Systems, or PBAS, and is headed into an Army Requirements Oversight Council review of the requirements sometime in June, Col. Danielle Medaglia said Wednesday at the Army Aviation Association of America's annual conference. The PM UAS within Program Executive Office Aviation is working with the Maneuver Center of Excellence to develop the requirements for PBAS, she noted. While the initial focus for the program was the massively popular first-person view drones that were made battlefield famous in the war in Ukraine, the Army sees these attritable drones possessing a much wider range of capabilities and control mechanisms. They will be 'a multifunctional capability,' said Col. Nick Ryan, the Army capability manager for UAS within the service's Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate. 'It can be FPV, it can be first-person view control, like wiggling the sticks like you see in Ukraine, or it could be more of like what the [Short-Range Reconnaissance] is where you just kind of control it a little easier, push a couple buttons, give it a couple waypoints and it goes off and flies by itself.' The drones could also be tethered using something like fiber-optic cable, Ryan added, or they could be autonomous and a flight plan and mission preprogrammed. 'You have your target and I'm not going to talk to you anymore, go,' he said. The Army also envisions the drones taking swarming formations and pairing with manned helicopters like the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, Ryan noted. Another option would be to use the drones for countering enemy drones. 'PBAS is the perfect thing that could that as an air-to-air autonomous dog fight. Just tell it, launch it and say, 'Hey, go kill things in the air. Robot to robot,' Ryan said. The call-to-industry for solutions published roughly two weeks ago generated over 60 responses from vendors. The evaluation board for those proposals will begin its work this week, Medaglia said. The effort is funded from evaluating paper proposals to inviting select vendors to flight demonstrations. The Army plans to award multiple vendors following those flight demonstrations, according to Medaglia. The service will look to companies who have the ability to quickly produce the systems. 'We need to scale,' she said. 'We want to get it out quickly, learn, iterate. We are moving incredibly, incredibly quickly in this space. It's funded. We have responses, and we're ready to roll.'
Morocco World
14-05-2025
- General
- Morocco World
Morocco Celebrates 69th Anniversary of FAR Creation
Rabat – Morocco is celebrating today the 69th anniversary of the creation of its Royal Armed Forces (FAR). King Mohammed VI addressed an order of the day to officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates, recognizing Morocco's military efforts and their contribution to the country's safety and stability. The King, who is the Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of FAR, said that the celebration marks an opportunity to stress the country's pride of all men and women in all corps of the military and royal gendarmerie for the enormous sacrifices they constantly make in defense of Morocco and its territorial integrity. 'We would like to address Our greetings and the expression of Our esteem and pride to all the members of Our Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, the National Security and Auxiliary Forces, who watch over our land, air and sea borders, day and night, as well as to the various units in our Moroccan Sahara, for their dedication in fulfilling their sacred duty to protect the unity of the Homeland and its security, giving full meaning to the values of solid cohesion that characterize all Moroccans in the defense of their first national cause,' the King said. He added that the order of the day is an opportunity to welcome the achievements of military service and their contribution to risk management and post-natural disasters intervention, rescue and salvage operations as well as medical services. The monarch also cited the challenges and unprecedented regional and international disruptions, calling for vigilance as well as in-depth knowledge to tackle them with fitness and professionalism. To address similar challenges, the King recalled the importance of military training programs as well as the improvement of scientific training curriculum within higher institutions and military training centers. Morocco's military has been engaged in several international training across the world. One of the major training is Africa's largest military maneuver known as the African Lion, which the country hosts annually for 21 years. The 21st edition is now ongoing in Morocco, in the participation of many US military representatives as well as others from across the world. Morocco has also been strengthening its military by acquiring state-of-the-art equipment, with the US being the major exporter of arms to the North African country. As part of this military modernization campaign, Morocco received in March the first batch of AH-64 Apache helicopters. According to the latest Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report, Morocco's military spending increased by 2.6% in 2024, reaching $5.5 billion. In January, Global Firepower's latest report ranked Morocco as the 59th most powerful military worldwide in 2025, out of 145 countries assessed. The country comes 7th on the African continent, following Egypt (19th globally), Algeria (26th), South Africa (40th), Nigeria (36th), Ethiopia (52th), and Angola (56th). According to the report, FAR includes 200,000 active-duty personnel, 150,000 reservists, and 50,000 parliamentary forces. Over 15 million individuals are eligible for military service, offering a significant pool for recruitment and mobilization, according to the report. Tags: 2018 Morocco military rankingAfrican Lion Military Exercise
Newsweek
04-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Trump's $36 Billion Army Reform: What 'Generational Change' Looks Like
Based on factual reporting, incorporates the expertise of the journalist and may offer interpretations and conclusions. The Trump administration is initiating a $36 billion overhaul of the U.S. Army, modernizing systems and updating weapons—such as next-generation tanks and helicopters—that will bring about a "generational change," an Army spokesperson told Newsweek. Why It Matters The Pentagon has repeatedly raised concerns about the state of the U.S. military in relation to China over the past two administrations, with officials and leadership labeling China a pacing challenge for the U.S. military. This means they view China as a long-term risk to U.S. influence and power. The last major equipment overhaul of the U.S. Army occurred during the late 1970s and mid-1980s with the introduction of the "Big Five" weapons systems: the M1 Abrams tank, M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter and the Patriot air defense missile system. What to Know The overhaul is part of President Donald Trump's efforts to counter China's aggressive military. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signed a memo on Wednesday that directed the Pentagon to "build a leaner, more lethal force" by "divesting outdated, redundant, and ineffective programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems." "Simultaneously, the Army must prioritize investments in accordance with the Administration's strategy, ensuring existing resources are prioritized to improve long-range precision fires, air and missile defense including through the Golden Dome for America, cyber, electronic warfare, and counter-space capabilities," Hegseth wrote in his memo. The upgrade will cost $36 billion spent over five years to complete, starting in financial year 2026, which commences July 1, 2025. Colonel David Butler, an Army spokesman, spoke with Newsweek about some of the specifics that the administration is looking to enact, with the understanding that "the proof will be in the execution of it," but the belief that "this is going to be a generational change for the army." US Army equipment and military vehicles are pictured during preparations for loading on cargo ships for repatriation from the Esbjerg Harbor during Operation Raven Assistor in Esbjerg, western Denmark, on April 3, 2025. US Army equipment and military vehicles are pictured during preparations for loading on cargo ships for repatriation from the Esbjerg Harbor during Operation Raven Assistor in Esbjerg, western Denmark, on April 3, 2025. Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images "For decades, without overstating it, the Defense Acquisition System is archaic," Butler said. "I think what's happening now is people just realize that it's right in front of our faces: You could see the battlefield in Ukraine is moving technologically. It's moving so fast, it's rapidly changing, you know, three weeks at a time, if not faster." "We're seeing the same thing in Israel, the way the Israeli military had to adapt and change," Butler continued. "Our defense acquisition system could never keep up with that, and so I think—I can't speak for why we haven't been able to do it up until now." The defense acquisition system is meant to "support the National Defense Strategy through the development of a more lethal force based on U.S. technological innovation and a culture of performance that yields a decisive and sustained U.S. military advantage," according to the Pentagon. The Army will look to equip each active-duty division with around 1000 drones, but Butler said that the Army would also look to invest in counter-drone technology, which he said "we're way behind in," in addition to investing in electronic warfare—spectrum detection and jamming capabilities—as well as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Soldiers of the US Army 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division and Bradley Fighting Vehicle prepare for a live fire exercise at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area on March 13, 2025 in Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland. Soldiers of the US Army 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division and Bradley Fighting Vehicle prepare for a live fire exercise at the Drawsko Pomorskie training area on March 13, 2025 in Drawsko Pomorskie, Poland."We've got to continue to invest in our network infrastructure, connected via Starlink and Star Shield and other satellite communications," Butler said. "That's come a long way. The Army's got to invest quite a bit into that, because over the past 20 years we've gotten wayward in how our network is built and conducted." "We are going to operate across several different lines of effort, but one of the one of the baseline things that we have to get right, we've already started this and we're going to continue, is the network infrastructure," he added. The improvements Butler mentioned aimed to "lower our signature on the battlefield," as "a single electronic emissions give away our location and allow us to be targeted." "This is all in an effort to have a much, much smaller footprint, reduce our electronic emissions, and be less targetable, so that we can be the ones targeting instead the ones targeted," he said. With AI, the Army will be able to more quickly and accurate process information on production and program progress that currently is tracked through "tens of thousands of civilians that are filling out Excel spreadsheets and passing those around via email." "We're doing a series of pilots with AI companies that apply AI to that system ... and initial findings is AI is obviously much, much faster, it's much more accurate, and it's also pulling out data that enables us to see the programs in a different way," he said, such as highlighting anomalies and trends – just one of several ways the Army will integrate new technology. What People Are Saying U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote in his memo: "The President gave us a clear mission: achieve Peace through Strength. To achieve this, the United States Army must prioritize defending our homeland and deterring China in the IndoPacific region. Deterring war, and if required, winning on the rapidly evolving battlefield requires Soldiers who are physically and mentally resilient, rigorously trained, and equipped with the best technology available." Oxford University International Relations Professor Neta C. Crawford, who has written extensively on U.S. and global military expenditure trends, told Newsweek: "This spending saps the rest of the U.S. economy. But it is also unnecessary. Any military budget needs to be shaped by a military strategy that is sized to the threat. China is not now a match for the U.S., and Russia is a greatly weakened military power after years of fighting in Ukraine." What Happens Next The Army will continue its review of spending and systems to pinpoint areas of improvement and work to overhaul those weaknesses over the course of Trump's second term in office.
Newsweek
01-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
US Army Plans $36 Billion Overhaul, Largest in Nearly 50 Years
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Army is launching its most significant overhaul since the Cold War, with plans to equip each of its 10 active-duty combat divisions with approximately 1,000 drones. The sweeping transformation also includes phasing out outdated weapons and systems in favor of technologies that reflect the realities of modern warfare. The Journal reports that the Army's new approach is influenced by lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where widespread use of small, unmanned aerial vehicles has redefined battlefield strategy. The year-long development of the plan included extensive testing at training sites like the Grafenwöhr Training Area in Bavaria, as well as other U.S. installations. Officials told The Journal the entire overhaul is projected to cost $36 billion over the next five years. The last major equipment overhaul of the U.S. Army occurred during the late 1970s and mid 1980s with the introduction of the "Big Five" weapons systems: the M1 Abrams tank, M2/M3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter and the Patriot air defense missile system. This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
Morocco World
11-03-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
US, Morocco Advance Strategic Partnership Under Trump Administration
Doha – Morocco's Ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, met with Timothy A. Lenderking, Senior Bureau Official for Near Eastern Affairs at the US Department of State, in Washington on Monday evening. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing regional challenges, reinforcing the centuries-long partnership between Rabat and Washington that began when Morocco became the first nation to recognize the United States' independence in 1777. 'Productive bilateral meeting today between NEA SBO Lenderking and Moroccan Ambassador Amrani @youamrani. Recognizing our strong cooperation on regional issues and commitment to shared goals,' the US State Department posted on X. This diplomatic engagement comes shortly after President Donald Trump's appointment of Richard Duke Buchan III as the new US Ambassador to Morocco. In making the announcement, Trump asserted that Buchan will 'play a pivotal role as we strengthen Peace, Freedom, and Prosperity for both of our Countries.' Buchan brings substantial diplomatic experience, having previously served as US Ambassador to Spain and Andorra from 2017 to 2021. Earlier this month, US AFRICOM Commander General Michael Langley cherished the military partnership during the delivery of AH-64 Apache helicopters to Morocco, stating, 'African armies are watching you and taking examples from you,' while commending Morocco's leadership in regional security. Morocco was among the very first countries Washington reengaged with after Trump's second return to the White House. Just one week after the conservative leader's inauguration, Nasser Bourita held talks with newly appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During their discussion, both officials reaffirmed their commitment to 'advancing regional and global peace and security under King Mohammed VI's leadership,' according to State Department records. Morocco anticipates several key developments from the second Trump administration, particularly regarding the Western Sahara dispute. A primary expectation is that Trump will keep his 2020 promise to open a US consulate in Dakhla. While the first Trump administration established a Virtual Presence Post for Western Sahara managed by the US embassy in Rabat, a physical consulate has yet to materialize. The relationship carries significant economic implications, with the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement driving bilateral trade to $5.44 billion in 2018, quadrupling from $1.34 billion in 2006, according to US embassy data. In his congratulatory call to Trump following the 2024 election, King Mohammed VI recalled the 2020 recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, noting it reflected 'the true depth of the special, longstanding relationship which holds the promise of even greater cooperation and a broader strategic partnership.' The monarch also acknowledged 'an array of increasingly complex regional and global challenges' that both nations face. The Biden administration had maintained a steady middle ground on Western Sahara, neither further implementing nor reversing Trump's recognition. With Trump's return to office, Morocco looks forward to potential advancement on several fronts, including increased US official visits to Western Sahara, as well as the territory's inclusion in the African Lion military exercise, and the possibility of holding the US-Moroccan strategic dialogue in the region. Tags: Morocco US RelationsYoussef Amrani
