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08 May 25. Senior Official Outlines Future Priorities for Special Ops. Colby Jenkins, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, outlined his priorities for the future of the special warfare community while delivering remarks today during Special Operations Forces Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida. Jenkins cautioned the audience that America’s adversaries are converging across regions and “the thresholds between peace and conflict.”
“We do not need another threat briefing; we need action — focused and unrelenting,” Jenkins said.
He added that such action recently came in the form of guidance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who kicked off SOF Week 2025 with keynote remarks, May 6. Hegseth said his focus is on defending the homeland, deterring Chinese aggression while maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region and shifting burdens to partners and allies.
“SOF delivers persistent presence, asymmetric advantage and strategic effects across all three priorities every day, everywhere,” Jenkins said, adding that SOF is also the only force in the Defense Department that delivers across all three lines of effort.
He then listed five priorities aimed at meeting Hegseth’s guidance: designing the future force to prevail in future conflicts, maximizing the performance and resilience of SOF personnel, ensuring training and readiness meet future needs, aligning capability development to strategic priorities, and strengthening resource oversight and the institutionalization of accountability.
Regarding the first priority concerning force design, Jenkins said there needs to be a shift from static formations optimized for crisis response and counterterrorism to “adaptable, tailorable, multidomain SOF formations” meant to prevail in high-end conflict.
“The future of SOF is relentless: smaller teams, faster decisions, smarter systems harder targets,” Jenkins said.
As for performance and resilience maximization when it comes to SOF personnel, Jenkins said future operators will need to be agile, resilient, physically and mentally capable, and able to thrive in isolated, high-pressure environments.
“We cannot afford to simply maintain the old standards,” he said. “We must sharpen them, modernize them and expand them without losing the warrior ethos that define our special operations.”
He also said the goal will be to build and preserve a force where human performance, and not just that of technology, will prove to be a critical advantage over adversaries.
“Because in the end, it is not the weapon, the drone, or the system that wins the contest. It is the person who knows when and how to use all of that technology and who refuses to quit; that person secures victory for us,” Jenkins said.
On the topic of ensuring training and readiness meet future needs, Jenkins said the battlefield of the future will be more complex, contested and ambiguous than anything SOF has faced before. Because of that, he said, future SOF will have to operate in challenging environments while integrating cyberspace and electronic warfare. They will also need to conduct irregular warfare alongside allies, partners and indigenous forces across all phases of competition and conflict.
“Traditional training models and infrastructure focused primarily on physical skills and kinetic action will not be enough,” Jenkins said, adding that it will be necessary to rethink training for the future threat environment.
Regarding aligning capability development to strategic priorities, Jenkins said “innovation for innovation’s sake” isn’t enough.
“We must drive innovation with purpose, laser-focused on building the capabilities that allow our forces to impose costs, create dilemmas and deny advantages to our adversaries,” he said.
Jenkins added that SOF must harness artificial intelligence to accelerate decisive advantage.
On the final priority, Jenkins said strengthening resource oversight and institutionalizing accountability are necessary in an era of increasing operational demands and constrained budgets.
“Resources are not just dollars on a spreadsheet; they are the fuel for readiness, resilience and victory,” he said, adding that every dollar spent must sharpen readiness, enhance capability, or increase strategic leverage.
“We have an incredible opportunity right now to make sure that our enterprise has the resources that it needs and can divest of operations or resources or platforms that we no longer need. So, let’s take advantage of that,” Jenkins said, adding that no funds should be “wasted on bureaucracy that does not deliver warfighting advantage.”
After highlighting future priorities, Jenkins appealed to the SOF community for their own ideas regarding shaping the future.
“Whether you are in industry … government or the SOF community itself, you are part of this effort,” he said. “Help us develop the capabilities that give our operators the advantage they need at the speed they need.”
Jenkins said that winning future fights will not come from doing more of the same but from thinking differently, acting decisively and working together.
“This is our moment to forge the future of special operations,” he said. “A future where small teams create strategic impacts; a future where resilience, adaptability and speed win the day, a future where American strength and American values prevail. Now let’s get to work.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
07 May 25. Experts Say Special Ops Has Made Good AI Progress, But There’s Still Room to Grow. The United States’ special operations forces community has made commendable progress in embracing and integrating artificial intelligence into the battlespace over the past year, but it still has room to grow to keep pace with adversaries like China. That was one of the key messages from today’s fireside chat at Special Operations Forces Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida. Technology experts explored SOF’s use of AI and its ability to adapt and integrate it for defense, as well as leverage it to deliver innovative technology for national security. U.S. Special Operations Command’s most significant AI-related inroads over the past year have been software-related, according to Akash Jain, a leader in the private sector AI industry whose company partners with DOD.
Jain said following a “pivot” to embracing certain AI technologies last year, Socom has been making significant progress with software.
“I think, with the push by senior leaders … an incredible, incredible amount of progress on the acquisition and implementation side for software,” Jain said.
” stuff that’s moving really fast and can now become something that everybody across SOF enterprise can use at scale,” he added.
Jain said he would rate Socom’s overall progress on AI development for the past year as a “six or seven” on a scale of one to 10, noting that he sees areas where the command can continue to grow, including the need to further integrate AI into legacy hardware systems.
Thomas Tull, another AI private sector industry leader, agreed that Socom’s renewed push in AI development has been productive.
” have all leaned forward and said, ‘This is what we’re doing, full stop, and we are committed to it’; so, I think you’re seeing rapid change for the positive,” Tull said.
In terms of AI-related areas where SOF could work to improve, Tull said there’s an ongoing need to develop “digital fluency,” meaning an ability to not just use AI technology but also understand how it works and then be able to apply it effectively and creatively.
To that end, Tull said Socom has received a head start on improving the command’s digital fluency, with roughly 400 of the command’s leaders recently completing a Massachusetts Institute of Technology-affiliated six-week course on the topic.
“I think enhancing digital fluency so that, as you push technology down, you have a workforce that not only is comfortable with it, but frankly, demands it,” Tull said.
Tull also said that, while he’s glad to see how Socom has embraced the need to integrate AI, the level of that embrace must be absolute to keep up with the pacing threat from adversaries like China.
“You’re talking about the ability to pull ahead stay ahead; and I’m not sure that you can catch up,” he said.
He added that Socom should one day view AI as “the same as breathing or walking” and that it should eventually be part of every decision the command makes.
Both Tull and Jain agreed that SOF continuing to push industry to develop further advancements in AI is a key to future success on the battlefield.
” demanding, keep innovating. That’s one of the things that I think separates SOF — globally — is that there is this relentless drive to not be satisfied, to invent new things, to be willing to go first,” Tull said, adding that he encourages SOF to be just as demanding when it comes to AI’s development.
“Break stuff, come back to us tell us what you need,” he said.
Jain called AI’s future development an “all-of-American industry” endeavor, and no distinction should be made between the defense industrial base and the non-traditional defense base.
“With AI, I think we have a generational opportunity to kind of set in motion what the future is going to look like,” he said.
“So please keep pushing with us and partnering with us. It’s been incredible how we’ve seen that progress over the last year.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
08 May 25. Service Leaders Discuss Budget, Combat Readiness. The Army is building a force that is leaner, more lethal, and better equipped to operate in contested domains with speed and precision, said Army Gen. James J. Mingus, vice chief of staff of the Army, who testified on a panel yesterday during a House Armed Services Committee subcommittee hearing on military readiness. He said that under the “transforming in contact” initiative, the Army is enhancing its tactical networks and rapidly fielding unmanned aerial systems, counter-UAS and electronic warfare systems. In the last 10 months, TiC delivered 11 new capabilities and technologies to specific units within the 101st Airborne, 25th Infantry, 10th Mountain and 34th Infantry divisions. Mingus expects the effort to expand to more units throughout the next two years. He said the Army Transformation Initiative, which is part of TiC, allows the service to restructure formations and dominate future battlefields while advancing the development and delivery of critical capabilities and end programs that no longer deliver value.
“Under ATI, we are accelerating the delivery of our new M1E3 tank, our next future vertical lift and the next generation command and control. We’re closing the long-standing gaps in counter-UAS, expanding integrated air defense, and bringing long-range hypersonic capability this year,” Mingus added. The general said ATI also includes a plan for more efficient funding and fielding for those systems to keep pace with operational demand and technological advancement.
Other Army initiatives he discussed with lawmakers included organic industrial base modernization efforts to ensure systems and munitions are produced and sustained at scale, new housing and barracks construction, and updated dining facilities to provide more nutritious options and improve soldier fitness. Mingus said recruiting remains a priority even after the Army exceeded its goal in fiscal year 2024 with over 55,000 soldiers entering the service. This fiscal year’s recruiting target is 61,000 soldiers, with over 56,000 already signing up. Regarding the budget, he said the Army is being asked to do more with less, adding, “With no budget increases to offset inflation and reduced buying power, the rising costs of pay and allowances consume our top line.”
Navy Adm. James W. Kilby, vice chief of naval operations, also testified and agreed with Mingus about the need for consistent and predictable funding, calling it “foundational” to improvement efforts.
“At the time when we need to move faster to counter China and global instability, we are fiscally moving slower,” he said, noting that the Navy’s readiness is most vulnerable under a full-year continuing resolution.
Kilby said the service set a goal of making 80% of its ships, submarines and aircraft combat-ready by Jan. 1, 2027. To do that, he said it is reducing maintenance delays and improving manning, training, modernization and sustainment.
“We are seeing progress,” he said, adding that last year, the Navy increased surface ship depot maintenance from 41% on time to completion to 68%.
“Unfortunately, this progress is not consistent across all platforms. I am not satisfied with amphibious ship maintenance. Our Navy and Marine Corps operate as a lethal, integrated force, and we have work to do here,” the admiral said.
The Navy is also focused on recruiting and retaining talent. Kilby said it is committed to attracting and developing Americans who can innovate, solve hard problems and dominate in combat. Last fiscal year, the Navy recruited over 40,000 sailors — the most since 2003 — and is currently on pace to exceed this fiscal year’s recruiting goals.
Kilby said the Navy is also working on reducing wait times at child development centers and improving housing.
Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, said that over 30,000 Marines are forward deployed, with the vast majority of them in the Indo-Pacific region.
Mahoney said he is concerned about the lack of amphibious ship availability, which inhibits littoral mobility and sustainment of forces. He is also concerned about the budget.
“The lack of on-time and predictable funding has hampered our ability to carry out a business plan, and it has constrained our ability to balance that readiness with modernization,” he said.
However, he is not concerned about the recruiting mission, noting that the Marine Corps attained its recruiting mission last fiscal year and will do so again this year without compromising standards.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Adrian L. Spain, deputy chief of staff for operations, said the Air Force stands ready to defend the nation, despite having “the oldest airplanes, the smallest force, and with fewer monthly flying hours than at any point in our history.”
Airmen have and always will get the job done, but today they do so at elevated risk, he said, adding that adversaries like China are expanding and modernizing their nuclear and conventional forces.
Space Force Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, said, “The Space Force underpins our nation’s capabilities within the joint force, within our economy and within society as a whole.”
Guetlein said the Defense Department is faster, better connected, more informed, precise and lethal because of its ability to harness space, as a result of the progress made in the service’s five years of existence.
“The world’s use of space is growing at an accelerating rate, and access to and use of space grows. The strategic landscape in space is becoming increasingly complex and perilous, even compared to our other warfighting domains,” he added.
Regarding the budget, Guetlein noted that the Space Force “is woefully under-resourced to meet the demands for space capabilities placed on it by our combatant commanders and the nation. We must increase investments to deter the threat.”
He said other challenges include adversary nations jamming GPS signals, spoofing and disrupting satellite communications, and developing advanced anti-satellite weapons.
“Unfortunately, these unsafe and unprofessional behaviors have become the norm rather than the exception,” he said. “They create an increasingly hostile environment for the space domain capabilities essential to our security and prosperity and put at risk the continued freedoms to which we have become accustomed.”
To meet these challenges, Guetlein said the Space Force is accelerating its transformation as a warfighting service.(Source: U.S. DoD)
05 May 25. Nation’s Leaders Turning More to Special Ops in Volatile Environment. The role of special operations forces in global conflicts has steadily increased amid what the U.S. Special Operations Command’s top leader called the most complex security environment the United States has faced in decades. Army Gen. Bryan P. Fenton, Socom commander, discussed the current and future role of special operations forces while delivering keynote remarks today at the start of Special Operations Forces Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
“For the most pressing problems facing the nation, senior leaders are turning to SOF [and] it’s all against the backdrop of the most complex, asymmetric and hybrid threat security environment we’ve seen in 38 years of service,” Fenton said.
He was joined by Socom’s senior enlisted leader, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Shane Shorter.
Fenton said today’s threat environment includes adversaries operating in isolation, multiple threats converging, and a rapid pace of technological change that hasn’t been seen in the past.
“Special operations forces are the asymmetric strategic option for this volatile world; it’s the theme of this conference for that very reason,” he said, adding that SOF is a “scalpel” in “a world demanding precision.”
Shorter said adversaries such as Iran, China, Russia, North Korea and various terrorist groups have begun merging efforts in what Socom labels a “fusion of foes.”
“Threats aren’t just coming together through convergence, they’re collaborating,” he said.
To counter this fusion, Fenton said SOF must operate asymmetrically — that is, through “unconventional,” “irregular” [and] “asynchronous” efforts — across its three primary missions: crisis response, counterterrorism and deterrence. These efforts also include ongoing training and transformation to ensure future success.
“I think everyone in this room knows that we don’t train and get it right once. … We do it over and over and over again until we can never, ever get it wrong,” he said.
Fenton added that SOF’s global network of partners provides a critical advantage. For instance, special operations personnel representing 60 countries attended SOF Week 2025. He also noted that the crisis response mission demand for SOF has gone up 200% in the past three and a half years, which he called unprecedented.
Additionally, Shorter said the demand for SOF as a deterrent has increased globally by 35%.
“It’s not by luck that we’ve been able to meet this demand — it’s capability, it’s training to standard, it’s dedication and it’s harnessing the power of partnerships,” Shorter said.
Looking ahead, Fenton said SOF must continue doing what works while adapting quickly to changing threats.
“We’re going to keep doing what we do best, and we know we [have to] transform to meet this changing and complex environment. We [have to] do it at speed and we [have to] do it to dominate,” Fenton said.
He emphasized that SOF partnerships will continue to play a key role in building interoperability and shaping the environment before conflict even begins.
So, while adversaries have begun merging efforts and becoming a “fusion of foes,” Fenton said he is relying on the strength of another fusion — the personnel attending SOF Week 2025.
“The fusion of what we have in this room — interagency, industry, academia, practitioners and policymakers — is tied together and galvanized towards irregular and asymmetric options,” he said, adding, “We’re the scalpel, but when the time comes, we can bring the hammer too.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
06 May 25. Hegseth Underscores Importance of Special Ops Community at Annual Conference. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth today highlighted the importance and significance of the U.S. special operations forces community while delivering a keynote speech at the Special Operations Forces 2025 annual conference in Tampa, Florida.
“I cannot tell you how humbled I am to be in this room amongst the absolute and very best that our country produces,” Hegseth said.
“You can pick any other ballroom in this country — including in Washington, D.C. — and you’re not going to find the likes of Americans like we have in this room. … It’s an absolute honor … to be here with you,” he continued.
The secretary began his remarks by pointing out how SOF significantly contributes to the nation’s security, both at home and abroad. He noted that, in the past six months, SOF has eliminated over 500 terrorists who were a direct threat to the homeland.
“And alongside global SOF partners, your team has captured at least another 600 terrorists. So, it starts and ends with the homeland; that’s why we do this,” he added.
Additionally, Hegseth pointed out that presidentially directed SOF missions have increased by 200% in the past three years.
“SOF has answered the call, and SOF has risen to the challenge every single time,” he said, adding, “They’re doing this day in and day out, around the world and around the clock. … Most of you in this room have done just that.”
Hegseth said SOF brings unique capabilities overseas by leveraging critical partnerships that contribute to deterring China from conflict with the U.S.
“We have to convince [Chinese President] Xi Jinping that today is not the day to test the United States’ resolve, and SOF underpins deterrence in the Indo-Pacific [region],” Hegseth said, adding that, at the same time, SOF is preparing the battlefield and standing ready to help conventional U.S. forces prevail if China were to choose conflict.
The secretary then shifted focus to how SOF contributes to his core priorities of restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and reestablishing deterrence.
He said recruitment numbers are rising because the country’s young people work hard to make themselves better in a meritocratic environment.
“[Young recruits are] looking for adventure, camaraderie, risk [and] danger. They want to push themselves and test themselves against others. They want to flourish in an environment that embraces hard work and discipline and the warrior ethos. Special operators know a thing or two about all of those,” he said.
Hegseth also thanked the SOF community for maintaining such high physical standards, noting that standards must be high throughout the armed services.
“The standards need to be high, and they need to be gender neutral,” he said. “If you can do the job, you’re in that formation. And if you can’t, you’re not. That is restoring the warrior ethos, and it’s something we’re seeing across all formations that the troops are responding to.”
Hegseth said the entire SOF community plays a critical role in rebuilding the military.
“Special operations forces have long operated like a tech startup. You’re agile and nimble, lean and lethal, and you leverage innovation to get more capability,” he told the crowd.
He also discussed the role acquisition plays in rebuilding the military and thanked the hundreds of defense industry companies participating in this year’s SOF Week, calling them “an essential part of the global special operations network.”
Regarding deterrence, Hegseth said SOF’s ability to work alongside international partners “pays huge dividends” regarding America’s security.
“Our partners … are central to how SOF works. They have to believe that America is strong; that peace through strength is real,” he said. “Then they want to come into our orbit and be force multipliers,” he added.
Hegseth assured the SOF community that they have the nation’s support.
“The best gift I can give you is getting up every day, working as hard as I can with my staff … to ensure you have everything you need,” he said.
“Your commander in chief, your secretary of defense, and your country are behind you, because we are beyond grateful for what you [and] your families give on behalf of this nation.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
05 May 25. Software Fast Track Initiative. On April 24, Ms. Katie Arrington, performing the duties of the DoD Chief Information Officer (CIO), signed a memo titled “Accelerating Secure Software,” which establishes the Software Fast Track (SWFT) Initiative for the Department. This effort is aligned with Secretary Hegseth’s guidance (Directing Modern Software Acquisition to Maximize Lethality, March 6, 2025) and will reform the way the Department acquires, tests, and authorizes secure software. Current systems for software procurement were developed for a different environment and using processes that are outdated and slow, with little to no supply chain visibility. This guidance directs the office of the CIO (OCIO) to work with the Under Secretaries of Acquisition and Sustainment, Research and Engineering, and Intelligence and Security to address these critical areas. Improving our ability to bring high quality secure software to the Warfighter rapidly will greatly increase the lethality and resilience of the Joint Force. This action directs the OCIO to undertake a 90-day sprint to develop a framework and implementation plan to define clear, specific: (1) cybersecurity and SCRM requirements; (2) rigorous software security verification processes; (3) secure information sharing mechanisms; and (4) Federal Government-led risk determinations to expedite the cybersecurity authorizations for secure, rapid software adoption. Today, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced three Requests for Information (RFI) to gather market information and capabilities in accelerating secure software delivery to the federal government. This is an important step forward in transforming how the U.S. government verifies software security and informs risk-based decisions when introducing new capabilities to the DoD. This puts the nation on a path to rebuild military capabilities. It is absolutely mission one that we arm our warfighters with the best cutting-edge weapons available, but we don’t need duplicative and wasteful processes to do that. This is just one example of how we are going to deliver on the President’s promise to rebuild the military and restore the Warrior Ethos throughout the Department.
To read the memo on Accelerating Secure Software, please click here: https://dodcio.defense.gov/Portals/0/Documents/Library/Memo-AcceleratingSecureSoftware.pdf
To read the Request for Information (RFI) – Software Fast Track (SWFT) Tools please click here: https://sam.gov/opp/753c9598b7904657b528e9de39efdee8/view
To read the RFI – Software Fast Track (SWFT) External Assessment Methodologies please click here: https://sam.gov/opp/4a79c3e777c24d14a69d6c090950a755/view
To read the RFI – Software Fast Track (SWFT) Automation & Artificial Intelligence (AI) please click here: https://sam.gov/opp/7ca9ff30bad5407db7de079f7bf397c0/view (Source: U.S. DoD)
05 May 25. Defense firms closely watching tariffs, but split on potential sting. Major defense contractors appear to be split on the potential impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs, with one major firm bracing for hundreds of millions in potential lost profits, while others predict minimal effects. In an April 22 earnings call with investors, executives from RTX Corp. — formerly known as Raytheon — predicted $850m in losses if tariffs stay in effect for the rest of 2025. Executives from Boeing and Lockheed Martin, on the other hand, expressed more confidence that they will be able to blunt the worst effects of the tariffs. Tariffs are taxes on imported goods, and the Trump administration has made them a centerpiece of its economic strategy. Customers typically pay the costs of tariffs, either directly through the tariffs themselves or through higher prices during resale. President Donald Trump has enacted or threatened higher tariffs on most of the rest of the world, hoping to use them as diplomatic or economic leverage. Trump wants tariffs in part to drive industries to return manufacturing and production of key materials like steel and aluminum back to the United States.
RTX Chief Financial Officer Neil Mitchell said in the company’s earnings call that the $850m loss prediction includes a potential $250m hit from tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and another $250m from Chinese tariffs. RTX also expects the 10% tariff on most other countries around the world could cost $300m, and steel and aluminum tariffs could cost $50m, he said.
Most of the pain from those tariffs would likely come in the latter half of 2025, Mitchell said, as the company draws down its existing inventories.
That $850m estimate includes “mitigations,” or steps RTX could take to lessen the hit tariffs might deal to the company’s bottom line, RTX Chief Executive Officer Chris Calio said. Those mitigating steps could include free trade zones, refunds known as duty drawbacks and taking advantage of different suppliers and assembly sites, he said.
Many of the mitigations RTX is considering are new to the firm, Mitchell said, “because we lived in an environment where most goods were coming across the border without a duty.”
RTX is also preparing for the possibility of tariffs lasting several years, Mitchell said, and looking for ways to get the most out of its mitigation strategies.
Most of the tariff hit to RTX will be split roughly evenly between its subsidiaries Collins and Pratt & Whitney, Mitchell said, with each division absorbing slightly more than $400m in tariff costs. RTX’s Raytheon division will likely see “minimal” tariff impact, he said. Calio told investors that the company will pass along higher costs to customers when it can — and has done so in the past — but will have to strike a balance in the process, and consider what the market will bear.
“We have not been shy about pushing through higher costs through pricing and we’ll continue to look for opportunities to do that,” Calio said. “But it’s not a panacea for all things tariff.”
Working around tariffs
In Lockheed’s April 22 earnings call on the first quarter of 2025, Chief Executive Officer Jim Taiclet said the company’s strong start to the year would allow it to absorb potential headwinds from tariffs.
Lockheed Chief Financial Officer Evan Scott said the company will have ways in its supply chain to completely avoid tariffs. For purchases under fixed-price contracts that cannot dodge tariffs, he said, the company has mechanisms to recover the costs — but he cautioned that recovering those costs may take some time.
Boeing Chief Executive Officer Kelly Ortberg also said he hopes the company will be able to recover tariff costs through duty drawbacks.
Taiclet said legal constraints on using Chinese-sourced materials or products in defense supply chains make tariffs against that nation a nonfactor for Lockheed.
“This is, I think, a larger issue for non-defense industries that require these kinds of materials, because our supply chain contracts have specified non-Chinese sources for the materials over the decades,” Taiclet said.
Lockheed also plans to tap existing stockpiles of materials, such as rare earths, and find alternate sources, Taiclet said, and applauded the government for trying to develop U.S. sources for raw materials to make the supply chain less fragile.
“We’ve been advocating [for greater U.S. sourcing] for about four or five years,” Taiclet said. “We need U.S. sources for even basic materials like titanium, for example — certainly nonadversary sources.”
Lockheed Vice President Maria Ricciardone predicted that a disruption in the company’s rare earths supply would not hurt its ability to meet its delivery commitments for the rest of the year.
“We have sufficient quantity that’s already integrated into our value chain so it provides a bit of a buffer from potential supply chain disruptions in the near term,” Ricciardone said.
Boeing’s Ortberg also downplayed the potential risks of tariffs, saying much of the company’s supply chain is already based in the United States. Many imports from Canada and Mexico are also exempt under trade agreements, he said.
Other parts of Boeing’s supply chain, Ortberg said, have warned of price increases from tariffs, but he called them “not overly material” and an issue that could be solved.
“The thing I’m really trying to make sure we’re focused on is making sure that an argument over [who’s going to pay] a 10% tariff doesn’t turn into a continuity of supply issues,” Ortberg said. “We really need to make sure that people are buying and bringing in the parts that we’re going to need, and then we’ll work through the financial implications.”
Boeing Chief Financial Officer Brian West said the company has stockpiled a higher inventory of materials such as aluminum and steel, which typically make up 1% to 2% of an airplane’s average cost.
West also said Boeing has spent decades managing supply chains and global trade, and its officials have experience handling tariffs and duty recoveries, which makes it confident it can handle tariff turmoil.
Aviation impacts
Much of Ortberg’s comments on potential tariff impacts, such as China’s refusal to accept Boeing aircraft deliveries, touched on the company’s commercial aircraft business.
And he predicted Boeing’s cash balance on hand and production levels will allow the company to keep its business stable, even in the face of tariffs.
Ortberg cautioned the tariff situation is “dynamic,” and said aviation industry officials regularly speak with the administration about tariffs. He said they also stress that aircraft sales generate a trade surplus for the United States, and how important it is to maintain that surplus.
Ortberg said he’s “hopeful” the administration will be able to negotiate agreements with other nations that allow tariffs to be lifted.
“I don’t think a day goes by where we aren’t engaged with someone in the administration, including cabinet secretaries and up to POTUS himself,” Ortberg said. “We’re spending a lot of time making sure the administration understands the implications of either short-term or long-term tariffs on not just our company, but the overall aviation industry here in the U.S.” (Source: Defense News)
05 May 25. Joint Press Statement for the 26th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense (MND) held the 26th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) on May 1-2, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Mr. John Noh, Performing the Duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense (PTDO ASD) for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, and Mr. Andrew Winternitz, PTDO Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for East Asia, led the U.S. delegation. Deputy Minister (DEPMIN) for National Defense Policy, Mr. Cho Chang-rae, led the ROK delegation. Key senior U.S. and ROK defense and foreign affairs officials also participated in the dialogue. During the meeting, both sides assessed the overall defense cooperation of the U.S.-ROK Alliance, and had in-depth discussions on policy directions that can advance our common interests. Following the KIDD, DEPMIN Cho met with Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Mr. Elbridge Colby, to discuss the results of the KIDD and to exchange views on strengthening the U.S.-ROK Alliance to ensure U.S. and ROK national interests. They assessed that the KIDD laid a foundation for practical cooperation to further solidify the Alliance and looked forward to deepening cooperation to achieve shared security goals on the Korean Peninsula and across the Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders recognized the ROK and U.S. military and civilian personnel that continuously work to strengthen the U.S.-ROK Alliance and expressed sincere appreciation for their shared commitment and sacrifice. (Source: U.S. DoD)
05 May 25. Hegseth Says Deterring China Important for Hemispheric Security. China poses a threat to people and peace in the region, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who hosted an enhanced honor cordon and meeting, welcoming Peruvian Defense Minister Walter Astudillo and Peruvian Foreign Affairs Minister Elmer Schialer to the Pentagon today.
“Beijing is investing and operating in the region for unfair economic gain, and together, in order to prevent conflict, we need to robustly deter China’s potential threats in the hemisphere. So we look forward to being partners with you in that regard,” Hegseth said.
The United States is grateful for Peru’s partnership in working to achieve peace through strength, the secretary said.
“Putting America first also means we’re putting the Americas first,” he said.
The U.S. and Peru share a lot of the same challenges and common threats that require a very serious response, he said.
“We’re making progress on things like trafficking and migration, violent criminal enterprises, folks that are threatening and brutalizing our communities,” Hegseth said.
The secretary said he’s hoping to attend the Conference of Defense Ministers in the Americas next year, which Peru is hosting.
Astudillo said Peru and other Latin American nations, like the U.S., face problems that affect security and development such as migration, drug trafficking and other crimes. That is why all the countries of the hemisphere need to come together to effectively respond to these transnational problems, he said.
Schialer said that while Peru and the U.S. have a strategic relationship, Peru would like to upgrade it to a comprehensive or integral strategic relationship.
“The United States of America is one of a very, very important friend of ours, a very good ally, also a historic ally in many things,” he said. (Source: U.S. DoD)
05 May 25. U.S.-Turkiye High Level Defense Group Meeting. On April 28, 2025, the Department of Defense and the Turkish Ministry of National Defense held a High Level Defense Group (HLDG) in Ankara, Turkiye. Katherine Thompson, performing the duties of Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, led the U.S. delegation with the participation of Maj. Gen. Sean Salene, Director of Plans, Policy, and Strategy at U.S. Central Command and Brig. Gen. Quaid Quadri, Deputy Director for Plans, Strategy, and Capabilities at U.S. European Command. Maj. Gen. Ilkay Altindag, Director General for Defense and Security in the Turkish Ministry of National Defense, led the Turkish delegation and hosted the dialogue. Ms. Thompson also visited Incirlik Air Base. The dialogue advanced key agenda items for President Trump including on defense spending goals for the NATO alliance, greater European leadership on defense, and commitment to strengthening ties with Turkiye. In line with the Administration’s priorities, the delegations also discussed a wide range of functional and regional issues, including Syria, Ukraine, and defense industrial cooperation. (Source: U.S. DoD)
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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need.
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