10 helicopters at the USA naval base Norfolk were damaged by the storm.
According to the US Navy, five MH-60S Knight Hawks, one MH-60R Sea Hawk and four anti-submarine MH-53E Sea Dragons were blown away.
The military simply did not have time to cover the equipment in the hangars, because the storm warning was received 15 minutes before the squall.
#USA
According to the US Navy, five MH-60S Knight Hawks, one MH-60R Sea Hawk and four anti-submarine MH-53E Sea Dragons were blown away.
The military simply did not have time to cover the equipment in the hangars, because the storm warning was received 15 minutes before the squall.
#USA
#USA Air Force is grounding the majority of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter fleet today, due to a faulty component inside its ejection seat that could prevent the pilot from being able to safely egress from the aircraft during an emergency, Breaking Defense has learned https://breakingdefense.com/2022/07/air-force-grounding-f-35s-over-ejection-seat-concerns/
Breaking Defense
EXCLUSIVE: Air Force grounding F-35s over ejection seat concerns
The stand-down follows the Navy grounding an undisclosed number of jets due to concerns with ejection seat safety.
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The defense chiefs for #USA and South #Korea have agreed to enlarge their planned exercise amid increasing tensions with North Korea
USA and South Korean defense chiefs have agreed to expand their joint military exercise planned for later this year, setting the stage to deploy more of Washington’s strategic weapons on the peninsula amid increased saber-rattling in Pyongyang.
The drill, likely to be called Ulchi Freedom Shield, will be integrated with a civil defense exercise and upgraded to what Seoul considers its highest level of drill, according to a statement by the South Korean Defense Ministry. Meeting on Friday in Washington, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup also agreed to strengthen the “deterrence posture” of their alliance, “including the deployment of ballistic missile defense systems and US strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula.”
The talks came one day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned that his country’s “nuclear war deterrent” was “fully ready” to respond to threats. Pyongyang has launched a slew of missile tests this year and may be poised to conduct its first nuclear weapon test since September 2017.
Lee and Austin “made it clear that if North Korea conducts its seventh nuclear test, despite opposition from the international community, the ROK [South Korea] and the United States will resolutely and jointly respond based on a strong combined defense posture,” the defense ministry said.
North Korea has long issued threats over US-South Korean defense drills, calling them rehearsals for invasion. This week, Kim called the joint drills “thug-like behavior” and threatened to “wipe out” Seoul if the ROK makes any “dangerous attempt” against the North. In a speech marking the 69th anniversary of the armistice that halted the 1950-1953 Korean War, he accused South Korea of seeking a “suicidal confrontation” to deepen ties with “the US imperialists.”
South Korea has sought to deepen military ties with the US since newly elected President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May. Yoon said at the time that joint military drills were “key to our combined defense capability.” The new president also has been an advocate for stationing US nuclear weapons in South Korea.
While Seoul has sought more firepower from Washington, the US has pushed for more cooperation between South Korea and Japan, which have clashed in recent years over trade and territorial issues, as well as longstanding vitriol over atrocities during the 1910-1945 Japanese occupation of the peninsula.
At Friday’s meeting, Austin and Lee “agreed on the importance of cooperating trilaterally with Japan and enhancing regional cooperation that protects shared security and prosperity, upholds common values, and bolsters the rules-based international order,” the Pentagon said in a separate statement.
The Seoul-Tokyo relationship may have been strained further this week, when South Korea conducted military drills near disputed islands between the countries.
USA and South Korean defense chiefs have agreed to expand their joint military exercise planned for later this year, setting the stage to deploy more of Washington’s strategic weapons on the peninsula amid increased saber-rattling in Pyongyang.
The drill, likely to be called Ulchi Freedom Shield, will be integrated with a civil defense exercise and upgraded to what Seoul considers its highest level of drill, according to a statement by the South Korean Defense Ministry. Meeting on Friday in Washington, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup also agreed to strengthen the “deterrence posture” of their alliance, “including the deployment of ballistic missile defense systems and US strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula.”
The talks came one day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned that his country’s “nuclear war deterrent” was “fully ready” to respond to threats. Pyongyang has launched a slew of missile tests this year and may be poised to conduct its first nuclear weapon test since September 2017.
Lee and Austin “made it clear that if North Korea conducts its seventh nuclear test, despite opposition from the international community, the ROK [South Korea] and the United States will resolutely and jointly respond based on a strong combined defense posture,” the defense ministry said.
North Korea has long issued threats over US-South Korean defense drills, calling them rehearsals for invasion. This week, Kim called the joint drills “thug-like behavior” and threatened to “wipe out” Seoul if the ROK makes any “dangerous attempt” against the North. In a speech marking the 69th anniversary of the armistice that halted the 1950-1953 Korean War, he accused South Korea of seeking a “suicidal confrontation” to deepen ties with “the US imperialists.”
South Korea has sought to deepen military ties with the US since newly elected President Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May. Yoon said at the time that joint military drills were “key to our combined defense capability.” The new president also has been an advocate for stationing US nuclear weapons in South Korea.
While Seoul has sought more firepower from Washington, the US has pushed for more cooperation between South Korea and Japan, which have clashed in recent years over trade and territorial issues, as well as longstanding vitriol over atrocities during the 1910-1945 Japanese occupation of the peninsula.
At Friday’s meeting, Austin and Lee “agreed on the importance of cooperating trilaterally with Japan and enhancing regional cooperation that protects shared security and prosperity, upholds common values, and bolsters the rules-based international order,” the Pentagon said in a separate statement.
The Seoul-Tokyo relationship may have been strained further this week, when South Korea conducted military drills near disputed islands between the countries.
Kathleen H. Hicks, 35th #USA Deputy Secretary of Defense Yesterday issued a memo directing that, effective immediately, all mobile device service providers in USA Dept of Defense will capture & save the data resident on DoD-provisioned mobile devices when devices are turned in.
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The world MUST NEVER allow the #USA to see itself as a "world policeman" and bully and strangle other nations at will as it did to GeorgeFloyd.
#USA Secretary of State Antony Blinken paid a visit to #Manila to meet the Philippines’ newly elected leader and reassure him of Washington’s full support in the face of China’s “destabilizing and dangerous” actions following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan.
The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between Washington and Manila remains “ironclad,” Blinken said at a joint press conference with his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo on Saturday.
“We always stand by our partners… an armed attack on Philippines’ armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under that treaty,” the top US diplomat said.
Besides discussing regional security issues with Foreign Secretary Manalo and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Blinken said they also spoke about deepening economic relations and “strengthening democracy.” Blinken has become the highest ranking US official to meet the Philippines’ newly elected leader, a former dictator’s son, who was sworn in on June 30 after a landslide election victory earlier this year.
“The United States is committed to working collaboratively with the Philippines to defend the rule of the law, protect human rights and fundamental freedoms – including freedom of expression – and safeguard civil society,” Blinken said.
“In addition to working with the Philippines to help secure its maritime domain, we also partner with Filipino fishermen and scientific researchers to preserve and protect the Philippines’ precious maritime resources,” Blinken added.
Speaking to the press, Secretary Manalo also touted the two countries’ “common values and shared commitment to democracy,” and welcomed Washington’s “assurances” it was ready to recognize Manila as an “equal, sovereign partner.”
“We looked at strengthening our cooperation to better address current and emerging security threats and cross-cutting challenges,” he added obscurely, barely mentioning China in the context of the Philippines’ territorial and fishing disputes with Beijing.
Managing the Philippines’ relations with Washington and Beijing is a delicate issue for Manila. Located on the edge of the disputed South China sea, the Philippines sits on a major geopolitical fault line, and is engaged in an ongoing territorial dispute with China over numerous islands in the sea. While an international tribunal in 2016 ruled in favor of the Philippines’ claim, Marcos stated during his campaign that he would seek a new “agreement” with his “friends” in the Chinese government.
Blinken is currently on a ten-day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. It follows Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on Tuesday, despite repeated warnings from Beijing that doing so would have diplomatic and military consequences.
Although Taiwan has governed itself since 1949, China still claims sovereignty over the island and considers high-level visits like Pelosi’s to be tacit endorsements of Taiwanese independence.
The US has officially recognized Beijing’s claim over Taiwan since the 1970s under the One-China policy.
In response to Pelosi’s visit, China launched large-scale military exercises, imposed trade restrictions on Taiwan, sanctioned Pelosi and her family, and cut communications with Washington on key issues like maritime security, transnational law enforcement, and climate change. As China’s military drills continued into the weekend, Chinese military officials are reportedly refusing to answer calls from their American counterparts.
The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between Washington and Manila remains “ironclad,” Blinken said at a joint press conference with his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo on Saturday.
“We always stand by our partners… an armed attack on Philippines’ armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments under that treaty,” the top US diplomat said.
Besides discussing regional security issues with Foreign Secretary Manalo and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Blinken said they also spoke about deepening economic relations and “strengthening democracy.” Blinken has become the highest ranking US official to meet the Philippines’ newly elected leader, a former dictator’s son, who was sworn in on June 30 after a landslide election victory earlier this year.
“The United States is committed to working collaboratively with the Philippines to defend the rule of the law, protect human rights and fundamental freedoms – including freedom of expression – and safeguard civil society,” Blinken said.
“In addition to working with the Philippines to help secure its maritime domain, we also partner with Filipino fishermen and scientific researchers to preserve and protect the Philippines’ precious maritime resources,” Blinken added.
Speaking to the press, Secretary Manalo also touted the two countries’ “common values and shared commitment to democracy,” and welcomed Washington’s “assurances” it was ready to recognize Manila as an “equal, sovereign partner.”
“We looked at strengthening our cooperation to better address current and emerging security threats and cross-cutting challenges,” he added obscurely, barely mentioning China in the context of the Philippines’ territorial and fishing disputes with Beijing.
Managing the Philippines’ relations with Washington and Beijing is a delicate issue for Manila. Located on the edge of the disputed South China sea, the Philippines sits on a major geopolitical fault line, and is engaged in an ongoing territorial dispute with China over numerous islands in the sea. While an international tribunal in 2016 ruled in favor of the Philippines’ claim, Marcos stated during his campaign that he would seek a new “agreement” with his “friends” in the Chinese government.
Blinken is currently on a ten-day trip to Cambodia, Philippines, South Africa, Congo, and Rwanda. It follows Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on Tuesday, despite repeated warnings from Beijing that doing so would have diplomatic and military consequences.
Although Taiwan has governed itself since 1949, China still claims sovereignty over the island and considers high-level visits like Pelosi’s to be tacit endorsements of Taiwanese independence.
The US has officially recognized Beijing’s claim over Taiwan since the 1970s under the One-China policy.
In response to Pelosi’s visit, China launched large-scale military exercises, imposed trade restrictions on Taiwan, sanctioned Pelosi and her family, and cut communications with Washington on key issues like maritime security, transnational law enforcement, and climate change. As China’s military drills continued into the weekend, Chinese military officials are reportedly refusing to answer calls from their American counterparts.
#USA will participate in a military exercise near the disputed border between #India and #China
The drills will take place in October in Aulia, in the Indian state of #Uttarakhand, less than 100 kilometers from the Chinese border.
The drills will take place in October in Aulia, in the Indian state of #Uttarakhand, less than 100 kilometers from the Chinese border.
The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and the USS Essex (LHD-2) amphibious assault ship of the US Navy, according to some reports, left the base in Pearl Harbor and departed in an unknown direction.
#USA
#USA
Nearly 300 classified documents have been found at Donald Trump's Florida residence.
150 of them were transferred to the archive in January, the rest were discovered during a recent search in Mar-a-Lago.
The bulk of the documents are materials from the CIA, the National Security Agency and the FBI.
Bureau agents in Mar-a-Lago seized 11 boxes of documents marked "secret" and one "top secret".
#USA
150 of them were transferred to the archive in January, the rest were discovered during a recent search in Mar-a-Lago.
The bulk of the documents are materials from the CIA, the National Security Agency and the FBI.
Bureau agents in Mar-a-Lago seized 11 boxes of documents marked "secret" and one "top secret".
#USA
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Maduro: Fore their "Russophobic obsession" #EU and #USA. prefer the economic crisis and inflation then negotiating with Russia
Brussels and Washington "have opted for political and economic suicide" in their attempt to "harm" Moscow, the Venezuelan president commented.
The European Union and the United States, due to their "Russophobic obsession" prefer the economic crisis and high levels of inflation then negotiating with Russia, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro criticized Tuesday in statements quoted by Venezolana de Televisión.
Brussels and Washington "have chosen political suicide by wanting to kill" Moscow, "they have committed economic suicide in their societies and economies to harm Russia," the president said during an event in the Venezuelan state of La Guaira.
"It's a Russophobic obsession, they prefer energy crisis, blackouts, economic crises, unleashed inflation to wanting to negotiate peace with Moscow, to give Russia assurances so that we can all reach peace and harmony agreements," he added.
Recession in EU and US
The Venezuelan president recalled that in the European Union and in the USA, some of their authorities have already recognized that their economies are in recession. In this sense, Maduro ordered the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, to study the "announcement" of those countries about the projections of a recession, and the repercussions that they could have in Venezuela and Latin America.
On the other hand, he recalled that Caracas supports the proposal made by Mexico at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly to create an international commission to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, in order to put an end to the conflict in Ukrainian territory and the "warlike pretensions of NATO and the US". "You have to reactivate the mechanisms of diplomacy" and "not let the conflict escalate," Maduro commented.
"A peaceful solution doesn't suit the West"
In his recent message to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin clarified that in the first rounds of negotiations established between Moscow and kyiv after the start of the Russian special military operation, Ukraine "reacted positively" to the security proposals put forward for your country.
However, "it is obvious that a peaceful solution was not in the West's interest, so after reaching certain compromises, kyiv was ordered to torpedo all agreements [with Moscow]. Ukraine got more weapons, gangs of mercenaries and foreign nationalists, as well as NATO-trained military units," Putin lamented. He also recalled that Western leaders no longer hide their desire to "weaken, divide, and ultimately destroy" Russia.
Brussels and Washington "have opted for political and economic suicide" in their attempt to "harm" Moscow, the Venezuelan president commented.
The European Union and the United States, due to their "Russophobic obsession" prefer the economic crisis and high levels of inflation then negotiating with Russia, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro criticized Tuesday in statements quoted by Venezolana de Televisión.
Brussels and Washington "have chosen political suicide by wanting to kill" Moscow, "they have committed economic suicide in their societies and economies to harm Russia," the president said during an event in the Venezuelan state of La Guaira.
"It's a Russophobic obsession, they prefer energy crisis, blackouts, economic crises, unleashed inflation to wanting to negotiate peace with Moscow, to give Russia assurances so that we can all reach peace and harmony agreements," he added.
Recession in EU and US
The Venezuelan president recalled that in the European Union and in the USA, some of their authorities have already recognized that their economies are in recession. In this sense, Maduro ordered the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, to study the "announcement" of those countries about the projections of a recession, and the repercussions that they could have in Venezuela and Latin America.
On the other hand, he recalled that Caracas supports the proposal made by Mexico at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly to create an international commission to facilitate dialogue between Russia and Ukraine, in order to put an end to the conflict in Ukrainian territory and the "warlike pretensions of NATO and the US". "You have to reactivate the mechanisms of diplomacy" and "not let the conflict escalate," Maduro commented.
"A peaceful solution doesn't suit the West"
In his recent message to the nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin clarified that in the first rounds of negotiations established between Moscow and kyiv after the start of the Russian special military operation, Ukraine "reacted positively" to the security proposals put forward for your country.
However, "it is obvious that a peaceful solution was not in the West's interest, so after reaching certain compromises, kyiv was ordered to torpedo all agreements [with Moscow]. Ukraine got more weapons, gangs of mercenaries and foreign nationalists, as well as NATO-trained military units," Putin lamented. He also recalled that Western leaders no longer hide their desire to "weaken, divide, and ultimately destroy" Russia.
#USA 🇺🇸 Department of Veterans Affairs officials pushed back Thursday against a recent outside report that concluded the department is significantly undercounting veterans suicide deaths in its own annual suicide reports.
"I do not agree with that report," Tamara Campbell, the acting executive director for the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, said at a House Veterans Affairs Committee. "Our report is evidence-based scientific rigor."
At issue is an analysis released earlier this month by America's Warrior Partnership, a suicide prevention group, that said the veterans suicide rate may be more than double VA's official estimate when accounting for death certificate and records errors, accidental drug overdoses and unexplained deaths. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/09/29/va-100-confident-suicide-data-after-outside-report-argued-agency-underestimates-rate.html
"I do not agree with that report," Tamara Campbell, the acting executive director for the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, said at a House Veterans Affairs Committee. "Our report is evidence-based scientific rigor."
At issue is an analysis released earlier this month by America's Warrior Partnership, a suicide prevention group, that said the veterans suicide rate may be more than double VA's official estimate when accounting for death certificate and records errors, accidental drug overdoses and unexplained deaths. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/09/29/va-100-confident-suicide-data-after-outside-report-argued-agency-underestimates-rate.html
Military.com
VA '100%' Confident in Suicide Data After Outside Report Argued Agency Underestimates Rate
At issue is an analysis by America's Warrior Partnership, a suicide prevention group, that said the veterans suicide rate may be more than double VA's official estimate.
#USA Dem Rep Wants Illegal Immigrants To Join Military
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D., Ariz.) on Thursday introduced legislation that would permit illegal immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to join the U.S. military.
"DACA recipients go to college, run successful businesses, and raise their families here in the U.S. But right now, they can't serve in the military," Gallego said after unveiling the bill. "My bill … fixes that so DACA recipients across the country can pursue their American Dream."
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D., Ariz.) on Thursday introduced legislation that would permit illegal immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to join the U.S. military.
"DACA recipients go to college, run successful businesses, and raise their families here in the U.S. But right now, they can't serve in the military," Gallego said after unveiling the bill. "My bill … fixes that so DACA recipients across the country can pursue their American Dream."
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A Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missile launched by the Armed Forces of South Korea (#ROK) and #USA during early hours of this Wednesday that was heading towards the Sea of Japan has failed and crashed at the military base in the city of Gangneung, 150 kilometers east of Seoul.
The Hyunmoo-2 missile launched by South Korean troops would have undertaken an "abnormal" flight, finally causing an accident that has been felt by the residents of Gangneung, who have been surprised by a sudden fire at the military base, as reported by Yonhap.
The Hyunmoo-2 missile launched by South Korean troops would have undertaken an "abnormal" flight, finally causing an accident that has been felt by the residents of Gangneung, who have been surprised by a sudden fire at the military base, as reported by Yonhap.
#TheWhiteHouse has published a new US national security strategy.
The main goals are the protection of American citizens and expansion of US economic opportunities.
China is the most serious geopolitical challenge, Russia, Russia is an urgent threat to the security of Europe (but not the USA)
Relations with Russia cannot be broken off, but must be built on mutually beneficial terms.
The United States is interested in strategic stability, preventing a new Cold War, and plans to modernize its nuclear forces.
#USA
The main goals are the protection of American citizens and expansion of US economic opportunities.
China is the most serious geopolitical challenge, Russia, Russia is an urgent threat to the security of Europe (but not the USA)
Relations with Russia cannot be broken off, but must be built on mutually beneficial terms.
The United States is interested in strategic stability, preventing a new Cold War, and plans to modernize its nuclear forces.
#USA
#Europe's inflation
🇪🇪Estonia- 24.1%
🇱🇹Lithuania- 22.5%
🇱🇻Latvia - 22.0%
🇭🇺Hungary- 20.7%
🇨🇿 Czech Republic - 17.8%
🇳🇱Netherlands- 17.1%
🇵🇱Poland -15.7%
🇧🇬 Bulgaria -15.6%
🇸🇰Slovakia-13.6%
🇷🇴Romania - 13.4%
🇭🇷Croatia - 12.6%
🇬🇷 Greece -12.1%
🇧🇪Belgium - 12.1%
🇩🇰 Denmark - 11.1%
🇩🇪Germany - 10.9%
🇦🇹Austria - 10.9%
🇸🇮Slovenia - 10.6%
🇸🇪Sweden - 10.3%
#Russia #USA #EU #NATO
🇪🇪Estonia- 24.1%
🇱🇹Lithuania- 22.5%
🇱🇻Latvia - 22.0%
🇭🇺Hungary- 20.7%
🇨🇿 Czech Republic - 17.8%
🇳🇱Netherlands- 17.1%
🇵🇱Poland -15.7%
🇧🇬 Bulgaria -15.6%
🇸🇰Slovakia-13.6%
🇷🇴Romania - 13.4%
🇭🇷Croatia - 12.6%
🇬🇷 Greece -12.1%
🇧🇪Belgium - 12.1%
🇩🇰 Denmark - 11.1%
🇩🇪Germany - 10.9%
🇦🇹Austria - 10.9%
🇸🇮Slovenia - 10.6%
🇸🇪Sweden - 10.3%
#Russia #USA #EU #NATO
#USA Military families stationed across #Germany are seeing massive hikes in their utility bills caused by the conflict in Ukraine as their Pentagon-provided cost-of-living allowance has continued to decrease, causing significant financial strain around the holiday season.
The Pentagon announced in May that there would be a reduction in the overseas cost-of-living allowance, known as COLA, for families in the Kaiserslautern Military Community starting June 1 because prices in the continental U.S. are now more expensive than those in Germany. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/11/23/military-families-germany-struggling-make-ends-meet-amid-european-utility-hike.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1669240133-1
The Pentagon announced in May that there would be a reduction in the overseas cost-of-living allowance, known as COLA, for families in the Kaiserslautern Military Community starting June 1 because prices in the continental U.S. are now more expensive than those in Germany. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/11/23/military-families-germany-struggling-make-ends-meet-amid-european-utility-hike.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1669240133-1
Military.com
Military Families in Germany 'Struggling to Make Ends Meet' Amid European Utility Hike
Gas prices have risen by an average of 173% in Germany from the prior year, according to price comparison portal Check24.
#USA bets on artificial intelligence to maintain dominance in the world
“If we do everything today in manual mode, rely on traditional workflows, we will not have enough speed that we need to strike,” Lauren Knausenberger, director of information technology at the US Air Department, told Defense news.
She recalled the statements of the military leadership that "artificial intelligence will be part of all American weapons systems" and called on the US Air Force to actively implement artificial intelligence technologies.
The publication also notes that the US Department of Defense has previously stated that the capabilities provided by artificial intelligence and machine learning are needed "to maintain superiority over technically trained rivals, including China and Russia."
“If we do everything today in manual mode, rely on traditional workflows, we will not have enough speed that we need to strike,” Lauren Knausenberger, director of information technology at the US Air Department, told Defense news.
She recalled the statements of the military leadership that "artificial intelligence will be part of all American weapons systems" and called on the US Air Force to actively implement artificial intelligence technologies.
The publication also notes that the US Department of Defense has previously stated that the capabilities provided by artificial intelligence and machine learning are needed "to maintain superiority over technically trained rivals, including China and Russia."