Lee Ferran

Amphib readiness has been a topic of much discussion, as service leaders, lawmakers and the executive branch have scuffled over just how many of the ships the Marine Corps really needs, and how relevant they are to modern combat operations.

Chief of Defence of the Netherlands Gen. Onno Eichelsheim told Breaking Defense that F-16s are already in play and that Ukraine doesn't have the pilots to man new, complex systems.

Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse also said that North Korean troops in Russia may be among the best Pyongyang has to offer but probably aren't suited for the job they could be called to do.

Hegseth, currently a co-host of Fox News's "Fox & Friends Weekend", was an infantry captain in the Army National Guard and served in Afghanistan, Iraq and at the US outpost in Guantanamo Bay.

Seoul is looking to expand its airborne early warning capabilities, and Boeing has competition at home and abroad for the contract.

From the Ukraine conflict to battlefield tech to the Pentagon's ability to innovate, DoD officials often say that, sadly, they have no magical munitions.

Analyst Becca Wasser told Breaking Defense the vice president's answer may not "comport" with the current Pentagon strategy but reflects the reality of the shorter-term geopolitical landscape.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale of the electronic warfare system to Italy would "improve Italy’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing interoperability with the United States Air Force (USAF) and disrupting enemy command and control communications when Italy is contributing to overseas contingency operations."

Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said that given the "security situation, it is our responsibility to actively develop national defence and boost the capability of the Estonian Defence Forces."

The introduction of a private investment fund into such a long-term and infrastructure-intensive national security project is rare, but the Navy said there are "contractual mechanisms" in the deal that "support Navy oversight and authorities to safeguard Navy and national security interests."