State of The Nation

Bryce Pedicini Summary Bryce Pedicini, a former #USNavy chief petty officer #Aegis fire controlman, was sentenced to 18 years in military prison and dishonorably discharged after being convicted of attempted #espionage. While serving on the USS Higgins in Japan, Pedicini delivered classified and national defense information to a foreign government official from November 2022 to May 2023, under the guise of writing research papers. According to charging documents, Pedicini smuggled photos of a computer screen designed for classified information to a foreign official in Yokosuka, Japan, in May 2023. He was also accused of sharing documents with an employee of a foreign government in Hampton Roads, VA, between November 2022 and February 2023. Pedicini, who joined the Navy in 2008 and was promoted to chief in August 2022, faced additional charges of failing to report foreign contacts and solicitation of classified information, taking a personal device into a secure room, and trans...

Congolese Government Acquires Chinese Attack Drones to Combat M23 Rebels   The Congolese government has procured nine Chinese-made CH-4 drones to combat the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This significant advancement in the Congolese military's capabilities is driven by the affordability and more relaxed purchase conditions offered by Chinese drones compared to Western alternatives such as General Atomics ASI's MQ9 Reaper. The CH-4 drones, capable of carrying various weapons, will be stationed at the Kavumu military airport, within striking distance of the conflict zone. The initial shipment of three drones has already been delivered, with the remaining six expected to arrive later this year. The deployment of these Chinese-made drones aligns with a broader trend in Africa, where countries are increasingly turning to Chinese military drones to enhance their defense capabilities. Summary The Democratic Republic of Co...

The U.S. Navy's Virginia-Class Submarine Nightmare Is Just Getting Started | The National Interest The article discusses the challenges faced by American shipyards in meeting the demand for new warships, particularly the Virginia-class submarines. Despite substantial government funding, shipyards are hindered by a lack of competition, skilled labor shortages, and overwhelmed infrastructure. This situation threatens U.S. naval readiness and capability, especially in the context of growing Chinese military advancements in the Indo-Pacific region. The author emphasizes the importance of submarines in projecting U.S. naval power, as they can operate beneath the reach of China's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) systems. However, delays in the construction of the Block V variant of the Virginia-class submarine highlight the shipyards' struggles. The article suggests that the U.S. government should intervene with a strategy and resources to revitalize America's shipbuilding cap...