Continent Radar - North America

The US Air National Guard's adjutants general are urging Congress to fund the purchase of 72 to 100 new fighters annually, citing the need to recapitalize the Air Force's aging fleet. In a letter signed by 22 generals, they warned that the current fleet is the oldest, smallest, and least ready in its 78-year history. The Air Force has requested fewer than 72 fighters in its fiscal 2027 budget, which the generals say will lead to a decline in fighter capacity. They argue that buying at least 72 new fighters per year is necessary to prevent the fleet from shrinking and to meet the National Defense Strategy. The generals emphasized that the current shortfall is already affecting unit readiness, with maintenance professionals working to keep old aircraft in the air and pilots struggling to get enough flight hours in mission-capable jets.

The US Air Force is accelerating plans to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt II by fiscal year 2029, leaving unanswered questions about what replaces it in combat search and rescue operations. The A-10 has been the primary aircraft for the 'Sandy' role, which involves protecting downed aircrews, for nearly five decades. The transition raises concerns about the pilots in the cockpit, who have received specialized training in the combat search-and-rescue mission and built trust within the CSAR community. The Air Force has confirmed there is currently no formal or informal transition underway for the Sandy 1 rescue mission commander role to any other specific airframe, but suggests the F-35A as the likely destination platform for Sandy-qualified A-10 pilots. The stakes are high, with congressional oversight and legislation underscoring concerns about CSAR operational readiness, and recent missions highlighting the importance of the Sandy role.

A global outage of SpaceX's Starlink satellite network disrupted US Navy tests of unmanned vessels off the California coast, highlighting the Pentagon's growing reliance on the technology. The incident, which affected drones intended for use in a potential conflict with China, is one of several test disruptions linked to Starlink. While SpaceX has become indispensable to the US government with its array of technologies, the Navy's mishaps with Starlink raise concerns about the risks of relying on a single company for critical national security capabilities. Despite facing competition from Amazon, SpaceX remains far ahead in low-earth orbit communications, but its near-monopoly has sparked warnings from lawmakers about the potential dangers of over-reliance.

The US military has begun a mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz, utilizing an array of drones, explosive-laden robots, and helicopters to reduce risks. The operation aims to secure the strategic waterway from Iranian mines, which have disrupted global energy supplies. Although the US can draw on modern technology to remotely check for and remove mines, the process is expected to be slow and multi-step. The US Navy has started the operation, sending two warships through the strait, with additional forces, including underwater drones, set to join the effort. The operation's success is crucial, as the threat of minefields can stop ships, especially commercial ones, and the devices are cheap and costly to clear.

The Iran war has highlighted the diminished state of Britain's armed forces, with the country's military capacity shrinking significantly since the Cold War. The Royal Navy, once the largest in the world, took three weeks to deploy a warship to the eastern Mediterranean after a British base in Cyprus was hit by a drone. In contrast, France, Greece, and Italy sent warships to the region within days. The UK's defense spending has decreased from 3.8% of GDP in the 1990s to 2.3% in 2024, resulting in a reduced fleet and personnel. The Royal Navy now has 38,000 personnel, down from 62,000 in 1991, and operates two aircraft carriers and 13 destroyers and frigates, compared to three carriers and 50 destroyers and frigates in 1991. The British army has also seen a significant decline, with 74,000 full-time personnel, down from 148,000 in 1991, and a reduced fleet of main battle tanks. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to invest in defense, but the country's military capabilities remain a concern, with the US and other nations taking notice of its weakened state.

The European Commission has announced a significant investment of €1.07 billion ($1.26 billion) in 57 collaborative research and development projects, with a focus on drones, autonomy, and a deepening partnership with Ukraine. The funding will support 32 capability development projects and 25 research initiatives, involving 634 entities from 26 EU member states and Norway. The projects reflect lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, where cheap and expendable strike drones have reshaped the battlefield. The EU is now integrating Ukraine's defense industry into its ecosystem, with Ukrainian entities eligible to participate in projects as subcontractors and third-party recipients. The investment is part of a broader effort to expand the EU's defense funding and build industrial capacity, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and startups.

The US Senate has blocked two resolutions aimed at stopping the sale of $450 million in military equipment to Israel, with Senate Republicans backing President Trump's support for the Jewish state. Despite a large majority of Senate Democrats supporting the resolutions, they were unlikely to pass due to a long-standing tradition of bipartisan support for Israel in Congress. The sales include $295 million for bulldozers and $151.8 million for general-purpose bombs, which Israel uses in attacks on Gaza and Lebanon. Supporters of the sales argue that Israel is an important ally, while opponents, led by Senator Bernie Sanders, say the sales violate US laws and contribute to civilian casualties. The vote reflects growing frustration among Democrats about the impact of Israeli strikes on civilians, but the outcome was expected given the strong bipartisan support for Israel in Congress.

The White House has declined to provide an estimate for the cost of the war with Iran, as it seeks a significant increase in military funding. Budget Director Russell Vought defended President Trump's $1.5 trillion annual military budget request, which has faced bipartisan criticism from lawmakers due to the Pentagon's lack of financial accountability. The request includes a $500 billion increase in military spending and a 10% reduction in non-defense programs. Democrats have expressed concerns over the cost of the war and the administration's priorities, with some calling for a Pentagon audit to be completed before Congress votes on defense spending. The budget proposal has been met with opposition from Democrats, who have declared it 'dead on arrival', leaving government funding to be determined through closed-door negotiations.

The US Navy has successfully intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel attempting to skirt a maritime blockade, redirecting it back towards Iran. This move is part of a broader blockade involving 10,000 troops, over a dozen warships, and more than 100 fighter and surveillance aircraft, which was implemented after failed peace talks between the US and Iran. The blockade, which began on Monday, targets vessels transiting to and from Iranian ports, while allowing ships not visiting Iranian ports to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. The US and Iran are currently observing a two-week ceasefire, which started on April 7. The failed peace talks, held on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, aimed to address Iran's nuclear program but ended without an agreement due to Iran's refusal to remove enriched uranium and commit to ending its nuclear activities.